Wet brakes don't work when driving in high water? Can someone explain this?

After safely driving through some long 12" high water sections my brakes simply would not work. Like nothing was there until we would roll 10-30 feet with lots of brake pedal pressure. Guess they needed to drain and dry but this was really concerning until I got used to anticipating it. I've experienced wet brakes before but not like this and was surprised by the issue. I am still learning the nuances of this truck.
Anyone explain why this happens please?

 

SRS?

Brakes rely on friction to stop. When wet less friction until they dry and grip.

 

Most of the time they are already hot enough so it isn't noticed much. But when submerged lack of braked happen .

 

TRD Off Road. I was very surprised at how much friction it took just to warm and start drying them. Then how they continued to act up until I drove several miles then getting back to normal braking.

I will admit it was a lot of repeated slow water crawling. So I expect some performance issues but having no brakes at all really caught me off guard. Lesson learned.

I love this truck and everything about it except for the squishy braking system.

 

No set of brakes will work very well wet. That is why in the driving manual you probably didn't read before you got your drivers license states that you should upon driving through a puddle or during very heavy rain you are supposed to on occasion apply the brakes to dry them.

You are driving in water of some actual depth and then expecting the brakes to perform F1 style. When merely wet brakes(much less fully or partly submerged ones) will suffer reduced performance even on an F1 car.

I would expect after crossing a stream to have very little or no braking response till they have dried a little.

 

Must be from Texas.

 

Must be because we have no idea what water is, never seen the stuff.

 

Very basic physics. Not even Tacos operate in the realm of magic and wishes.

 

Third gen.

 

I had to pay extra for the majic upgrade, I didn't think I was the only one

 

Just wondering, have you driven in similar conditions with another vehicle that the brakes worked better on?

Your truck is pretty new. Still on OE pads? (not that that matters much, curious mostly)

 

CAT brilliant response! Thanks for the lesson, expertly read.

Bill, previously my Subaru had been in similar conditions. I initially would have a slightly weak braking experience but it did not persist like this instance. Yes, still on OE pads. My Tacoma brakes were still acting up 30 mins later and only got better after several miles. When wet I was trying to apply brake pressure and ride them when i could but it wasn't enough.

Did they change the braking system for 3rd Gen?

Yes I'm in Texas, and Houston got really messed up. I was out helping some folks, and glad I did. Kinda crazy to wake up at 5 am and see a VW Jetta had stalled and settled in front of the house. Got them out first, then helped some neighbors.

 

good man

 

Funny I passed through frame-deep water at Azusa Canyon offhighway park and my brakes worked fine.

 

This is what I was expecting, but maybe it was too much prolonged submersion in my case. IDK, thats why I posted here for advice,

 

It was a traffic jam leaving the park. Lingered in the water for a lot longer than I would have liked.

Without driving your truck I'm gonna have to assume it's just how you're driving. Especially considering you didn't expect the brakes to be affected by water, anyway.

 

Had this happen on other cars. It's not specific to Tacomas.

 

The other day after a deep creek crossing my brakes took awhile to work properly/dry out and made some horrible noises. It happens.

 

I wonder if the ABS has any impact on the brakes effectiveness after a deep water crossing?
By the way, I feel for you Texans. The weather has really given you the shaft this year.