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Possible brake work needed

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by exmetrodriver, May 4, 2015.

  1. exmetrodriver

    exmetrodriver Member

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    I'm looking to get my brakes checked out and replaced if necessary being I just turned 140K and they have likely never even been inspected. My question is with the brakes being different on a hybrid does this require me to take it to a dealer if I want them done correctly?
     
  2. Dino33ca

    Dino33ca Member

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    From what I can understand any mechanic can do the brakes. Just remember that the back brakes originally are about 3mm, so if the mechanic tells you you only have 1.5mm on them you're actually at 50%. so don't let them tell you they are low and need to be replaced. At 140k I'd imagine you're brakes should be fine still. I'm at the same mileage as you and my front brakes which have never been changed are at 80% still! I did have to get the back brakes done but it was because of corrosion instead of wear. The dealership inspected the brakes on my car and when doing so could not get the drums off because of corrosion, supposedly. In doing this they snapped one of the springs and crippled my back passenger side brake. It's my fault in the end because I should of had the brakes cleaned and inspected sooner. So, if you do have them inspected, especially the back brakes, be prepared of the possibility of them opening up a can of worms!

    Edit: Sorry, I could of sworn they said 3mm at the dealership, I must have misheard them.
     
    #2 Dino33ca, May 4, 2015
    Last edited: May 4, 2015
  3. exmetrodriver

    exmetrodriver Member

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    The backs are grabbing at slow speeds so I know they will need some love.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    No offence but: 140,000 miles without a brake inspection is not very responsible. Any idea what Toyota recommends for brake inspection interval?
     
    exstudent likes this.
  5. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Your name is your destiny.
    Extremodriver = extreme road hazzard due to poor brakes. If you drive like you take care of your brakes, you should have the largest insurance policy your insurer allows, and a multimillion dollar personal umbrella policy too.

    4mm is a new show. Replace at 1mm. Obviously if your rear shoes measure 1.5mm, probably best to replace.

    Surprised your fronts haven't need to be replaced due to binding of the caliper pins.

    Best to take to a mechanic who has worked on a Prius before b/c he will likely have techstream. I've be never been able to remove the rear shoe springs w/o disturbing the rear brake shoe cylinder, causing air to enter, requiring the rears to be bleed. Maybe mechanics have a tool to keep shoes in place while removing the springs? Having techstream, no problem to bleed the rears, restoring correct braking performance.

    Seriously, get your brakes checked once a year at the latest. And part of the check should include relube of the front caliper pins and rear shoe backing plate contact points.
     
    #5 exstudent, May 4, 2015
    Last edited: May 4, 2015
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The mechanical design of the brakes are the same as an normal car.

    However the hydraulic system which activates the brakes is much different. That is where an untrained tech can get into trouble. For example, if air is allowed to enter the system at the rear wheel brake cylinders or the front wheel calipers, and the system needs to be bled. Or if the tech does not disconnect the 12V battery prior to starting repairs, and the brake actuator pump starts to run which forces a front disc caliper piston out of the caliper while the caliper has been removed to replace the brake pads.

    So the brakes should be worked on by someone who understands Toyota hybrids. It is up to you to decide whether your local Toyota dealer has such staff available, or not.

    I agree that in the instance of rear brake shoe lining measuring only 1.5 mm thickness, since the minimum spec is 1 mm, the shoes should be replaced in the near future. As previously stated, the new lining starts at 4 mm thickness, so a remaining thickness of 1.5 mm translates to 16.7% useful life left. (0.5 mm lining left before minimum spec is reached / 3 mm allowable wear = 16.7% remaining life.)

    The front brake pads should be carefully examined because the inside pad sometimes wears much faster than the easy to see outside pad. This will happen if the caliper pins stick so the caliper piston exerts force primarily on the inside pad while the outside pad just goes along for the ride.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, May 4, 2015
    Last edited: May 4, 2015