TSB 05-13-8 (the one refered to above) applies only to the 05 year model and is specific to the rear brakes. I have noticed the grabbyness on my 07 and its definatly cold wet brakes. A change of pad material might relieve this symptom. But one or 2 aggressive warm up stops will also.

 

Umm.. the part in red is impossible, but I get what you are saying.
If your pads touch, they are slowing you down. Maybe just 1 MPH, but they are slowing you down ( else you are burning more gas to keep speed steady ).
Sounds kind of pointless though, and just something else for the "person who has everything" and needs to spend more money.

 

BTW, if you switch from drive to neutral and then apply the brakes, the FEH wont use regenerative braking. This forces the use of the disk brakes.

Ford says you don't really *need* to do this. The coefficient of friction is higher because of moisture. The brakes will naturally dry themselves as they are used, but if you want to force the drying you can use this trick.

 

Okay, now I'm really going to split hairs, but the coefficient of friction is LESS when the brakes are wet. When they dry off, the friction goes up, and they "bite" harder than you were expecting, since moments ago you needed to press the brakes a tad harder to overcome the wet & slipperyness.
-John

 

Not true! Water can behave as both an adhesive AND a lubricant. While a large amount of water will tend to act as a lubricant, a small amount of water will tend to act as an adhesive. Once excess water is spun (or wiped) off the brakes, the remaining moisture on the pads or discs will increase the coefficient of friction, not reduce it.

There are all sorts of physics experiments you can do to demonstrate this.

 

Just a word of caution. If you EVER remove the brake pads, calipers or rotors you MUST disable the ABS system. (battery disconected, Maxi fuses #24(50a) and # 31 (50a) removed) These systems on the Hybrid are ACTIVE even with the key off in park! The system does periodic pressure ups to test the system and fill the ABS accumulator. This means that with the pads removed IF the system does one of its automated tests it will push the pistons out of the calipers! And it will do a test when the dome light is activated! I.E. open the door and oh s*#t

 

Do you have a point of reference for this opinion? Have you changed your pads?

 

I think even the owners manual says not to change your brakes with the car "powered up". I know I have read this in official Ford documents more than once. Plus you can just tell by observations also.

 

You can change the pads and rotors, but it is absolutely impossible to bleed the system "powered up".

 

This is cut and paste from my 08FEH owners manual.

The Regenerative Braking System checks the integrity of the brake
system at times when the vehicle is parked. This is done by developing
brake pressure for short periods of time. In order to change the brake
pads, it is necessary to enter the Pad Service Mode. This will prevent
brake pressure from being applied.
To enter the Pad Service Mode, perform the following with the vehicle
stationary:
1. Place the vehicle in Park and turn ignition to the ON position.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Turn the ignition OFF, then ON three times and then release the brake
pedal. The total time elapsed for the three ignition cycles and brake
release must be less than 3 seconds.
The brake warning lamp will:
• flash as stored hydraulic pressure is released.
• remain illuminated once the pressure is completely released.
• flash if the brake is applied.
To exit the Pad Service Mode:
1. Apply the brake pedal and turn the ignition OFF then ON. This will
cause brake pressure to be developed within the brake system. Once
brake pressure is developed, the brake warning light will turn off.
2. The Pad Service Mode will also be exited if the gear shift lever is
moved from the (P) Park position, the vehicle is moved (wheels rotate)
or the ignition is turned OFF.

Hope this info helps

08FEH