I have a one month old 09 Sport manual. When I brake hard I feel like the rear end of my Fit is squatting down, like the rear brakes are working too hard. Is this a known issue or has anyone else noticed this? It also feels odd when coming to a slow stop. The car seems to rock back and forth a tiny bit at the moment of stopping.

When I drive my wife's Fit (exactly the same year, model, etc just 6 months older) I don't get these same sensations. Is it just because my car is brand new and hers is broken in? I don't remember feeling this when hers was brand new.

Any advice before I head to the dealer?

 

Head to the dealer - it doesn't sound common. In fact, if anything, Fits' rear comes UP during hard braking due to the light and stiff rear end.

 

yea somethings not right. Drum brakes shouldn't be grabbing more than the front disc brakes.

Something sounds funny. Like mentioned above head to the dealer.

 

The rear drums may be adjusted too tight so that the rear brakes are providing too much braking force.
or the proportioning valve may not be functioning correctly. Its supposed to cut off rear brake pressure so they won't lock up. If they are pulling too much force the rear will squat as you describe. I can make it happen on my Fit because the rears are discs also.
Its also possible your rear shoes are better friction material than the fronts.

Unless its really getting on your nerves I'd watch it for a while and see if it wears out rear shoes prematurely. Of course, I would get it recorded by the dealer as a check this while its going on and see if they want to do anything else.

 

It is a torsion beam, the pivot point is ahead (and a little above) of the rear wheel center.
The rear brakes on, it pivots the torsion beam.

You can prove this to yourself.

Pull up on the e-brake, put it in reverse and go backwards a little bit, the rear will rise. Do the same in forward and the rear will sink.
So it is natural to do this to some degree, but maybe not to the extent you are describing.

 

oh wow good explanation. i never thought about this but i get what you're saying.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'm gonna take her in. As a motorcycle rider I'm not too keen on the rear brakes doing too much. Bad things can happen.