Question about coming to a stop and the brakes

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Sep 29 2006, 11:24 AM) [snapback]325662[/snapback]</div>

It's not just you...like Doc said, it's just the friction brakes kicking in at the lower speed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Sep 29 2006, 02:24 PM) [snapback]325662[/snapback]</div>

You aren't confusing this with the engine turning off as you come to a stop are you? It is almost a stalling out type of feeling in the car - this is normal.

 

Mine does that too...I can tell the difference between the gas engine shutting off and the feeling of the rough braking. It sometimes feels like a little hop or shudder.

 

This is happening to me...I was getting a little worried about it (only 300 miles) until I read this post. It almost feels like the brakes are "catchy" I guess is the best way to describe it. And it only feels catchy right before coming to a stop. So you all are saying this is OK?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Sep 29 2006, 02:24 PM) [snapback]325662[/snapback]</div>

To change the subject a bit...Is there a general consensus on whether or not to do the break-in oil change on the Prius, or is it okay to wait until 5000 mi for the first change?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Sep 29 2006, 03:56 PM) [snapback]325742[/snapback]</div>

General consensus - probably not. Suggest you get started by performing a search on "oil change" here on PC. That topic has already been worked over pretty well.

P.S. I did my first around 3,500.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 29 2006, 01:29 PM) [snapback]325734[/snapback]</div>

That's a really good way of putting it!


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmccord @ Sep 29 2006, 02:09 PM) [snapback]325746[/snapback]</div>

I waited until 5,000 miles for my first oil change and had no problems at all (almost to 13K now). It's a bit odd going "over" the former standard of every 3,000 miles like I had to do with my old Saturn but it's so much more convenient having to service the car less often.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Sep 29 2006, 01:56 PM) [snapback]325742[/snapback]</div>

From what I have read here the general consensus is to follow the warranty requirements in the manual. Toyota does not use a special break-in oil.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Sep 29 2006, 04:56 PM) [snapback]325742[/snapback]</div>

Change at 5000, just as the manual says.

Tom

 

Oddly, I've never been able to feel the braking transition. With the CAN-View I can see when the transition happens, as the amperage goes abruptly from 15 to 20 amps of regeneration on a gentle braking, to 1 or 2 amps of draw (the idle draw). But I feel no difference at all. I sometimes brake abruptly (I've seen just over 100 amps of regen) and I sometimes brake very gently. But regardless, I cannot feel the transition.

For oil changes, follow the owner's manual. Why would anyone not follow the owner's manual? Especially from a maker whose claim to fame is its high engineering standards.

 

Thanks for all the replies on the oil change issue. I had looked through a few of the other threads, but didn't see anything specific about the first change, only debates about how long one could go on synthetic, etc.

I too feel the grabby/jumpy brakes, but I only feel it when I start to let up on the breaks near the end of the stop. My previous car was a stick, so when I knew I'd be coming to a stop, I'd always put it in neutral and use the brakes. I'm kind of obsessed with driving smoothly, so when coming to a stop, I've always been in the habit of using slow steady pressure, and then letting up a little more quickly and feathering the brake pedal when the car was about to stop (to avoid that little body sway/grabby feeling that all cars have at the moment they actually stop). So in my Prius when I'm almost stopped, but still moving slowly (like 1-2 mph), and I let up on the brake to ease the transition to the final actual stop, sometimes it feels like the friction brakes will grab and release a couple times, almost like the computer can't make up its mind about my intentions (whether I want to let the car roll at "idle" speed, or whether I actually want to stop and am just being ultra smooth about it). I'm still trying to adjust my braking style to try to figure out how to get that super smooth stop on the Prius. It's hard because of that simulated automatic transmission feel of the car always being pulled forward at "idle".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Sep 30 2006, 08:04 AM) [snapback]326012[/snapback]</div>

I often stop the way you do, but I never notice any grabbiness like you are describing.

 

I just got my first Prius (and first ever brand new car!)--an '07 Package #3--on Wednesday and also noticed this jumpiness when breaking sometimes. But with my car, I can hear it as well. Kind of like a deep, quick "clunk clunk" sound. Is that also part of the switching to the friction brakes?

 

http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/brakerust.jpg
.
Fix: get going at a reasonable speed with nobody behind you, shift
to N, and do some slow, even but firm braking to scrub the rust
off. That'll fix it until the next time moisture rusts the rotors/
drums up again.
.
This oughta go into all the various FAQs, really...
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Sep 30 2006, 09:04 AM) [snapback]326012[/snapback]</div>

I do the same thing and lift off the brake as the car comes to a stop to keep the body from rocking back and I always feel this jerk/catch when I do that (it usually happens twice). At first I thought it was just the new brakes, but after 22k it is still happening.

It's very annoying if you ask me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Sep 30 2006, 10:04 AM) [snapback]326012[/snapback]</div>

I experience the exact same thing under the exact same circumstances. I am well practiced at smooth stops and found it nearly impossible to do in the Prius. I have chalked it up to brake-by-wire and the creep mode conflict when you try to stop like a good chauffuer. A passenger may get the feeling that you are slightly pumping the brake pedal just as you stop.

You are not imagining it. It appears to be a side effect of the "newfangled" braking in the Prius. Once I realized it was normal, I quickly got used to it - Just as I got used to the engine "dying" at stop lights.

The only other vehicle that gave me a similar sensation was an Amtrak commuter train. Apparently there is electronic control of the air brakes. Iused to ride everyday and noticed the same sound and sensation when the train was coming to a stop in a station. Figured there was something controlling the brakes on each car to keep the coupling from banging, etc.

 

WE have talked of this problem a lot in some other posts....search for 'bfrakes grabbing' and you will find some posts in maintenance and main forum section. Apparently i have the same problem but my cousins car never had such grabby brakes as Daniel explained. Even i did not experience this behaviour for first 9000 miles on my car .... i am staying with the behaviour for last 1500 miles now.