[Marcodo25]

Hi everyone,
I am after some advice. I have had the CT200h for a year and a half and I love it. Besides having the cat converter stolen few weeks ago I have one major issue with the brakes, that after resolving, it came back shortly after. Now I am probably going to resolve it again and I want to do it right.

It's the harder/more rapid type of braking from higher speed such as 70mph and above, in other words the hard braking where the regenerative braking isn't effective enough and the actual brakes kick in, I get lots of vibration and a steering wheel and the whole car shake. And it doesn't happen when I break softly, as this is mainly done with the engine to recharge the battery.

I had a change of discs/rotors and it was fine for some time and once I had to brake hard again it started again in small amount and it has gradually creeped back to the steering wheel vibration. Now it's pretty bad again.

I am after an advice of which brand, model, type of brake discs/rotors I need to fit, and brake pads if needed for this to stop it happening for once and all. I assume there must be a model that is made for these type of hybrid cars and are resilient enough to the heat that do not warp no matter how hard one brakes.

Any advice is muchly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[Haha_jizzjizz]

How long after changing the brakes did in start happening again? How long after buying the car did it start happening? What brand rotor and pads did you replace with previously? Did it have OEM components when you bought the car?

 

[Marcodo25]

How long after changing the brakes did in start happening again? How long after buying the car did it start happening? What brand rotor and pads did you replace with previously? Did it have OEM components when you bought the car?

As soon as I had to make the first hard braking I started to feel that it gradually starts to vibrate again. When I bought the car, the first time it happened it was after a very hard braking in a rainy day.
I don't know the brands but nothing luxurious, just generic ones for the first repair. No not OEM components, generic.

 

[Haha_jizzjizz]

You sure its not the abs actuation you are feeling? Were both front rotors found to be warped?

 

[RickLafford]

As soon as I had to make the first hard braking I started to feel that it gradually starts to vibrate again. When I bought the car, the first time it happened it was after a very hard braking in a rainy day.
I don't know the brands but nothing luxurious, just generic ones for the first repair. No not OEM components, generic.

Many of us got the idea that "light" braking would recharge the battery - and we were correct - but what we consider light is not what the car necessarily thinks it is and, as a result, it applies some of the hydraulic brakes. Over a few miles downhill this really heats up the brakes and, over time, will often warp the rotors. After owning 2 Prius over the years, with which we had no brake problems, we managed to warp a set of rotors the first year on our 2012 CT200. If you toggle on the cruise control and watch the charge indicator, once it bottoms out during a downhill braking event, any further pressure will be applying some hydraulic disk brake. My suggestion is that you follow the same practice you would use on an ICE vehicle. Brake down to a lower speed and then relax the brakes to let the rotors cool. I routinely come down a 1,500' hill into town. Though I go through brake pads, since changing our braking habits we haven't warped another set of rotors. Hope this helps someone.

 

[Haha_jizzjizz]

Have you ever use the downhill gear? The one marked "B" (I think)

 

[RickLafford]

Have you ever use the downhill gear? The one marked "B" (I think)

Yes I have but it's very noisy and is only good for gentle slopes. Real hills will require the use of the hydraulic brakes.

 

[Marcodo25]

You sure its not the abs actuation you are feeling? Were both front rotors found to be warped?

No, ABS doesn't violently vibrate the steering wheel but gently vibrates the brake pedal and also its during any incl. normal braking condition not on wet or snowy conditions.

 

[RickLafford]

Warped rotors do tend to "pulse" the brake pedal but it is speed dependent. Fast speed gives a faster pulse. The ABS system activation sounds like gravel was thrown in the wheel bearings and is consistent at most speeds I've had it activate. It will activate anytime the sensors detect slippage - wet, snow, mud, wet leaves, etc. Give it a try and you'll instantly know the difference between "pulsing" warped rotors and the ABS.

 

[Marcodo25]

Have you ever use the downhill gear? The one marked "B" (I think)

I use it loads when I want to slow down before braking and not get my steering wheel shake like crazy.

 

[AisinW]

It is hard to believe CT200h has a wrap disc rotor if you still use OEM rotors. You probably just experience ABS with hard brake. Wrap disc is consistently giving you pulsating on any braking situation, not just hard braking. If you have aftermarket parts and the rotor gets too thin, it will only wrap in hard braking when the temperature is high.