Question about coming to a stop and the brakes

To avoid the suspension-relaxation lurch, pop into neutral just
as you get to your stop. No more creep, until you want it. Make
sure the engine's off first, though.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Nov 28 2006, 01:17 AM) [snapback]354723[/snapback]</div>

I am not sure if Driving a HYBRID should be like driving an Airplane. Its like making sure you have your flaps down ....landing gear deployed....etc etc..??

 

on the oil change thing, the UK dealer told me that there was no intermediate or initial oil change/service required and the service interval was 10K miles. Car is 1 month old with 1200 miles on the clockso far.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Nov 28 2006, 02:17 AM) [snapback]354723[/snapback]</div>

Hobbit, the neutral-brake, rust-scrubbing trick worked like a charm. A few stops from 35 mph down to zero, and now the last few feet of my stops are smooth again, no matter how lightly I feather the pedal. Why do you say to "make sure the enine's off" before shifting into neutral? Also, would fairly frequent shifting into neutral to make stops cause premature wear in any way?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Sep 29 2006, 12:24 PM) [snapback]325662[/snapback]</div>

I also noticed this effect as well. I did not know why, thanks for asking and the good explanation by others.

 

I don't think it can be made to "go away" forever. I notice it worse both when it is very damp/rainy, or if the car has been sitting a few days. I think it is a function of the brakes not staying clean all the time. I notice the "grabbiness" goes away after a few good brake applications....until the next time.

 

When I replaced my 2005 with a 2007 I noticed that the brakes on the new car were a bit grabby when rolling to a stop. As far as I can tell it is getting better, (I have about 1200 miles on it now). I seem to have read that Toyota is using a coating on the rotors during shipping to keep them from rusting, and I suspect (although I have no proof) that at least some of this grabbiness is caused by this coating. It's either that or just the brakes not being bedded in yet. Either way it should improve over time. Remember that the friction brakes only get used under hard braking or under 8 MPH, so it takes quite a bit longer to bed in the brakes or wear off the coating.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 30 2006, 06:20 AM) [snapback]325999[/snapback]</div>

I don't follow it. Mostly because I sometimes need to carry bicycles on my car. But I'm a wild man. I changed to Mobil1 at 1k miles.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Dec 1 2006, 03:34 AM) [snapback]356113[/snapback]</div>

Woo Hoo!!! I guess I must be pretty wild too. I changed to Mobil1 at 980 miles.

But before everybody gets upset at such low milage for the oil change, the recommended time period of six months to change the oil was up. Also, I got the oil analyzed at Blacksonte Laboratories in Indiana.

They found high levels of Copper (34 when it should have been 1) and Silicon (104 when it should have been 14). The report said "High wear and silicon are both common finds in new engines. The wear is high due to break-in of new parts, while silicon is from sealers and sand-casted parts. ... The TBN was still strong at 6.1, so the oil has plenty of active additive left. 1.0 is a low reading. Look for better wear and silicon next time."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Oct 1 2006, 06:22 PM) [snapback]326683[/snapback]</div>

I've been shifting into N just before stopping for a smoother stop. (I also was unnerved by the abrupt braking in the Prius). But don't shift into N too soon, since it disables regenerative braking and you lose more energy to the friction brakes.

 

Please look at this thread.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=16922

email me if you want to join the list.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 29 2006, 12:29 PM) [snapback]325667[/snapback]</div>

I plainly disagree.

What varzy described is not the transition from regen to friction braking. That happens near 7 or 8 mph. He stated that it happens below 5mph. This is also not the engine shutdown shudder, which can occur after completely stopped.

This brake sticking is not "normal". If it was normal it would have been reported numerous times since Prius birth. It is "new" behavior that seems to have arisen with the 06's. Those of you who do not own 06's are being rather dismissive of something that you do not have experience with. Drive an 06 for a period of weeks, and then report back.

It is not something varzy (or anybody else) should "get used to". I encourage those of you who are experiencing a brake sticking/grabbing problem during the last few feet of a stop, to plainly report the problem to a dealer every chance you get. Until enough dealers report the problem up the chain, there will be no action.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 29 2006, 02:29 PM) [snapback]325734[/snapback]</div>

varzy is describing behavior "just" before the stop, not the regen to friction transition. This brake sticking is not normal and is a problem. At times, when it occurs, it can be very noticeable and visibly shake and/or rock the vehicle during the last few feet of a stop.

 

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

Very good description of the driver/car interaction, and your intentions. From other reports on PriusChat, others have the very same intentions and also find it very difficult to produce a smooth stop. But this is something that doesn't seem to be the case prior to the 06 models. This is not normal behaviour. I encourage you to bring it up to the dealer, and don't let the dealer brush it off as "normal".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Oct 1 2006, 08:22 PM) [snapback]326683[/snapback]</div>

If you are suggesting this should go in the FAQ's, as a way of deflecting queries about something that is supposedly part of the "normal" operation of the Prius, I disagree.

I have tried the bandaid you suggest. The results are very short lived. The brake sticking behavior re-appears, sometimes within minutes, on the dryest of days. Rust formation? That quick?

This is a problem, and should be exposed as such. Drive an 06 for a few weeks and report back.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(beethoven @ Nov 27 2006, 04:01 PM) [snapback]354571[/snapback]</div>

22K and still rocking?? Wish it weren't so.

This is a definite problem. From reports, the brakes do not work that way prior to 06. Please report it to your dealer. It is the only way we all will get something done about it.

 

You should demand a TSB immediately! Don't let Toyota brush you off either.