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Brake noise, not the electric brake pump though!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by That_Prius_Car, Oct 30, 2014.

  1. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    Hey guys! Back with a question. I have a 2006 Prius with 51,000 miles bought from a Toyota dealership this past July with 44,000 miles. They put new rotors and brakes on it before we bought it, but lately i've been noticing a noise when coming to a stop and the friction brakes engage. It's definitely not the electric brake pump, I know what that sounds like. This is like a ticking noise. I really hear it when I'm coming to a stop sign down a hill. It isn't loud but I can hear it ticking, and each time it ticks, you can faintly feel it and hear it. You don't hear it when the friction brakes engage at higher speeds, just like when coming to a slow stop, you'll hear "tick tick tick....tick." Any ideas?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Let a mechanic look at it, most brake inspections are free.

    Why would a prius need rotors and pads at 44k?
     
  3. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Three things that come to mind that could cause such a noise.
    (1) A loose wheel nut.
    (2) Something stuck in one of the tyres probably on the front.
    (3) A loose wheel cover (plastic trim) although I doubt you would feel this.

    John (Britprius)
     
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  4. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    I'll have it looked at. I didn't know most brake inspections are free, nice to know though.

    I don't know myself. They just replaced them. They looked fine to me when I first test drove the car, but when I came back to buy it, the rotors were new and so were the pads.
     
  5. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    I'll check those things, but I'm pretty sure the sound is coming within the braking system. Again, I know it isn't the electric brake pump. It usually only does it a few times after the friction brakes were just engaged, then stops.
     
  6. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    If your car has an aux input to the radio you can plug in a small microphone " even small ear bud headphones work" and attach it to where any noise may be coming from. With the radio set to AUX and the volume turned up you will be surprised what noises you can trace. Works like a stethoscope.

    John (Britprius)
     
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  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Since you bought the car in July from an actual Toyota dealer, they should have offered you some type of warranty on the car. I would take it back to them and let them take a look. Tell them the dealership put new brakes on there before you bought the car and now it seems to be making noises.

    I've read as the brakes age, the brake pins could make some noise but I don't know if that's something you can feel (from your description). You just have to lubricate the pins and it should stop making noise.
     
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  8. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    Tonight, pulling up to the same stop sign I do daily, I heard and felt it again. Now that I think about it, it's more of a "gripping" that's going on, cause each time it makes that "tick" noise, I can feel a faint *gripping* or "grabbing" of the brakes. I'll take it somewhere to have it looked at.
     
  9. *Goldfinger*

    *Goldfinger* Junior Member

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    Maybe one of the rotors not running true, this can be caused by a bit of dirt on hub when new ones were fitted.
     
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  10. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    I have the same issue, a clicking or tapping noise at low speed. Mine is intermittent, normally the ticking occurs when I'm in stop and go traffic, and I have my foot slightly on the brake allowing the vehicle to move forward, but not totally off of the brake (about 0 - 9 mph). Car in front moves, take foot off brake slightly to move forward -- Tick, Tick, Tick, then foot back on the brake to come to a stop.

    But I don't hear the ticking if I'm really braking from speed, or while coasting when driving. Mine seems to come from the right rear brake drum, but not sure if it is the drum or other brake component.
     
  11. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Sound like the ABS is activating. Do you have new tires or original tires?
     
  12. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    I managed to film the noise today on video and you can hear it really well. In the video, I was pressing slightly on the brakes repeatedly, but it makes this same noise when coming to a stop (~5mph or below) and will make it even just sitting at a stop light at 0mph.

     
  13. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    New tires, brakes, and rotors were put on by the dealer.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think others have reported similar, but to no end because no one wants to spend the money at the dealer since the brakes work fine.
     
  15. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    I posted a video above, if you got to hear it.
    Someone said something about pins needing to be lubed?
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, i did listen. sounded like what others have described. not sure what 'pins' are.
     
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  17. stonerider

    stonerider Member

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    sounds like a "knock, knock, knock" sound, rather than "tick, tick, tick" sound. My 2007 makes tick sounds every chance it gets, sometimes it makes click sounds too.
     
  18. Classic_pri

    Classic_pri Former 2001 Prius 0wner

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    Sometimes brake rotors pick up glazing or other deposits from new pads during the breaking-in period. I'd try taking the car out to a little traveled road, getting speed up to about 60 mph and braking good and hard until the car nearly stops. Repeat the process three or four times and see if the noise is gone.
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    mine is more of a putt, putt, putt sound.
     
  20. Scallywag

    Scallywag Member

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    To accomplish much use of the friction brakes, I'd actually recommend getting to 30-35 on an empty safe road, popping it in neutral, and braking. Be careful as the braking performance will be very different from normal, but this is the point. In neutral only the friction brakes are used. This would remove any coating and is the occasionally recommended procedure around here for when brakes acquire strange noises due to rust. DO NOT use neutral above ~42 mph as this will over-rev one of the motors possibly damaging it (4-digit repair bill). Also do not leave the car in neutral for any extended period as the battery cannot be recharged. I accidentally went from 7 to 2 bars once with the AC on (recirculate) in a car wash. Scared me.