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Toyota Camry Hybrid Brake Problems
I've owned Toyotas for 16 yrs; still drive a 2000 Camry. Since the day we got the TCH, the brakes seemed 'different,' overly sensitive. On slowly backing down my driveway, they almost felt grabby. Anyone else had that problem? Or is it just MY car may need an adjustment? BTW, love the car, despite center-console squeak. These both are minor and will be addressed.
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Granted that is 6 feet further than the 07 Escalade. However considering how much ground you're covering at 60 mph (88 feet per second), for my concern, the reaction time of the driver is much more critical than the 10 yards (about 1/3 of a second) difference in panic stopping distances.
I'd like to see how the TCH did compared to the Camry LE, Honda Accord, Honda Accord Hybrid, etc. I wonder if the regenerative braking causes the longer stopping distances?
Well, I'm at least glad the NHTSA tests showed the TCH at 5-stars for front and side impact tests for all passengers. That will help offset some concern over stopping distances. And, though not possible in all cases, sometimes you can brake and steer around things, which is where ABS & VDIM come into play.
also comparing a TCH and RX-8 is like apples and oranges
Gampa
Of course sports cars have shorter stopping distances- they have bigger brakes, larger tires, and stiffer suspensions.
If you want to see long- the Prius took 154' to stop from 60mph.
AFAIK, R&T tested a preproduction model.
The tires on the TCH are reasonable all season tires. Yes, you can improve the stopping distance with higher performance tires, but your trade off is a harsher ride and more noise.
tom
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/18/automobiles/18TECH.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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June 18, 2006
Stopping Short
By SHAUN BAILEY
In its tests of new cars, Road & Track magazine routinely measures stopping distances from 60 miles an hour. The following lists include the best and worst results reported within the last four years in the magazine's Road Test Summary. All of the cars had antilock braking systems.
Modern passenger cars have such powerful brake systems that in a panic stop, when the driver slams on the brake pedal, there are two possible outcomes:
In a car without antilock brakes, the wheels will lock up. From a cruising speed of 60 m.p.h., a car with locked brakes will slide nearly 200 feet. An aware and skilled driver can avoid lock-up and modulate brake pressure to achieve distances closer to 150 feet.
In a car with antilock brakes, the distance can usually be shortened to 130 feet or less. When the antilock system is activated, a modern car's stopping distance has more to do with the tires than with the size of the brake rotors. Sedans with all-season tires do not stop as well as sports cars with high-performance tires that provide more grip.
When it was tested 21 years ago, a Honda Civic without antilock brakes stopped in 166 feet from 60 m.p.h. And while a more recent Civic EX (with an antilock system) had one of the worst performances in Road & Track tests over the last two years, it still managed, at 133 feet, an impressive 20 percent improvement over the old Honda.
It is also noteworthy that a Mazda RX-8 stops nearly as well as some superexotic sports cars. The Mazda's braking benefits from sticky tires, antilock technology and a lightweight chassis. SHAUN BAILEY
BEST
Aston Martin V-8 Vantage 107 ft.
Ferrari F430 Spider 107 ft.
Lotus Exige 107 ft.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 107 ft.
Porsche Boxster S 107 ft.
Porsche 911 Carrera S 108 ft.
Ferrari Enzo 109 ft.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 109 ft.
Maserati Quattroporte 109 ft.
Mazda RX-8 110 ft.
WORST
Ford Escape XLT 145 ft.
Volkswagon Passat 3.6 138 ft.
Volvo S60 T5 138 ft.
Cadillac CTS 138 ft.
Audi A3 2.0 T. 138 ft.
Mitsuibishi Eclipse GT 137 ft.
Toyota Camry Hybrid 136 ft.
Subaru Legacy GT Limited 135 ft.
Scion xB 134 ft.
Honda Civic EX 133 ft.
On a conventional car, the braking system is independent of everything except the brake petal and the antilock braking systems.
In essense, the HSD has two functions to braking, while conventional cars just, well, brake.
Mine seem to grab at the last possible moment as you come to a complete stop. I tried unsuccessfully to duplicate it for a technician when I had it in for other reasons. They said that they were behaving normally.
You have to keep in mind that the brakes at slow speed can be grabby, since you are braking "by wire" - there is no mechanical connection between the brake calipers and brake pedal. It is done electronically. At higher speeds (abouve 12mph from what I have heard), braking is done by using the resitance of the "generator" and this is used to recharge the batteries. In a panic stop, the mechanical/hydraulic brakes are engaged.
service center. And yes the brakes are very sensitive but I
feel secure with them. Overall it is to this day the best car I ever owned.
was well known by Toyota. They installed some sort of manufacture supplied fix kit. Only problem? Brakes still squeak..worse than before. So its back to the dealer again
asap.
They say the brake pads have metal in their composition which rusts and causes the brakes to squeak for the first few times I brake and especially during wet weather. I've had several Camrys and have never had this irritating problem. This my first TCH. What do you all think?>
Ive seen refernce to a technical service bulletin but i dont know where to find them.
Going in for the first service appointment tomorrow, will check back in the morning.
I also want to get fog lights and a block heater for winter FE.
average 35 mpg so far, 22 with my Volvo
Dealer said fog lights would cost about 900.00
Definitely not worth it unless done at the factory.
I just picked up my TCH and everything is good so far except for the break. When I am breaking to stop the car or simply slowing down the car, it makes some kind of noise like wind blowing noise or hail noise.
Does anyone expriencing this problem? please share!
thank
I am in the process learning all about the TCH. If anyone exprience the below situation please share! When the car stop at a traffic light or at park or when just started, the fuel consumption gauge at E, now you step on the gas pedal to get the car rolling, the car is not rolling smoothly like a regular gasoline engine car would. If I step on the gas pedal very slowly then the car rolling smoothly. I don't know if because it is in the transition stage from electric to gasoline so the car is hesitating?
The ECO button, is it o.k to use it all the time? Does it really help with the MPG? My first tank, I averaged 32 miles and I put on 480 miles. Will I get better MPG?
thanks
PT
If the ECO mode saves gas, I haven't noticed it. On hot days I think it reduces the cooling output of the AC too much.
Your mileage will vary greatly based on how and where you drive, length of trips, outside temperature (cold weather hurts hybrid mileage), and I'm sure a few other factors.
The best test is probably to take a long freeway drive. At 70 mph I'd be surprised if you didn't get 38-40 mpg (assuming it wasn't mostly uphill!).
I also noticed that when I had the ECO button on the AC reduced the cold air. I read the manual and it says that the ECO can help to improve MPG but will reduce cold air or heat, take longer to cool or heat up.
thanks
PT
I normally start out gently and hardly feel the shudder, now that I have 2500 miles I sometimes accelerate fast when the situation calls for it; it takes off like a v6 and no shudder at all.
I looked up toyota canada and im going to try to have the back up assist, a canadian spoiler and a block heater installed there, should be about 2 500 mile tanks of fuel and a nice ride.
Toyota canada has a better customizing web site if you choose the xle model. they dont show much for our hybrids