<VV> Effect of Steam in Brake Systems

[Ron]

Mike, your memory has gone bad as boiling water turns to water vapor!
RonH


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kovacsmj" <kovacsmj at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'N. Joseph Potts'" <pottsf at msn.com>
Cc: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 4:59 PM
Subject: RE: <VV> Effect of Steam in Brake Systems


> Joe,
> Personally, I believe I remember enough about chemistry and physics to
> know that when water boils it turns into oxygen and hydrogen. They are
> gases. The gases expand, BUT, they are highly compressible, making your
> break pedal very spongy. Perhaps enough to sink to the floor without
> much effective breaking action.
>
> I do not believe you can create enough foot pressure to overcome this
> problem. Also if the brake system (the brake cylinder) gets hot enough
> to boil a few drops of water while under the hydraulic pressure I would
> imagine you are going to experience brake fade as the hot shoes and
> drums no longer create any effective friction rendering your brakes
> virtually useless. I know this fade from high speed stops (legal)
> without cooling the brakes off.
>
> Anybody else want to weigh in on this one??
>
> PS: I use silicon fluid in most of my Vairs. The maint. book in my
> Intrepid R/T recommends not to use silicon fluid.
>
>
> Getting all the information is most of the solution.
>
> MIKE KOVACS
>
>
>
>
> Bill Elliot just advised that the formation of steam in a brake system
> would
> cause the pedal to drop to the floor. Personally (I don't think) I have
> any
> experience of a steamy brake system, although I'm sure I've put in a lot
> of
> miles with damp ones.
>     It SEEMS to me that flash evaporation of water in a hot brake
> system
> would have the same effect as it does in a steam engine - it would
> expand
> forcefully and lock up the brake system (INCREASING rather than
> DECREASING
> the volume occupied by fluids in the close brake system).
>     Can anyone elaborate on this process for me?
>
> Joe Potts
> Miami, Florida USA
> 1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C and DOT 5 brake fluid
>
>
>
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