When I back the car up, the rear brakes are engaging, not heavily, but enough to hear and feel it. Usually when I've got the wheel turned while backing.

Is this normal? If not, how do you fix it? I notice it doesn't seem to happen when the traction control is turned off.

 

Normal.
Its an ABS self-test

 

???

I've never had that happen in any ABS car I've driven before. And turning off the traction control stops it. To be honest, it makes me want to defeat the traction control permanently and put a hard switch on it. Not like it rains here, or I run in ice or snow ever. It definitely makes backing up harder and messes with the handling.

 

I really don't see what the big deal is.
It only occurs when you first move the vehicle.
Its not like it occurs at every stop.

Harder to back up and messes with handling?
I think that is over exaggerated.

You believe that a little "thud" is going to mess you up, but permanently disabling your traction control is a good idea?

 

It's not a thud, it is a constant drag on at least one of the rear wheels while reversing.
It affects the direction of the car while reversing (slightly) and makes me worry what would happen if I had to reverse at any speed (say over 15 mph). I'd hate to have to back down a road or alley and then have this suddenly cause the car to swerve out of control and hit something.

Again, it just seems weird to me that there would be this constant drag on the rear wheels in reverse. The more I think about it, the more I guess I need to call the dealership and ask if it's normal.

And have you ever backed a vehicle up at 40 mph? Cars in reverse are a lot touchier than going forward, doesn't take much to throw them off. Maybe this is normal, maybe it's not as bad as it feels coming out of the driveway or maneuvering in parking lots. Maybe I just need to practice running this thing in reverse at 30 to see how it handles. But it is not at all what I expected.

 

what you are describing does not sound like the abs self test. but i would take the time to read the owners manual..

and not sure what the real issue is. do you often drive in reverse at 40 mph, if so why?

i would love to do the math on what the revs are at 40 in reverse. i bet it would be way past the fuel cut off..

beers

 

50mph is the max in reverse

 

Yeah.... you shouldn't feel a drag with the ABS self test.
Maybe one of your calipers seized or isn't floating?

 

I honestly don't expect to have to drive that fast in reverse, but then you never know.
And I was trying to find out if what I was experiencing was normal or not. Would hate to find out that it was the sign of a more severe problem while I was having a fast drive thru the curves up in the mountains.

Guess it's time to call the dealer.

 

Good thinking Bruce Banner.

 

Yeah. They will listen to you very carefully, run several passes in reverse, check every TSB, then carefully take exactly the proper actions to get everything fixed up. They will get you straight. Make sure you use the attitude you're using here. That usually gives 'em a kick in the pants, getting them on the right path and makes them more friendly.


yup, uh huh.











Sounds vaguely serious to me. I would start over and describe the sounds and feelings a bit better. Particularly if it is a pulsing and at what Hz. With the limited info, it sounds like a bad caliper.

 

one thought,

are all the tires the same size? as in 225 45 18, or what ever.

beers

 

same problem over here. sounds exactly as u described. However, it sometimes does this in first gear as well, but only when i first take off after starting the car. There's a definite "dragging" feeling along with a grinding coming from the rear end. Not entirely sure if it's in fact the brakes or not, but possibly something in the diff? hope not, but it's another possibility... I did notice that turning off traction control completely before moving the car generally eliminates the problem... could it be more of an overall dsc self test rather than abs?

 

Who?

 

This is 100% the ABS test. No question. As for the reverse thing, it sounds like a related issue. Like the DSC is getting wrong info. Same goes with the OP>

Swoope may be on to something.

 

Not sure what your point is.

I heard something on a brand new, less than 1K mile car that I would normally associate with a bad caliper. So I came here first to find out if perhaps it is normal, or if it's something easily dealt with (like resetting the computer and recalibrating the TSC).

It is not a pulsing sound, it's a constant grinding sound, in reverse, when I have the steering wheel turned. If I turn off the TSC before backing it doesn't happen.

I don't know why people think when I said 'the rear brakes are engaging' that I meant they were pulsing on and off. They're engaging, they're not releasing. I guess I should have made that a bit clearer. They don't release until I pull forward.

 

My point is dont expect the dealer to come to the rescue. They might, and it would be cool, but you were doing the right thing coming here first. Running off in a huff before you give it a chance is not the best idea. Someone here knows what is going on or had it happen to them.

Once you are armed with specific information, then go to the stealership.

Two bits of advice; grow some thicker skin and provide much more detailed info. And third? SEARCH.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...brakes+reverse

 

Yes, this is a brand new, less than one month old (well one month old from the showroom floor) car. Had less than 10 miles on it when I test drove it. Noticed it the first time I backed out of the driveway.

I'm almost wondering if when they put the battery in it (it was out of the car) if they didn't do the 'turn the wheel one way, then the other' thing properly that it talks about in the owner's manual when reconnecting the battery.

The only reason I haven't yet gone by the dealer is that between work, (I work long hours), a death in the family, and some other extraneous crap, I haven't had a free couple of hours to get down there the last few weeks. Hell, I only got back into town from the funeral yesterday.

It is interesting that Rotary Guy has the same issue. If the car was a subaru I'd think the hill holder had broken on it.

 

I searched, nothing came up.

Thicker skin? Why? Sometimes I like to be snarky right back, only human after all.
As for going to the dealer, well I'm getting the impression this isn't common, or someone here would have nailed it right away (Swoope most likely, he seems to have a good handle on things). So the next step is call the dealer and see what they say. If it's not obvious to them, then I'll see about actually going over there and having them check it out.

 

Funny. I searched and got several threads.

Here's $0.35. Call someone who cares.

Good luck.

 

Being a bit of a dick dont you think?!

Fail that you don't know Bruce Banner... THE HULK!!! HES THE HULK!!!

 

I drift my RX8 in reverse all the time!

...

Why are you all looking at me like that?

 

 

Let's see, you came all the way here to deal me a rather poor insult that with the first name of Banner I have obviously heard before, and when I don't rise to it you're calling me a dick?



I didn't come here for flame wars, I didn't realize that so many people here are so quick to criticize and attack rather than try and lend a helping hand. So maybe I wasn't as clear as I could have been up front, Mea Culpa and let's move on.

As for this thread, the dealer asked me to stop by so he could have one of his guys check it out to see if it's normal or not. So let's just let it die.

 

yea,

i caught that you have a new one after a day..

this is going to be a very obscure thing when they find it..

the only thing i would guess would be a sticky brake slider that is pointed against rotation of the wheel in reverse..

but that is the only simple but very, very not likely..

good luck. obscure is fun to learn. sorry you have to suffer with it..

beers