Topic: We Stress Test the Recalled 2010 Prius Brakes

[airbalancer]

We wanted to understand the Prius situation better, so we arranged to borrow a 2010 Prius and we took it to the main parking lot at Portland International Raceway. The pavement there is rough and riddled with cracks. Luckily for our purposes, the sky was also pouring down rain, making big puddles about 20 feet across in various places.
http://www.drivingsports.com/site/2010/02/5354/

[Shnak]

Link doesn't work...

About the test, did they have a Prius that had Toyota's firmware fix or not? I though only Prius's built before January had this problem.

[airbalancer]

Depends on what if you think there is a problem
Software changes were in January, so I do not think any that were built in January would be on a dealers lot yet

[Shnak]

Well Toyota seems to think that there is a problem with the Prius brakes...

[DrJay]

Well Toyota seems to think that there is a problem with the Prius brakes...

So do the people that own one that won't stop...

[tpl]

From the description of the problem it sounds as if it just like my Audi A4  was in heavy rain.   If I started and drove at expressway speeds in heavy rain without using the brakes at all  the FIRST time I applied them there was a distinct delay while the water cleared.   After that first time they worked perfectly even if I didn't use them for several Km in the rain.

Now I know it is not the same thing as the Prius  but certainly it always gave me a fright the first few times.

[DrJay]

From the description of the problem it sounds as if it just like my Audi A4  was in heavy rain.   If I started and drove at expressway speeds in heavy rain without using the brakes at all  the FIRST time I applied them there was a distinct delay while the water cleared.   After that first time they worked perfectly even if I didn't use them for several Km in the rain.

Now I know it is not the same thing as the Prius  but certainly it always gave me a fright the first few times.

Many have compared the two (Audi/Toyota) for that problem.  Many have also questioned, if the problems are indeed similar, why didn't Toyota learn anything from it. Considering (correct me if I am wrong) the braking systems are quite similar?

[blur911]

Many have compared the two (Audi/Toyota) for that problem.  Many have also questioned, if the problems are indeed similar, why didn't Toyota learn anything from it. Considering (correct me if I am wrong) the braking systems are quite similar?

Don't know what you're talking about.   The Toyota has a hybrid regenerative electric braking system along with a regular friction type system that work in tandem.  The Audi system is just your regular four wheel disk with abs. 
The problem described with the Audi is commonplace, especially with certain brake pad compounds.

[rrocket]

Ford's hybrid system is having the same "problem".  I suspect it just feels different from "normal" brakes.  The braking in my Insight also feels different.

[articsteve]

"We have received reports that some drivers have experienced a different brake feel when the hybrid's unique regenerative brakes switch to conventional hydraulic braking," Ford said in a release today. "While the vehicles maintain full braking capability, customers may initially perceive the condition as loss of brakes."

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/6604831/recalls/ford-offers-proactive-hybrid-regenerative-brake-software-update/index.html#ixzz0frMfdsus


Ford has named this "recall";  FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM