R8 Winter tip

[London Lad]

I keep my R8 and the GFs TT in a 'cart lodge' basically a big garage with no doors. It keeps the snow / rain / sun / dust off the car but doesn't give it any protection from low temperatures.

They haven't been used in the recent snow but about once a week I fire them up and move them back and forth a few feet to stop the pads sticking to the discs. (I always leave them in gear with the handbrakes off)

Just before Christmas I was surprised to find that after only being stationary for about 10 days the brakes on both cars were well and truly stuck, the R8 even more so than the TT.

I had to give quite a bit of throttle to free them. The R-tronic seemed to interpret this as me trying to drive off with the brakes on and was reducing the throttle input as I increased it, I guess to protect the clutch. When they did release they did so with a 'bang'

I don't like this sort of mechanical disharmony so I thought I would try the following; I re-parked both cars by driving into the cart lodge and gently rolling to a halt without using the brakes at all. I then left both cars in gear with the handbrakes off as usual.

Well it worked, I have just been out to the cars and neither had stuck pads!

Disclaimer: It would be very hard to do this if you park on a slope and don't blame me if you drive your R-Tronic through the garage wall trying to roll to a stop not using the brakes

[Garyhun]

Mines left on the drive all the time and I had the bang release - I only left mine 3 days so a little bang. Good tip - just wish my drive was level and not steep so I could do the same!

[MikeB]

Well it worked, I have just been out to the cars and neither had stuck pads!

Disclaimer: It would be very hard to do this if you park on a slope and don't blame me if you drive your R-Tronic through the garage wall trying to roll to a stop not using the brakes [/QUOTE]


Cheers for that, I'll give it a go. We live close to the sea so there's usually a major rev and crack when its been left for more than a couple of days even with the garage closed up and in gear, handbrake off. I need to get my own rolling road. Or ceramics, whichever's the cheaper!

[harrison]

The tire saver product discussed previously would work for you guys.could cause problems though if you forgot and applied the parking brake while rested on them for long time. Big bang theory.

[ianerrid]

I keep my R8 and the GFs TT in a 'cart lodge' basically a big garage with no doors. It keeps the snow / rain / sun / dust off the car but doesn't give it any protection from low temperatures.

They haven't been used in the recent snow but about once a week I fire them up and move them back and forth a few feet to stop the pads sticking to the discs. (I always leave them in gear with the handbrakes off)

Just before Christmas I was surprised to find that after only being stationary for about 10 days the brakes on both cars were well and truly stuck, the R8 even more so than the TT.

I had to give quite a bit of throttle to free them. The R-tronic seemed to interpret this as me trying to drive off with the brakes on and was reducing the throttle input as I increased it, I guess to protect the clutch. When they did release they did so with a 'bang'

I don't like this sort of mechanical disharmony so I thought I would try the following; I re-parked both cars by driving into the cart lodge and gently rolling to a halt without using the brakes at all. I then left both cars in gear with the handbrakes off as usual.

Well it worked, I have just been out to the cars and neither had stuck pads!

Disclaimer: It would be very hard to do this if you park on a slope and don't blame me if you drive your R-Tronic through the garage wall trying to roll to a stop not using the brakes

****, just read the disclaimer ;-) I was thinking of getting some of that stuff they use as a calming measure at my local supermarket, a sort of high rubber sleeping policeman, does a **** fine job of stopping me and have to roll over it very deliberately so would act as a natural stop. Fairly easy to bolt to the floor too and I suspect quite cheap?

[London Lad]

Good idea Ian.

I can do it with no problem as the cart lodge floor is dead level (I laid it :-)

You could do it on a slight slope, its just a pain to nurse her in to place and then switch off in gear without using the brakes. (especially as today's date is the 13th)

[SebringSilver]

My pads get stuck after I've washed the car and parked it overnight. It's a little bit frightening the sound that's made when you force the car into motion the next day.

[London Lad]

Try my trick, its free ! :-)

[toecutter]

Good trick. I learned this the hard way last winter. My garage stays at 40F+ but with outside temps and snow, the pads will stick within 2 days. I usually drive every day but if not I do the rolling/light brake trick and don't use the handbrake.

[drbf]

Try my trick, its free ! :-)

Thanks, it worked great