Squeaky friction brakes - is this normal?

bruceha_2000 · 06-25-2004, 09:30 AM

I happened to follow a friend out of a parking lot the other day and noticed there was a very loud squeaking when they got to the stop sign in their 2004 Prius and again when they slowed to turn into another business. Of course it was VERY quiet while they waited at the stop for traffic to pass ;-) Is it normal for the friction brakes to be that loud or should I ask if they have inquired at the dealer regarding a repair? Is was way too loud, I would never be able to tolerate it as a normal sound.

**efusco** · 06-25-2004, 10:07 AM

Doesn't sound normal to me. Are you sure it was the 'friction' brakes? Could it be an axle/bearing issue?

bruceha_2000 · 06-25-2004, 10:42 AM

Don't know. I only heard it as they were slowing down, definately below regen speed. Didn't hear it as they left the stop sign.

**Danny** · 06-25-2004, 11:14 AM

Had it been raining that day?

If so, that's the brakes basically scraping away any rust and removing the water from the brakes.

seeh2o · 06-25-2004, 12:08 PM

Last Saturday just as I touched the brake it made a little yelping sound. We actually thought there was a little dog outside of the car - until it happened again. It had been raining that day and the night before. I'll have them check it out at it's 10,000 mile check.

hdrygas · 06-25-2004, 12:18 PM

How many miles on the car? This car has a indicator on it to replace the brakes and they make a scraping squealing noise. Don't ignore that I did once before I knew about such things. It goes away soon and the next noise is the bake shoes on the drum or disk. This is bad and cost me money to resurface the disk on the car. Learned my lesson. I think all cars have it now and it is mentioned in the manual.

mdacmeis · 06-25-2004, 02:42 PM

What is being reported is typical, normal brake noise. Most people like to think that brake noise is not normal, but in reality, some noise will occur at some point, since friction is simply a high frequency vibration (very quick grab and release of the rotor or drum) that when altered by debris such as dust, rust, or moisture, can result in the vibrational frequency changing such that noise can be heard. The difficulty with the Prius is the linings are used so little, and generally only at low speeds, where the brake system is most susceptible to noise. Try doing a few moderate brake applies and decelerate to zero speed, so that you get the brake linings to come fully into play under 8 mph. This should quickly wear away the contaminants and should stop the noise.

Frank Hudon · 06-25-2004, 04:38 PM

yup noticed it the other day in the wife's 2k4 I had washed the car the day before, and it was on the way home commute and just slowing for a traffic light. Commute to work has a hill with 13% grade for almost a mile and used them on that one so don't know why after work. Car has less than 4000kms on it so I do know they're not worn out and if they are were all in for a lot of trouble!

aile · 06-28-2004, 12:27 PM

I just noticed a squeking noise coming from the front passenger wheel area this weekend. Mine is not from braking but happens at low speeds and more often when taking a left hand turn. It is also a repeatitive sound like one full rotation of the wheel. I'm having this looked at but my dealer needs a week to get a prius tech to his location.

texassalsa04 · 06-28-2004, 01:08 PM

Also noticed this on my Salsa...normally it's a quick chearp/squeek which occurs when I pull out of the garage in the morning. I also noticed this squeak when I leave work to go home after I've had the car parked in the parking lot all day. I figure that these quick chearp/squeak/yelp is normal...I may ask them to check the brakes when I take her in for the 5000 mile service. It sounds like lots of people are getting this same problem...if it can be called a problem.

06-25-2004, 09:30 AM	#1
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,549 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 1	Squeaky friction brakes - is this normal? I happened to follow a friend out of a parking lot the other day and noticed there was a very loud squeaking when they got to the stop sign in their 2004 Prius and again when they slowed to turn into another business. Of course it was VERY quiet while they waited at the stop for traffic to pass ;-) Is it normal for the friction brakes to be that loud or should I ask if they have inquired at the dealer regarding a repair? Is was way too loud, I would never be able to tolerate it as a normal sound. __________________ Bruce Mine: Driftwood '04 BC 24 Sept 2004 - added: mudflaps, door edge guards, side panel moldings, Coastal Tech EV switch, OEM Integrity tires, WeatherTech window deflectors. Last tank - 14 Jul '09: 728.9 miles - MFD MPG: 56.0 Actuals Lifetime: 93,087.3 miles, 48.90 MPG. Wife's: Barcelona '06 #7 May 2006 - added: front mudflaps, Coastal Tech EV switch. OEM Integrity tires. Last tank - 21 May '09: 419.4 miles - MFD MPG: 46.7 Actuals Lifetime: 31571.4 miles, 44.82 MPG.

06-25-2004, 11:14 AM	#4
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 5,290 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 38 Thanked 210 Times in 85 Posts Friends: 37	Had it been raining that day? If so, that's the brakes basically scraping away any rust and removing the water from the brakes. __________________ Follow PriusChat on and *Buy your discounted 2010 Prius Accessories* here and support PriusChat: PriusChat Shop PriusChat Also Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $1055 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875**

06-25-2004, 02:42 PM	#7
mdacmeis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 133 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	What is being reported is typical, normal brake noise. Most people like to think that brake noise is not normal, but in reality, some noise will occur at some point, since friction is simply a high frequency vibration (very quick grab and release of the rotor or drum) that when altered by debris such as dust, rust, or moisture, can result in the vibrational frequency changing such that noise can be heard. The difficulty with the Prius is the linings are used so little, and generally only at low speeds, where the brake system is most susceptible to noise. Try doing a few moderate brake applies and decelerate to zero speed, so that you get the brake linings to come fully into play under 8 mph. This should quickly wear away the contaminants and should stop the noise. __________________ Mark '04 Driftwood Pearl BC (#9), factory EV switch Lifetime average is 47.x mpg

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06-25-2004, 10:07 AM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,255 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 50 Thanked 263 Times in 158 Posts Friends: 37	Doesn't sound normal to me. Are you sure it was the 'friction' brakes? Could it be an axle/bearing issue?

06-25-2004, 10:42 AM	#3
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,549 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 1	Don't know. I only heard it as they were slowing down, definately below regen speed. Didn't hear it as they left the stop sign.

06-25-2004, 12:08 PM	#5
seeh2o Prius OG Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 364 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Last Saturday just as I touched the brake it made a little yelping sound. We actually thought there was a little dog outside of the car - until it happened again. It had been raining that day and the night before. I'll have them check it out at it's 10,000 mile check.

06-25-2004, 12:18 PM	#6
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	How many miles on the car? This car has a indicator on it to replace the brakes and they make a scraping squealing noise. Don't ignore that I did once before I knew about such things. It goes away soon and the next noise is the bake shoes on the drum or disk. This is bad and cost me money to resurface the disk on the car. Learned my lesson. I think all cars have it now and it is mentioned in the manual.

06-25-2004, 04:38 PM	#8
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	yup noticed it the other day in the wife's 2k4 I had washed the car the day before, and it was on the way home commute and just slowing for a traffic light. Commute to work has a hill with 13% grade for almost a mile and used them on that one so don't know why after work. Car has less than 4000kms on it so I do know they're not worn out and if they are were all in for a lot of trouble!

06-28-2004, 12:27 PM	#9
aile Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Attleboro, MA Posts: 35 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I just noticed a squeking noise coming from the front passenger wheel area this weekend. Mine is not from braking but happens at low speeds and more often when taking a left hand turn. It is also a repeatitive sound like one full rotation of the wheel. I'm having this looked at but my dealer needs a week to get a prius tech to his location.

06-28-2004, 01:08 PM	#10
texassalsa04 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 123 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Also noticed this on my Salsa...normally it's a quick chearp/squeek which occurs when I pull out of the garage in the morning. I also noticed this squeak when I leave work to go home after I've had the car parked in the parking lot all day. I figure that these quick chearp/squeak/yelp is normal...I may ask them to check the brakes when I take her in for the 5000 mile service. It sounds like lots of people are getting this same problem...if it can be called a problem.