2nd Generation (GE 08-present)The New Fit... Generation specific talk and questions here.
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4 wheel disc brakes vs discs and drums won't change the "rear lifting" described here.
I find it hard to believe that on a straight flat surface that aggressive braking would lift the rear off the ground. I think the limits of tire adhesion would prevent it.
Idk about Hondas ABS system.. On my 8th gen civic it works when it doesn't need too. IE braking gently over a speed bump but not when it needs to like hard braking on the highway. Most fits out there don't even have the VSA anyways
This happens because of the weight being 65% in the front and that percentage is exponentially increased by the braking force which makes the actual weight load on the front much much higher, with the brakes floored it just takes a emergency swerve or serious bump to get the ass-end airborne.
Lamest part about the fit...but I'm not about to go relocate the battery etc. to try and balance it out, just be careful and it can be kept under control.
If you read my prior post--I'm just a tad scared what will happen next time I have to emergency stop AND swerve since that makes the car unstable rather quickly...
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This happens because of the weight being 65% in the front and that percentage is exponentially increased by the braking force which makes the actual weight load on the front much much higher, with the brakes floored it just takes a emergency swerve or serious bump to get the ass-end airborne.
Shouldn't the ABS release the front wheels when they lock up? Of course if the back wheels are off the ground they will lock up too until the ABS kicks in... It might be worth having the dealer look into the functionality of OP's ABS.
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Shouldn't the ABS release the front wheels when they lock up? Of course if the back wheels are off the ground they will lock up too until the ABS kicks in... It might be worth having the dealer look into the functionality of OP's ABS.
The front brakes don't have to lock up for the gravitational transfer of weight to the front end under hard braking to happen--although the brakes work extremely well and I've never had lockup under hard breaking.
However, that doesn't change the fact that there is less than 900lbs. of weight on the rear axle compared to 1600lbs.+ on the front, and thats standing still, add the transfer of weight caused by hard braking and it just takes all the weight away from the back-end, I don't know how you could possibly avoid it.
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I've never had my fit fishtail, wag, or have the rear-end come out on me when I had to brake hard. I've also never had any wheels come off the ground unless it involved a floor-jack.
I have my doubts about this happening regularly to people, but I could see it if there were a perfect-storm of conditions.
Rear discs would only transfer a little more weight towards the rear, but if the rear wheels aren't on the ground, they wouldn't help you stop any. Heh. I have noticed that my fit handles better with the rear seats flopped down, that transfers the weight closer to the ground, and a bit forward.
OP: I would have probably been scared that something broke when I came down. Heh.
I have my doubts about this happening regularly to people, but I could see it if there were a perfect-storm of conditions.
Exactly, it only happens when you really have to put the brakes to the floor AND swerve, which I've only done a couple times in emergency situations in the year I've owned it. I've never had it happen just going straight, although I could imagine it happening on a downhill incline just going straight and slamming the brakes...
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I suspect this issue is related to the extend nose that USDM Fits have, plus the fact that they removed the spare to keep the weight down. If you have an Auto Fit, that's even more weight over the front wheels. I bet they didn't change the front spring rates when they did all that => more weight transfer.
FWIW, I've never had the tail go light, but I've only had to brake hard enough for the ABS to come on once or twice. My car is the short nosed manual and has a full size spare wheel.
I find it hard to believe that on a straight flat surface that aggressive braking would lift the rear off the ground. I think the limits of tire adhesion would prevent it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ken_vs_ryu
did the op have slicks on the front tires?
On one of my over zealous runs at an AutoX event held at the Oakland Coliseum last year, I slammed on the brakes prior to entering a sharp decreasing radius right-hand turn at 45 mph. The Fit merely slid to a stop after I went off course. At that event, mrFroge's Fit was equipped with Hawk HP Plus brake pads (for aggressive braking), and shod with 225/50R15 Kumho Ecsta V710 tires (slicks on the front). The surface was smooth and clean. I experienced no rear end lift during that panic maneuver. BTW, I never saw turn marshals move so quickly!
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I suspect this issue is related to the extend nose that USDM Fits have, plus the fact that they removed the spare to keep the weight down. If you have an Auto Fit, that's even more weight over the front wheels. I bet they didn't change the front spring rates when they did all that => more weight transfer.
I think most USDM Fits have a spare, it's a donut. Mine came with one, I think the Canadian Fits don't have a spare, just the spare fix kit. If I remember reading correctly.
My Fit also didn't come with those great Jazz leather seats you got. What I would do for them. Maybe one day I will be able to import them over.
I also never had the problem of the rear lifting up, I have felt the car get light so to speak over potholes. Also I have noticed that after I hit 4000 miles the handling got much better. I got VSA but I've only seen it come on about 5 times 4 of which were while I was accelerating over bumpy roads.
It would be better I think to have rear discs, but so far my drums are ok. Maybe one day I will do that JDM trailing arm assembly swap, but I'm hoping before then for a Honda mod from other models. Not on my top priority.
Maybe steel brake cable lines and better pads will help.
I think most USDM Fits have a spare, it's a donut. Mine came with one, I think the Canadian Fits don't have a spare, just the spare fix kit. If I remember reading correctly...
Yes that's correct about the Canadian Fits except it's only the automatic that gets the "fix kit". The manual transmission Fits have the donut.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by macbuddy
On one of my over zealous runs at an AutoX event held at the Oakland Coliseum last year, I slammed on the brakes prior to entering a sharp decreasing radius right-hand turn at 45 mph. The Fit merely slid to a stop after I went off course. At that event, mrFroge's Fit was equipped with Hawk HP Plus brake pads (for aggressive braking), and shod with 225/50R15 Kumho Ecsta V710 tires (slicks on the front). The surface was smooth and clean. I experienced no rear end lift during that panic maneuver. BTW, I never saw turn marshals move so quickly!
Thanks for posting. That confirms exactly what I suspected.
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Someone asked why the ABS did not kick in on th OP's car?
How does the ABS work on a Honda Fit? Does it measure the diffrence rolling speed on the wheels? Does it measure the rear versus the front wheel?
If you brake hard and have a good grip so both front wheels rolls at the same speed, or both stops, how should the ABS detect that the wheels are slippering?
Is it not possible that under very special conditions the ABS does not work, like all wheels rolling at same speed when braking? I know there is a slim chance for that happening, but it is possible, right?
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If in fact the rear end lifted during the panic stop then I would file a note to the NSTB to ensure they know about it. Your report along with others could identify a trend (if one exists). If it doesn't identify a trend then that is information too.... and you might want to have your brake system checked out. Most brake systems used to have a proportioning valve / system that distributes the braking force between the front and rear brakes (the front would always "do" almost all braking than the rear if this didn't exist) and keep the car stable during braking. I am new to the Fit and not sure if they have a proportioning valve / system or not or if it is controlled some other way (ABS?).........
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