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Can I go to a regular garage to change brake pads and rotors

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Jay J., May 10, 2019.

  1. Jay J.

    Jay J. Junior Member

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    Hi Everyone,

    My 2016 Prius just exceeded 50,000KM. The dealer suggests to change front pads and rotors when I was doing the service 2 there. But the price seems pretty high, 650 Canadian Dollars+tax.

    Can I go to a regular garage to change the front pads and rotors? Are there any electronics tricks involved, such as resetting some computer programs..., so that it has to be done by a dealer?

    Any help will be appreciated.

    Jay
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Nope. Run of the mill pads and rotors as far as I know.

    But why are your pads worn at 50,000km? Are you driving like Louis Hamilton?

    One of our Prius lasted 245,000km (so we never changed the brake pads) and another had the fronts changed at 150,000km but that’s because that vehicle was crossing the Rockies at least once a year.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    unlikely your pads need replacement. ignore the dealer and try to find an honest mechanic. (is that an oxymoron?)
    you don't want the pistons to pop out, make sure themech is aware that the brakes are electric.
     
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  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    You've been conned - unless, as @Tideland Prius mentioned, you have been driving on the track or extreme mountain driving. At 44,000km I asked about mine - they said they was so little wear that they didn't bother measuring them. TAXIs and UBERs count on at least 100,000 MILES (160,930km).

    The thing with mechanics - and worse, the desk guy in service - they see a Petrol Audi, Vauxhaul, BMW etc coming in with 50,000km and think *profit - brake job*. No way with a PRIUS.
     
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  5. Jay J.

    Jay J. Junior Member

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    Thanks for your reply. I thought the same thing. The pads and rotors should last much longer than 50k KM. Funny thing is when I asked the same question to my local dealer, the service rep used some very technical languages. I don't even know how to continue the conversation without feeling being dumb.

     
  6. Jay J.

    Jay J. Junior Member

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    Thanks. I am currently looking for a honest mechanic, and one of my friends suggested one. I will let him to have a look first.

    Can you elaborate the piston and electric brakes...? I am quite ignorant in term of car components.
     
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  7. Jay J.

    Jay J. Junior Member

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    Yes, very true. In the eyes of desk guy in service, all they see is profit.
     
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Try an independent shop like Jiffy Lube or Canadian Tire for a second opinion.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    :eek:

    prius brakes are hydraulically operated, but there is an electric pump that keeps the system under pressure.

    for instance, when you open the drivers door, the buzzing you hear is the pump running.

    if you were to remove the pads and open the door, the pistons would pop out, creating more work than necessary.
    you want an intelligent mechanic who is willing to follow toyota directions, or has past prius experience.
     
    #9 bisco, May 12, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2019
  10. Jay J.

    Jay J. Junior Member

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    Hi Bisco,

    Thanks for the information. I will show this message to the mechanic guy here. Is there anything else I should pay attention?

    Cheers,

    Jay
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no, that's the gist of it. if he is a good mech, he will follow the service manual instructions.

    still, i'm not convinced there is anything wrong with your brakes, i hope the mech you found will tell you that, or show you why they need replacement. it is extremely unusual, and toyota has built a sound device into the pads that let you know when they need replacement.
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Rear brake caliper piston orientation. The brakes must be reassembled with the piston oriented like an "X". Kinda technical, but it's a bit unusual, and if you get it wrong it will bite you. more info in attached.

    Also, to play it safe: I would recommend they disconnect the 12 volt neg cable before starting, and reconnect it only when completely reassembled. And test drive the vehicle before using the parking brake, get the rear brakes well seated.
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    mendel, is it the same on gen 4?
     
  14. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    That diagram says "2016 - 2019 MY Prius [11/2015 - ]"
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, in what I cadged:

    upload_2019-5-18_21-35-34.png
    And at the top of some pages:

    upload_2019-5-18_21-38-25.png
     
  16. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I still reckon - you won't have to worry about it for many years. The mechanic has tried to rip you off.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just for the record: Toyota says to worry about it every 3 year or 30,000 miles in the States, regardless of pad thickness. Do a pad/shim removal and clean up, caliper pin lube and so on.
     
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  18. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Maybe - but that wasn't the question - he asked " change front pads and rotors".

    Routine servicing would do the caliper pin lubing etc.
     
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  19. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    I'd "suggest" to the dealer that he insert his quote where the sun doesn't shine.

    Pads wear out eventually, but without knowing how much pad thickness remains you can't make an informed decision. The pads have wear indicators (squealers) that make a screeching noise when the pads are at minimum thickness. Since you aren't hearing that, they aren't at minimum thickness. If the dealer had told you "your pads are half worn, you might consider servicing them in the near future", that's at least some useful information. Basically, this from your dealer should be enough to convince you not to trust them with any aspect of maintenance. I would be very surprised if your pads are worn out at 30K km. Most Prius owners get in the neighborhood of 100,000 miles on a set of front pads, and generally the rotors are fine at that point.

    I'm surprised the dealer didn't quote you on muffler bearings or new Johnson rods as well.

    Any competent shop can do pads and rotors. Very basic work, no electronics or fanciness required. On a very few cars, they have an electronic pad indicator on the pads, but any shop can handle that as well. Pads and rotors are one of the most common DIY maintenance items after oil changes.
     
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  20. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    That's an American-spec screw.....

    They're metric.
    It's "Blinker Fluid" change and 710 cap alignment.