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2018 Prius Brake problem 35K miles

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by ralphgonegolfing, Jul 6, 2019.

  1. ralphgonegolfing

    ralphgonegolfing Junior Member

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    I notice a pulsating/vibration in the front brakes when the brakes engage and/or regenerative braking.

    I suspect it is the front rotors. So I drove it a few times recently downhill and shifted into neutral before applying brakes. Every time I could feel a strong brake pulsating vibration in the front!brakes.

    When I use both the brakes and regenerative brakes the chadder is minor unless I do hard braking then it is very noticeable but not near as bad as when braking in neutral.

    So My questions areas follows :
    1. Should I replace the pad and rotors tomorrow since in 300 miles I will reach 36,000 miles.
    2. If replacing the front pads and rotors does not fix the problem stop driving it until I can take it to a Toyota dealer with under 36,000 miles.
    3. Is there something else that could cause the brakes to pulsate in neutral which would be covered under warranty.
    4. If I take it to a dealer since it is a brake issue won’t they want to charge a $150-$175.00 diagnostic fee without fixing anything?

    Any advise or help ASAP will be appreciated. My 2011 Prius brakes pads lasted 110,000 mile and the rotor were never replaced or turned so this is very disappointing
     
  2. esfishdoc

    esfishdoc Junior Member

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    I'm left thinking.. "what has gone wrong with your car"? It doesn't make any sense that this is a normal wear and tear problem.
    So instead of just replacing pads and rotors that should in theory not need to be replaced I would be looking for answers and have someone who knew what they were doing inspect and diagnose.
    Best,
    Richard
     
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  3. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    The rotor runout should be checked with a precision gage; a dial indicator mounted on a fixed point, indicating on the face of the rotor. If the rotors are warped, the runout will be out of spec.

    Warped rotors at 35K miles would be very unusual.

    Who has been doing the scheduled maintenance (particularly tire rotations) on your car? Impropoer torquing of wheel lug nuts can cause warped rotors.
     
    #3 jb in NE, Jul 6, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2019
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm not sure myself, but is it possible to tell where the pulse is, front vs rear?

    Rotor runout and thickness spec's, and how to measure, are in the attached. A dial indicator with magnetic base, and a 0~25 mm micrometer, and you're away.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    The ABS, traction control, stability control, etc, can all cause strange wobbling/vibration like sounds and sensations.

    Does the frequency/pitch of the vibration go down as you slow down, or is it the same at all speeds? If it stays the same that points more towards it being one of the above, of it changes with speed it points more towards a mechanical issue.

    Does it happen with very gentle braking or only with hard braking?

    Does it get worse or better with more brake pressure?

    Does it happen when braking up hill?

    Does it happen when braking and cornering at the same time?

    Can you tell if it's only coming from one wheel or more?
     
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  6. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    If it's only just started suddenly - I'd be finding out what changed - otherwise changing pads/rotors may not solve the problem.

    I'd get a wheel balance first - and ask them if they think, due to a wear pattern, if a wheel alignment could be worthwhile.

    Has it hit anything which might have bent a rim - or even a suspension item?
     
  7. Usle

    Usle Active Member

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    36k, my dealer would be selling me a brake job on the front, 45,000 for the rear, nice con.
    But if you've got vibration and the ability, yes, change the rotors, make SURE to torque the rotors properly, your's may be warped because they weren't properly torqued.

    And unhook the negative then positive from the 12 v battery.

    Greasing the caliper pins is always a plus.
     
  8. ralphgonegolfing

    ralphgonegolfing Junior Member

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    I can easily unhook the battery. What is the reasoning behind unhooking the negative and then the positive from the battery? I never needed to do that with my 2011 Prius or other brake jobs. Does it affect the antilock Brake programing if you don’t
    ?
    Yes I always clean and grease the caliper pins.
     
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  9. ralphgonegolfing

    ralphgonegolfing Junior Member

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    My wife drives the car so I don’t know when the brake pulsating stsrted. She mentioned it a few days ago so I drove it and it pretty minor with the regenerative braking unless it a hard braking. By using brakes down hill in neutral i take the regenerative brakes out of the equation. Today I am going to jack it up I wheel at a time and. Spin wheels listening for rubbing then take each wheel off and do the same observing with a light. It the rotors rub or have scarring I will disconnect the battery and remove the calipers and observe condition to determine if replacing is needed. Before replacing anything I am going to check tires and wheels for problems like a bent wheel.

    Because her care was in Florida most of the time which I seldom drive maybe the heat and humidity rusted the rotors since it wasn’t driven daily & sometimes not even weekly.( I I have a 4x4 truck and CRV EX-L I drive)
     
  10. ralphgonegolfing

    ralphgonegolfing Junior Member

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    Toyota dealerships maintenance and sears once for tire rotation.

    It I see the rotors are rubbing I can have them machined at parts store for $10 per rotor or rent a indicator and check them for run out.
     
  11. ralphgonegolfing

    ralphgonegolfing Junior Member

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    I will be thoroughly inspecting the rotors tires and wheels for problems. If I have any doubts my golf buddy just retired and was a Toyota mechanic. Having him help may be needed due to all the safety systems the 2018 Prius has standard on all models from the TWO up.
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah all I've ever done on our 2010 is disconnect the negative battery post. And I do that religously. And with everything reassembled, before reconnecting the negative battery post, push the brake pedal multiple times, take up any excess travel and get everything "seated".
     
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  13. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    I would get the rotors checked ASAP if one is cracked a chunk could fall out and lock the wheel up.
     
  14. ralphgonegolfing

    ralphgonegolfing Junior Member

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    Thanks guys for the help it’s fixed.

    Tonight I pickup 2 front rotors and pads for the front of my 2018 Prius. It took me less than 1-1/2 to replace the rotors and pads. It took a little longer since I used the Prius jack instead of my floor jack.

    The bad one was definitely the front passenger side but I did both sides so everything is matched on both sides. I can save everything and have the bad one machined down the road someday if they are ever needed.

    Anyways rotors and pads fixed the pulsating/vibration in the brakes. Now braking & regenerative braking at all speeds is smooth as silk.
     
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    someone else from ohio just posted that her dealership and a private mech both told her she needed all new brakes on a 2016 with 33k.
     
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  16. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    The rotors are not torqued. The wheel is torqued and clamps the rotor in place.
     
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  17. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Must be an Ohio thing.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe the same dealer :cool:
     
  19. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Had an almost identical thread on the C-Max forum last week. OP was also from Ohio and posted pics of the brakes on his 2017. They had about 10x the corrosion that my 2013 has. They don't call it the Rust belt for nothing. Corroded/stuck pins won't let the pads move freely which can lead to excessive pad wear and worn rotors.
     
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  20. Prigirl

    Prigirl Junior Member

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    I am the person with the 16 Prius that needs brakes replaced. I do think it is the Ohio winters and the excessive amounts of salt we see around here. That's why in the thread I started, I was trying to figure if there something I could do to keep this from happening every 30K miles...I really love my Prius but perhaps they aren't the best cars to have in this climate.
     
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