[sahajesh]

Hi

Have noticed on new car (600 miles, one week old) that when braking at town speeds, I sometimes feel that the brakes are snatching a bit.

I don't see any warning lights in the car where it has braked for me, so is this down to it being a new car or a fault? Am I better off waiting a bit before going to a dealer for checking?

[PrinceBarin]

Sounds like it could be an issue - certainly if they are catching without any brake pedal input.

That said, are you familiar with the pre-tensioning that occurs in response to a rapid reduction in accelerator input? If you lift off the accelerator quickly then, in anticipation of an urgent braking manoeuvre, the brakes pre-tension which has the effect of making the biting point and modulation much more immediate. It can catch you by surprise sometimes!

[sahajesh]

It happens while I am already braking and I'm keeping a constant pressure on the brake pedal, however the brakes snatch during normal/light braking.

[chiark]

sounds like warped discs...

[mynamesnotbob]

It could just be bumps in the road if you are already braking, but I haven't had it at all to be honest they've been pretty rock solid with good feel.

It could also be a simple thing of air in the brakes, which probably wouldn't trigger the ABS light

Are these the standard brakes or the larger brakes with MSport+?

[Rich9600]

Could it be the auto box?

I'm in my first auto, and finding that I can't bring the car to as smooth a stop as I could in a manual. I always feel that the final stop is a bit of a jerk or 'snatch'.

In a manual I eased off the brakes with the clutch down on the final moments of a normal stop. Not an option in an auto...

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by mynamesnotbob

It could just be bumps in the road if you are already braking, but I haven't had it at all to be honest they've been pretty rock solid with good feel.

It could also be a simple thing of air in the brakes, which probably wouldn't trigger the ABS light

Are these the standard brakes or the larger brakes with MSport+?

Standard M Sport, not the bigger blue caliper ones

[mynamesnotbob]

If consistent grip, then look at air in the calipers first. Surprising how often it happens.

It could also be deposits on the disk/pad - this sometimes get reported as a warped disk. If you had a warped disk you would know about it, under heavy breaking it will feel like the wheel is trying to brake free

[teaston]

Originally Posted by sahajesh

Hi

Have noticed on new car (600 miles, one week old) that when braking at town speeds, I sometimes feel that the brakes are snatching a bit.

I don't see any warning lights in the car where it has braked for me, so is this down to it being a new car or a fault? Am I better off waiting a bit before going to a dealer for checking?

I think i sometimes feel the same thing as you, and am pretty sure it's the auto box changing down a gear and the subsequent engine braking that occurs.

Try it in manual and see if it still happens, just watch as the car will switch back to auto if you don't change down gears when slowing!

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by teaston

I think i sometimes feel the same thing as you, and am pretty sure it's the auto box changing down a gear and the subsequent engine braking that occurs.

Try it in manual and see if it still happens, just watch as the car will switch back to auto if you don't change down gears when slowing!

Hi,

Yep it turned out it was exactly that - the joys of driving an auto for the first time!

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

That said, are you familiar with the pre-tensioning that occurs in response to a rapid reduction in accelerator input? If you lift off the accelerator quickly then, in anticipation of an urgent braking manoeuvre, the brakes pre-tension which has the effect of making the biting point and modulation much more immediate. It can catch you by surprise sometimes!

I have experienced this as well, wasn't sure what was going on - thanks for the info PrinceBarin.