Are our brake pedals suposed to be switches? I find it incredibly difficult to brake smoothly. They tend to grab somewhat violently at low speeds, causing me to lurch through parking lots of heavy traffic, and finding the engagement point on the highway or at higher speeds can be interesting. Is this just a "Fit thing" or should I be checking our my brake lines and such?

 

i would check the pads/calipers for any sticking. others have determined that this was their problem as well

 

It took some getting used to on my end. I agree, brake pedal modulation isn't one of the car's best qualities - especially if yours doesn't have ABS.

 

^^ Maybe you have nueropathy in your feet? My mother in-law suffers from this and riding in the car with her is a trial! She just kinda stands on the brakes whenever the need arises, whether it be a traffic light or a panic stop. I would also check the pads, something doesn't sound right....

 

I think it's the way the car just brakes. I know with mine they all of a sudden just bite hard. They seem real sensitive past a certain point.

 

Honda has programmed the transmission to assist in braking. Step hard on the brakes and you'll feel the transmission downshift to slow you down faster.

 

Mine's a manual so I doubt that's the issue.
I'm due for service soon, so I'll have them check the pads and calipers, but it sounds like this is just sort of the way it is. The brakes are hard to modulate by nature. I can live with it, just often makes for a somewhat herky-jerky experience in traffic.

 

This is what I usually do or I'll pump the brakes hard going down hill.

 

Fit brakes have two modes on and off. They seem to have engineered the brakes for a car weighing twice the weight. It does take some getting used to. Strangely this is just the opposite in my wife's element. I always seem to have to stomp on the brakes to stop the green toaster.

 

Rotors could possibly be extremely warped too

 

Was the OP a GD or GE Fit? Brakes on my 2009 Sport AT don't feel significantly different from any other car I have driven. Push hard to stop hard; push gently to stop gently. If you are getting different results than this, take it to a dealer -- brakes are a safety issue.

 

You're right, that's AT only. Brakes shouldn't 'grab', that's a sign something isn't working correctly. Unfortunately, I don't know what could cause this. If you're under warrantee, take it in.

 

Sounds like someone didn't get their rotors resurfaced!

 

Keeping the brake fluid topped off helps that problem by making sure the pedal is cushy on first contact and there's not a range of dead travel before it actually starts pushing the fluid.

 

Try changing your brake pads. I had problems with my brakes too but after I changed the brake pads, my Fit braked better.

 

Actually I have to mention a tire change helped things on my end. On my stock 14" Michelin Vivacys, lockup was VERY easy to trigger. That was just crappy rubber.

I uprated tires and wheels to 16" Bridgestone S-02PPs and Toyo Proxes 4s and gained some progression in the pedal modulation. Still not ideal, but much, much better than before. No changes in the brake system, I still run the stock Nissin pads and keep my brake fluid reservoirs full.

 

I absolutely hate the brakes on the Fit. They get brake fade way too fast and then you combine that with the fact that it has drums in the back, I just don't like them. That's me though.

 

Well, I'm due for some maintenance soon, so I'll have it all checked out. Dealer warranty! Pads have plenty of life, the rotors are fine and the tires are all balanced and in good shape. I guess after having driven cars with Brembos, this system is comparably just a tad bit underengineered! I mean that in the nicest way possible.

 

yeah i think since the Fit is so light, it doesnt take much to slow it down so yeah.. haha i was driving my mom's 3200+pound BMW today and it was completely different. It takes a lot more effort on the pedal but at the same time it has much better stopping power... i USED to think the bimmer was touchy but that was before i drove a Fit.. haha

you should probably check it out just to make sure but i think it's just the Fit persona you're experiencing

 

Not true, there is the same amount of fluid in your lines now as there was the day you bought your car unless you have a leak. Topping the fluid off now will only lead to spilling when you change pads in the future, you'll depress your piston and that extra fluid needs somewhere to go...