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Clicking noise from brakes when reversing. Recording attached

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by master4g, Aug 10, 2009.

  1. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    I don't know if you remember, but I had that leaking radiator/hose tread several weeks ago. Here. Anyways, that was fixed with a simple worm gear clamp (when the dealership quoted me over 500$ to fix it).

    One other thing which was concerning me which the dealership didn't help with was my brakes. They did a "multi point inspection" and one of "points" were the brakes where they test the brakes and also remove the wheel to check the wear left in the brakes. I pointed out the the service guy that my brakes make a clicking noise when i reverse but he said the technician didnt find anything wrong with the brakes. So I told him to hop into the car so i can make him hear it, but because the dealership was next to the highway, there was too much noise and he couldn't hear anything.

    So can you guys please play the mp3 which are in the zip and tell me what you think. As i understand the friction brakes only come into play during slow driving and reverse. The brakingis absolutely fine when i go forward, just when i reverse.

    In the Mp3's i was slighly pressing the brakes so it squeeks then i pressed the brakes harder and it makes that cliking/poping noise.

    Thanks a lot for the help, and please let me know if you have any further questions.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Pizza_Daddy

    Pizza_Daddy Junior Member

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    although I am still waiting for my prius, those are some pretty strange noises.
     
  3. EZW1

    EZW1 Active Member

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    Caution: audio files may have a virus
     
  4. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    I scanned the files, there are no viruses

    If drum brakes have dust/dirt or a bit of brake fluid (Leaking wheel cylinder) or oil on them, they can squeal/moan

    Since most drum brake adjusters work in reverse, they can sometimes click if grossly out of adjustment. The Prius brake adjuster does not work that way. Could be a pebble caught in there

    Our resident mad scientist, Hobbit, has an excellent tutorial on how to clean/inspect Prius brakes

    Brake service

    Hope this helps
     
  5. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    the strange thing is that this noise is coming from both front wheels, so im not sure if somethingis stuck in there. what do you guys think?
     
  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Whoops, I thought you were talking about the rear drum brakes. Something else is going on if the front wheels are making that noise

    A clicking at low speed could even be a bad CV joint
     
  7. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    it only clicks when i apply the brakes and when im reversing. When i reverse without pressing the breaks, there is no noise at all.
     
  8. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi master4g,

    Rear brake (not break) clack noise when applying the brake when reversing is normal in a Prius. The brakes are not pressurized by the hydraulic circuit until you hit the pedal. In a normal car, you foot provides the pressure and that is a gradual application of pressure. In a Prius a solenoid valve trips, and provides pressure from a hydrualic accumulator.

    And its actually louder than a standard car, unlike what some noisemaker advocates would like the congress to believe. A standard car is only going to make brake noise when the adjuster clicks over, once every thousand miles or so.
     
  9. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    As I stated above, the noise is coming from the front brakes.
     
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    You need to have another dealer inspect them.
     
  11. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    If i get a chance this weekend, I will go through HObits brake cleaning tutorial and see if there are any obvious visual problems. Do you guys have any tips on which parts to pay particular attention to?

    Thanks
     
  12. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I suggest you remove the front brake calipers, inspect the brake pads, and see if any parts are broken or loose. The click might be caused by a brake part wobbling around or maybe a small pebble of just the right size to make a click as a rotor rotates (if the rotor is not perfectly round), instead of a steady scraping sound... Good luck.
     
  13. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    Hello. Sorry for the late reply. When the opened everything up... nothing. There were no pebbles, no visibly loose part etc. The thing that confuses me is that there is no noise when i am going forward, only when I reverse slowly and apply the breaks.

    When I press the breaks very lightly, then there is no clicking, only the normal squeaking from the breaks.

    I was wondering one thing. When I put the car on park after driving it (even when the parking surface is flat and not inclined), the car rolls back slightly and then I guess it bounces back so it rocks a little slowly (this happens when I dont press the parking breaks). Is that normal for the Prius you guys/gals drive? I was wondering if that could have played a roll in the noise I hear, as in, maybe one time I was parking on a slope and the car rocked rolled back slighly and maybe put a lot of pressure on the part which stops it from rolling more and thus causing this noise problem (maybe by a part being broken/damanged).
     
  14. tigrank

    tigrank Junior Member

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    Did you find a solution to the clicking sound? I just got a 2007 Prius with 50k miles on it. Have been wanting one for 5 years and finally got one.

    It makes a clicking sound only when going in reverse it's pretty loud and same as you described it.

    I run a few test scenarios. It doesn't matter going fast (over 7mph) or slow (under 7) it makes a clicking sound either way.

    I took it up to 15 20 in reverse and it still made the clicking sound in reverse.

    I also tried applying the break very slowly after some point it still makes the click.

    I tried applying firmly and the click was louder.

    The click seems to come from the passenger side in the front.

    Any thoughts?

    --Tigran
     
  15. master4g

    master4g Junior Member

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    Hello Tigran

    Unfortunately, I have not yet found a solution, but I really haven't looked either. I am currently unemployed and have been holding it off until I get a steady income. I have kind of gotten used to it in that whenever I am reversing out of a parking spot, I apply it very softly and steadily and It usually makes less noise this way. Sometimes I even flip my car into "neutral" half way through my reverse so it is easier to break softly.

    My click comes from both front wheel I think. As someone suggested when i originally posted, I removed the wheel and tried to see if I could find some pebble or such inside the brakes, but I didn't find anything, and frankly, I think its something mechanical (sounds like metal).

    My understanding is that only the transitional brakes are used when you reverse, so that will explain why its still makes that noise when you reverse at a faster speed.

    Anyways, I would really want this problem solved, so if you are able to come up with any solutions, please let me know as well. Thanks
     
  16. yogithom

    yogithom Junior Member

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    did you ever find a solution? trying to help a guy who has exact same situation in his 09 prius. i'm not totally sure' it's not just the friction brakes operating normally
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be incorrect installation.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the rocking is normal.
     
  19. Tynyyn

    Tynyyn Member

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    Look at the dust shield. It might be in contact with the back side of the rotor and that could make a clicking noise if the rotor is not concentric. Mine was making a noise and I simply took a flat head screwdriver and pried the shield away from the rotor and all was well. Then I notices another noise and spotted a different part of the dust shield was in contact with the outer edge of the rotor and a needle nose pliers fixed that quickly.