A question about the brakes

Brake feel has nothing to do with braking power.......

Pressing the brakes earlier to come to a stop????

I smell a troll...

 

This is a good question. Maybe it has to do with regen braking. If the brakes were stronger there would be less time to regen.

Also has anybody outfitted their prius with stronger brakes and has this affected fuel economy due to extra weight.

 

Justaguy, The Prius has better braking, shorter and more controlled stopping distances then any car I have driven in my 25 years and countless vehicles later of driving.

I keep reading this forum and get sick to my stomach because of all the idiots that jump on the band wagon of bull#$%^&*(*&^.

Did you test drive your Prius' before buying? Why would you buy a car if you think the brakes are bad? Kinda makes you the idiot for buying.

 

I think driving style may have a lot to do with it. I give myself a large margin of error and prefer to start braking early and come to a slow stop. Easier on me, easier on the braking components including the tyres.

I moved from a '95 Ford Futura (close to a Taurus) into the Prius last November and my driving and braking style hardly changed except that now I'm averaging over 60mpg in city traffic.

Day before yesterday I was behind a semi-trailer when I saw smoke pouring off his wheels, I guess someone in front behaved badly. I fairly stomped on the brakes and the prius stopped faster and in less distance than I have ever experienced in any car I have driven. It was a real yee-haa moment.

Cheers
Warwick

 

I have no complaints about stopping distance. I did experiece the brake feel event...once but in general there is nothing to complain about. Stopping distance is certainly better than in my Murano or my dw's Pilot and my previous Acura 3.2 TL.

BTW...I suspect the Prius brakes will not be susceptable to the warping and wear that have plagued the Pilot. I understand that the regen feature actually extends brake and pad life as the motor generator actually absorbs some of the initial friciton and shock extending the overall life of the brake componenets.

 

I haven't done a panic stop in our Prius yet, although I have done a couple of moderately aggressive stops and many hundreds of moderate to smooth stops.I have no complaints about the brakes in our 2010 Prius.

 

Not really that, more the fact that the Pilot is a 5000lbs cow and the brakes are not big enough.

 

Yes I agree...with the 5000lbs cow part...but dw loves it. Besides I always feel like a trucker driving it.

 

Press harder; the Prius will stop faster. Regen braking has nothing to do with it. Press real hard and fast and the Prius skips regen all together. In fact, the brake assist system significantly reduces reaction time in a panic stop.

One of the main limiting factors with Prius braking are the tires. If you want really stellar braking you need larger, grippier tires, which is exactly what you don't want for good mileage.

Tom

 

Why not press the pedal harder?

 

In non-emergency situations, i.e. most of the time, many of us hybrid drivers intentionally take longer to stop in order to maximize regeneration.

But in emergency braking, or rather accidentally triggered Brake Assist mode, this is the only car I've owned in which the wife has complained about shoulder belt pain from the hard braking force.

 

The brakes on my 2010 Prius are much better than on my Hyundai. It was the first thing I noticed when I took it out for it's test drive and they haven't disappointed me yet.

 

1. The stopping distances for the 2010 Prius with 15" wheels are NOT horrible.

According to Consumer Reports' road test, the 2010 with 15" wheels and 195/65R15 tires has 60-0 mph stopping distances of 133 feet (Dry) -- which is pretty good, and 147 feet (Wet) -- which is average/mediocre.

2. In comparison, the braking distances for the Gen II Standard Prius were subpar, if not horrible.

According to Consumer Reports' road test of a 2004 Prius with 15" wheels and 185/65R15 tires, it had 60-0 mph stopping distances of 143 feet (Dry) and 152 feet (Wet). These stopping distances are well below average. In fact, in 2008, they ranked only in the 11th percentile of the then over 100 current model sedans tested by Consumer Reports.

3. The best braking distances Consumer Reports achieved on a Prius were on a Gen II Touring Edition Prius.

According to Consumer Reports' road test of a 2008 Touring Edition Prius with 16" wheels and 195/55R16 V speed rated tires, it had 60-0 mph stopping distances of 133 feet (Dry) and 140 feet (Wet).

I would expect even shorter stopping distances if Consumer Reports were to test the 2010 Prius with 17" wheels and 215/45R17 tires.

 

The brake on my P is very capable. Recently, in a moderately aggressive situation, my laptop bag in the passenger seat did a 360 before landing in the footwell. If anything, it is too touchy. No ABS triggered, no tire screeching heard. Touring model, 215/45R17 Michelins, 2000km on the odo.

 

Real Prius pilots never use brakes; they hurt fuel economy :madgrin:.

 

So you are complaining about the feel of the power assist, not the capability of the actual brakes.

"Normal" covers a broad range, especially for drivers who remember manual steering and brakes.