OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!!

jayman · 03-08-2008, 12:20 PM

I've had that happen to many different vehicles, though oddly enough not to my Prius ... yet. If you drive on a gravel road for any distance, that can happen in summer

DaveinOlyWA · 03-08-2008, 12:51 PM

same thing happened to me EXCEPT i was driving POS and caught a piece of metal from a truck hauling construction debris (we think) well it squealed about 15 seconds and caught and it stopped my car in its tracks breaking the u-joint on the drive line in the process. my neck snapped, and after that i basically had so much physical problems i had to walk away from the job i had working in a paper mill two years later and get a desk job (best thing that ever happened to me!! woulda been too stubborn and too stupid to have done it on my own)

woulda been nice to have someone else pay for it besides me but could not prove anything... but im ok now and much happier

a rock is not hard enough to do that... and yes it does sound scary.

V8Cobrakid · 03-08-2008, 01:15 PM

my only experiance with this is a small stone in the disk brakes. *shrug*

Twickle Purple · 03-08-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

same thing happened to me EXCEPT i was driving POS and caught a piece of metal from a truck hauling construction debris (we think) well it squealed about 15 seconds and caught and it stopped my car in its tracks breaking the u-joint on the drive line in the process. my neck snapped, and after that i basically had so much physical problems i had to walk away from the job i had working in a paper mill two years later and get a desk job (best thing that ever happened to me!! woulda been too stubborn and too stupid to have done it on my own)

woulda been nice to have someone else pay for it besides me but could not prove anything... but im ok now and much happier

a rock is not hard enough to do that... and yes it does sound scary.

Man, that's a tough break. You came out okay which is great. I had no idea the crap on the road would get in and create the scenario with the brake.

There's a lot of debris on the roads where I live and I've had dozens of cars and driven for 30 years -- never had I experienced this. And your post shows how flukey this is.

DaveinOlyWA · 03-09-2008, 08:25 PM

ya, the physical issues i had actually cleared up for the most part over time. granted this was 15 years ago... what made it so bad is that it all happened when i was only moving about 25 mph... but with absolutely no warning at all as to what was gonna happen, i was not braced for it or nothing...

tommyzed · 07-28-2008, 08:39 PM

Hi - I don't own a Prius (a Honda Civic, to be honest), but I found this thread on a google search and I believe it fits my exact problem. I was off-roading in the Redwood National Forest (Fern Canyon) and on my way back to SF, I noticed an intermittent screeching coming from the front right tire. It sounded like metal on metal and I was pretty worried... however, upon inspection, I could see nothing wrong and I made it home OK.

Today, I noticed it starting again and so I decided to pop off the tire. Inspecting the rotor, I see a small stone-sized object between the shield and the inner disk. I tried to dislodge it, but I didn't have anything slim enough to slip through to hit the stone.

So, my question - before I stick a knife or a wire hanger up there to dislodge the stone, are there any electrical concerns I should have? Is it possible to shock/electrocute myself? I assume not since it's all metal and I can touch the rotor without problems, but I figure I should ask in case it's best to just pay a "professional" to do this easy, easy fix. (the lowest quote I got was $35).

Thanks,
tom

tochatihu · 07-28-2008, 09:51 PM

tommyZ I see no problem (electrical or otherwise) with removing the stone with knife, wire etc. Electricity does not go there. If you happen to slash the hydaulic fluid line, that would not be good. if you don't mind paying the nice man $35, that would be fine also.

DaveinOlyWA · 07-29-2008, 12:47 AM

save yourself the money, if you can change a tire, you will have no issues getting the rock out...btw, removal of tire is not necessary.

ChapmanF · 07-29-2008, 07:56 AM

Happened to me years ago in a Mazda 323, driving in the city. Really unnerving sound. I turned right around back to the parking garage at work and jacked up the front. It was no trouble to pin down which side the trouble was on, because just turning the tire slowly by hand sounded like I was killing a cat. I probably overreacted and removed the whole rotor and hub and looked at the bearings. I never did spot whatever chunk of grot was responsible, which probably dropped out unnoticed while I was taking stuff apart, but it was all nice and quiet again on reassembly....

-Chap

tommyzed · 07-29-2008, 05:23 PM

yay! I took off the tire (can't reach it otherwise), slipped a normal butter knife in between the guard and the plate to open up the gap a bit more... and voila! Little stone pops out! No more screeching, no more worries.

Thanks so much Prius People!

03-08-2008, 12:20 PM	#11
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 6,465 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! I've had that happen to many different vehicles, though oddly enough not to my Prius ... yet. If you drive on a gravel road for any distance, that can happen in summer

03-08-2008, 12:51 PM	#12
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,676 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! same thing happened to me EXCEPT i was driving POS and caught a piece of metal from a truck hauling construction debris (we think) well it squealed about 15 seconds and caught and it stopped my car in its tracks breaking the u-joint on the drive line in the process. my neck snapped, and after that i basically had so much physical problems i had to walk away from the job i had working in a paper mill two years later and get a desk job (best thing that ever happened to me!! woulda been too stubborn and too stupid to have done it on my own) woulda been nice to have someone else pay for it besides me but could not prove anything... but im ok now and much happier a rock is not hard enough to do that... and yes it does sound scary. __________________ My 2006: Last tank 463.1 miles @49.2 pump (49.4 computer) 4.22 cpm winter mpg 50.70 summer mpg 54.59 lifetime: 33,038.3 miles 52.79 mpg pump (54.04 mpg computer) 5.74 cpm My 2007 Zenn Driven 5945 miles, 2.01 cpm/ 105 mpg (at $2.05/gal), 4.04 miles/ Kwh Savings over my Prius $302.66 The Corolla...573.26 The REAL SAVINGS from not driving Corolla 657.39 +Prius= 958.18 (excludes maintenance costs...would be unfair to ICE vehicles) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

03-08-2008, 01:15 PM	#13
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,565 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! my only experiance with this is a small stone in the disk brakes. shrug

03-09-2008, 08:25 PM	#15
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,676 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! ya, the physical issues i had actually cleared up for the most part over time. granted this was 15 years ago... what made it so bad is that it all happened when i was only moving about 25 mph... but with absolutely no warning at all as to what was gonna happen, i was not braced for it or nothing...

07-28-2008, 08:39 PM	#16
tommyzed Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! Hi - I don't own a Prius (a Honda Civic, to be honest), but I found this thread on a google search and I believe it fits my exact problem. I was off-roading in the Redwood National Forest (Fern Canyon) and on my way back to SF, I noticed an intermittent screeching coming from the front right tire. It sounded like metal on metal and I was pretty worried... however, upon inspection, I could see nothing wrong and I made it home OK. Today, I noticed it starting again and so I decided to pop off the tire. Inspecting the rotor, I see a small stone-sized object between the shield and the inner disk. I tried to dislodge it, but I didn't have anything slim enough to slip through to hit the stone. So, my question - before I stick a knife or a wire hanger up there to dislodge the stone, are there any electrical concerns I should have? Is it possible to shock/electrocute myself? I assume not since it's all metal and I can touch the rotor without problems, but I figure I should ask in case it's best to just pay a "professional" to do this easy, easy fix. (the lowest quote I got was $35). Thanks, tom

07-28-2008, 09:51 PM	#17
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 1,828 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: Pioneer #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! tommyZ I see no problem (electrical or otherwise) with removing the stone with knife, wire etc. Electricity does not go there. If you happen to slash the hydaulic fluid line, that would not be good. if you don't mind paying the nice man $35, that would be fine also.

07-29-2008, 12:47 AM	#18
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,676 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! save yourself the money, if you can change a tire, you will have no issues getting the rock out...btw, removal of tire is not necessary.

07-29-2008, 07:56 AM	#19
ChapmanF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indiana, USA Posts: 210 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: Base Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! Happened to me years ago in a Mazda 323, driving in the city. Really unnerving sound. I turned right around back to the parking garage at work and jacked up the front. It was no trouble to pin down which side the trouble was on, because just turning the tire slowly by hand sounded like I was killing a cat. I probably overreacted and removed the whole rotor and hub and looked at the bearings. I never did spot whatever chunk of grot was responsible, which probably dropped out unnoticed while I was taking stuff apart, but it was all nice and quiet again on reassembly.... -Chap

07-29-2008, 05:23 PM	#20
tommyzed Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: OMG 2008 Prius screeching and grinding metal!!!! yay! I took off the tire (can't reach it otherwise), slipped a normal butter knife in between the guard and the plate to open up the gap a bit more... and voila! Little stone pops out! No more screeching, no more worries. Thanks so much Prius People!