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Rear brake pad replacement for Gen 3

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by cobradb, Mar 10, 2012.

  1. cobradb

    cobradb Member

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    May have to replace rear pads,, wife drove about a mile (she says,, they were smelling 1 hr later)

    she got caught in a storm that blew a tree on the road at night in a heavy rain and hit the tree
    and i dropped the Prius off for her to get home. i apparently put the e brake on and she left (cell service was in and out) before i did.. (she didnt kn how to release the e brake until finally getting me on the cell)

    Anyway, rear pads got hot, they still hold but seem weak.

    QUESTION; does the prius pressure test the brake system after it shuts down OR is it safe to pull the caliper anytime.?

    thanks
     
    #1 cobradb, Mar 10, 2012
  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    There is a fuse you should pull (or disconnect the 12v battery) before playing with the calipers.

    JeffD
     
    #2 jdenenberg, Mar 10, 2012
  3. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    I don't think it ever pressure tests the brakes, it just pre-charges the accumulator. But to be on the safe side I would do what Jeff suggests and disconnect the 12V battery or pull the fuse. As I recall when you disconnect the 12V battery about all you have to do is reset the Audio preselects and maybe reset some things in the nav system such as the speeds, you won't lose any of the addresses or destinations though. BTW I think TireRack now has brake pads for the Gen3 Prius.
     
    #3 tumbleweed, Mar 11, 2012
  4. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Typically, the parking brake pads are shoes, not disks. They are separate from the disks and the hydraulic brake system. The center of the brake rotor contains the emergency brake drum. I haven't worked on my Prius' brakes, but that's usually how it's done.
     
    #4 Rebound, Mar 12, 2012
  5. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    ^ that is what I was thinking too Rebound but I pulled up the parts listing for the rear axle and didn't see the drum mechanisms, so I didn't post anything. Anyone know for sure?
     
    #5 spiderman, Mar 12, 2012
  6. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    Not on this car, there is a cable for the parking brake attached to the rear calipers.
     
    #6 tumbleweed, Mar 12, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  7. cobradb

    cobradb Member

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    like TW said,, rear looks like a typical set up for disk with cable for e brake,,most parts stores now carry prius pads
     
    #7 cobradb, Mar 13, 2012
  8. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    After disconnecting the battery, you will also need to reprogram the backup beep and seatbelt warning if you have these disabled. :)
     
    #8 mad-dog-one, Mar 14, 2012
  9. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    Is the parking brake still within specifications? (This is listed in your owner's manual: http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM47668U/pdf/sec_06-01.pdf ) The parking brake should be fully engaged, and not allow the car the move, between 8 and 11 clicks. If it's not within this range, the brake cable can be tightened. It wouldn't hurt to check your brake fluid reservoir, either. Alternately, the pads could be worn, or, less likely, the brake disc (rotor). I don't think that unplugging the battery will do anything to your brake system electronic memory.
     
    #9 pjksr02, Mar 14, 2012
  10. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

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    I didn't have to after disconnecting the battery when I installed my amp and new stereo. Got the hybrid warning screen, but that went away and all previous programming stayed.

    REV
     
    #10 revhigh, Mar 14, 2012
  11. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I disconnected my 12V once, and didn't lose those settings. I did get a Hybrid System Warning, which went away after three power-on/power-offs.
     
    #11 Rebound, Mar 14, 2012
  12. cobradb

    cobradb Member

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    i didnt remove fuse or power and had no problem replacing rear pads,, was a breeze
     
    #12 cobradb, Mar 23, 2012
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