A110 Braking Questions
Discussion
Hi All,
I've had my A110 a few months now and loving it. A couple of questions to see what everyone else's experience is
1. I find it hard to stop smoothly. In a manual car I would 'feather' the brakes, so you wouldn't get the final 'jerk' when the wheels stop turning. A can't really do that in the Alpine as I have to keep pressure on the brakes up to the final stop to avoid creep - resulting in a small jerk. I'm new to this gearbox - is it a feature, or would it benefit from a recalibration or something? - This is in Normal mode, so should be the smoothest.
2. I find I need noticeably more initial pedal pressure in very wet weather. While I appreciate in theory the brakes might have less bite, this is the first car I've owned where I've noticed I have to press the pedal harder. I have the 320mm brakes.
Any thoughts from seasoned owners?
Cheers
Mike
I've had my A110 a few months now and loving it. A couple of questions to see what everyone else's experience is
1. I find it hard to stop smoothly. In a manual car I would 'feather' the brakes, so you wouldn't get the final 'jerk' when the wheels stop turning. A can't really do that in the Alpine as I have to keep pressure on the brakes up to the final stop to avoid creep - resulting in a small jerk. I'm new to this gearbox - is it a feature, or would it benefit from a recalibration or something? - This is in Normal mode, so should be the smoothest.
2. I find I need noticeably more initial pedal pressure in very wet weather. While I appreciate in theory the brakes might have less bite, this is the first car I've owned where I've noticed I have to press the pedal harder. I have the 320mm brakes.
Any thoughts from seasoned owners?
Cheers
Mike
1. Yes, the push of the auto drive on seems very aggressive, even compared to other autos we own/have owned. I don't know if it's possible to recalibrate it :/
2. Never noticed that on the smaller brakes. Do you know whether you have the standard pads or could the previous owner have fitted higher performance ones? Those usually need some temperature in them to start working well.
2. Never noticed that on the smaller brakes. Do you know whether you have the standard pads or could the previous owner have fitted higher performance ones? Those usually need some temperature in them to start working well.
101Mike said:
I need noticeably more initial pedal pressure in very wet weather.
I've worked for brake manufacturers and I've never heard that one before. People used to fret about wet discs but motorcycles have had disc brakes out in the weather for decades. Any wetness is easily dismissed by the combination of centrifugal force spinning off the water and immediate heating as soon as the brake is applied.Some modern "intelligent" brake systems fool about between force on the pedal and how quickly you hit the pedal. Mercedes are on example of this. If you approach the pedal gently because it's raining you may feel the system isn't giving you what you asked for.
I notice this effect when driving a saloon/estate car with additional passengers and luggage. Suddenly the brakes seem to be behaving differently, and not just an effect of the added weight. A change of character.
Braking: if I know I need to stop ahead or am likely to, I come off the throttle early and come gently to a halt. I’ve not noticed jerky stops to be a problem.
Wet weather: I can’t recollect a problem with the A110 but I’ve experienced what you describe in other cars after prolonged driving in very wet conditions.
Wet weather: I can’t recollect a problem with the A110 but I’ve experienced what you describe in other cars after prolonged driving in very wet conditions.
I've had my A110 for 6 months now and one of my biggest surprises was how much you have to stand on the brakes. I think it's the fact that everything else I've driven was over-servo'd, so there's not actually anything wrong with it, it just requires a different style. Given your first point, I haven't knowingly recognised it, I've just adapted to it.
I will likely change the front setup when funds permit, and go down the Godspeed floating disc route, with DS2500 pads, fluid and braided lines. The rears can stay as they are.
I will likely change the front setup when funds permit, and go down the Godspeed floating disc route, with DS2500 pads, fluid and braided lines. The rears can stay as they are.
Panamax said:
I've worked for brake manufacturers and I've never heard that one before. People used to fret about wet discs but motorcycles have had disc brakes out in the weather for decades. Any wetness is easily dismissed by the combination of centrifugal force spinning off the water and immediate heating as soon as the brake is applied.
Some modern "intelligent" brake systems fool about between force on the pedal and how quickly you hit the pedal. Mercedes are on example of this. If you approach the pedal gently because it's raining you may feel the system isn't giving you what you asked for.
I notice this effect when driving a saloon/estate car with additional passengers and luggage. Suddenly the brakes seem to be behaving differently, and not just an effect of the added weight. A change of character.
That's interesting, and kind of tallies with what I find driving my OH's 330e. Every now and again it feels like I really have to get into the peddle to stop it. Not dangerously so but makes me think I've misjudged things for a split second. Some modern "intelligent" brake systems fool about between force on the pedal and how quickly you hit the pedal. Mercedes are on example of this. If you approach the pedal gently because it's raining you may feel the system isn't giving you what you asked for.
I notice this effect when driving a saloon/estate car with additional passengers and luggage. Suddenly the brakes seem to be behaving differently, and not just an effect of the added weight. A change of character.
John D. said:
That's interesting, and kind of tallies with what I find driving my OH's 330e. Every now and again it feels like I really have to get into the peddle to stop it. Not dangerously so but makes me think I've misjudged things for a split second.
A 330e is a (P)HEV, if I'm not mistaken - many of those (and EVs) have inconsistent pedal feel as a result of brake blending between regen and hydraulics. Personally, I've never driven the 330e but recently I had a Corsa EV for a rental car and the brake blending was so shocking, I had a genuine heart in mouth moment when having to make a serious stop due to an unexpected cut-in; the pedal sank as if one of the hydraulic circuits had emptied in a conventional braking system, and then at the lower third of the pedal travel the brakes just seemed to lock on. Quite unpleasant to say the least. With the A110, I also find it surprisingly difficult to come to a full stop without any jerk. So much so that I tried it with the transmission in neutral as well, and that did the trick for me. If there was a way to engage neutral with the paddles, I think it would become part of my routine... but AFAIK, there's no way to do that. Come to think of it, I have to drive quite some automatics of all makes and types, but they are typically a whole lot heavier. That additional mass might actually act as a damper.
Edited by Yuri75 on Monday 26th October 20:39
MicahGTi said:
I've had my A110 for 6 months now and one of my biggest surprises was how much you have to stand on the brakes. I think it's the fact that everything else I've driven was over-servo'd, so there's not actually anything wrong with it, it just requires a different style. Given your first point, I haven't knowingly recognised it, I've just adapted to it.
I will likely change the front setup when funds permit, and go down the Godspeed floating disc route, with DS2500 pads, fluid and braided lines. The rears can stay as they are.
Just check that the front pads have not become rusted into the calipers. I had this on both front inner pads. There is a thread about this problem.I will likely change the front setup when funds permit, and go down the Godspeed floating disc route, with DS2500 pads, fluid and braided lines. The rears can stay as they are.
Yuri75 said:
A 330e is a (P)HEV, if I'm not mistaken - many of those (and EVs) have inconsistent pedal feel as a result of brake blending between regen and hydraulics. Personally, I've never driven the 330e but recently I had a Corsa EV for a rental car and the brake blending was so shocking, I had a genuine heart in mouth moment when having to make a serious stop due to an unexpected cut-in; the pedal sank as if one of the hydraulic circuits had emptied in a conventional braking system, and then at the lower third of the pedal travel the brakes just seemed to lock on. Quite unpleasant to say the least.
With the A110, I also find it surprisingly difficult to come to a full stop without any jerk. So much so that I tried it with the transmission in neutral as well, and that did the trick for me. If there was a way to engage neutral with the paddles, I think it would become part of my routine... but AFAIK, there's no way to do that. Come to think of it, I have to drive quite some automatics of all makes and types, but they are typically a whole lot heavier. That additional mass might actually act as a damper.
Fair point. It is a PHEV. I'd not considered regen could be playing a part.With the A110, I also find it surprisingly difficult to come to a full stop without any jerk. So much so that I tried it with the transmission in neutral as well, and that did the trick for me. If there was a way to engage neutral with the paddles, I think it would become part of my routine... but AFAIK, there's no way to do that. Come to think of it, I have to drive quite some automatics of all makes and types, but they are typically a whole lot heavier. That additional mass might actually act as a damper.
Edited by Yuri75 on Monday 26th October 20:39
I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't stop without a jerk , its not related to high speed stops, equally present in stop/start traffic jams. Interesting about the light weight - perhaps that does play a part. I'd kind of like the clutch to disengage a little earlier, if only in normal mode. That said its not a huge issue, but I'll have a chat with the dealer next time I'm in, it is under extended warranty.
I've nothing to suggest the pads aren't OEM, the car had the front disks and pad replaced at Winchester before I got it, due to uneven inner surface wear - probably the corroded caliper issues noted earlier (?). I'm pretty sure the increased pressure needed effect is real, but only in extreme wet conditions.
In general the brakes need a little more pressure than most modern cars, which tend to be over servoed but I find them perfectly weighted
I've nothing to suggest the pads aren't OEM, the car had the front disks and pad replaced at Winchester before I got it, due to uneven inner surface wear - probably the corroded caliper issues noted earlier (?). I'm pretty sure the increased pressure needed effect is real, but only in extreme wet conditions.
In general the brakes need a little more pressure than most modern cars, which tend to be over servoed but I find them perfectly weighted
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