1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Is Front Brake Pad Replacement A DIY Job?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by GrumpyCabbie, Oct 2, 2010.

  1. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Got a puncture last night and whilst I was getting the tyre repaired from a garage I trust they advised that the front pads were getting low (below or bordering 2mm). I have done 32k hard city miles and my annual taxi test is due in a week and the car will fail if front pads are below 2mm! :eek:

    Is it an easy DIY job or job for local garage to do (ie the local taxi garage who will do it cheap), or is it something that the main dealers MUST do?

    Are there any sensors or things that need resetting or can the pads be replaced easily just like a normal car?
     
    #1 GrumpyCabbie, Oct 2, 2010
  2. Jim05

    Jim05 Occasional Quasi-Hypermiler

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2009
    115
    20
    0
    Location:
    Culpeper
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Front pads are an easy DIY job if you're mechanically-inclined and the rotors are not grooved or warped. I haven't done my Prius yet, but they look just like any other front brake WRT the calipers and pads. If we had carbon fiber-ceramic brakes, I would rethink this, but these are probably the same brakes used on other Toyotas. This link doesn't have all the details, but will help you gauge whether it's DIY or not: http://autorepair.about.com/od/fixityourself/ss/brakepadreplace.htm.

    Something many people forget is while c-clamping the pistons to occasionally check your brake fluid reservoir to be sure it doesn't overflow. As long as you don't get carried away with pushing the piston all the way back, this shouldn't be a problem. I also change the pads on one side and pump the brake a few times to extend the piston. This also helps prevent overflowing the master cylinder when you do the other side. It takes a bit more time, but it's been a very long time since I've gotten brake fluid all over everything.
     
    #2 Jim05, Oct 2, 2010
  3. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I remember seeing a few posts on here about the older cars. There are a few extra steps if i remember right. I also remember something about making sure the car is off or the brake system couls push the pistons out of the brake calipers.

    I guess i should say i don't know what they were. I think it's easy to do just have to do a few extra steps.
     
    #3 adamace1, Oct 2, 2010
  4. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    1,297
    213
    0
    Location:
    Midlands - UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm suprised you need them at 35k though! our report at 20k service said 80% life remaining. How often did you have to change before on previous cabs?
     
    #4 Flaninacupboard, Oct 2, 2010
  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    About 20k-25k on a manual or 15-20k on an auto, so 32k is pretty good going and there's still a little more to go if it wasn't the taxi test being due.

    Remember that I am in the car 10 hours a day in heavy, congested traffic in a UK town built a couple hundred years ago before cars - lots of starts, stops, hills and often low speeds so the regen is off or reduced.

    Personally I'm happy with 32k, as new pads after a year of taxi-ing is pretty good going. The back ones are hardly worn at all though!
     
    #5 GrumpyCabbie, Oct 2, 2010
  6. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,185
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    #6 dogfriend, Oct 2, 2010
  7. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    255
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I have 40,000 miles and the brake pads look brand new. I drive alot of highway miles. On the last car I replaced the front brakes at 170,000 miles and had the orginal rear brakes on at 305,000 miles when I sold the car. I predict I will do the same on the Prius.
     
    #7 Judgeless, Oct 5, 2010
  8. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Had the front pads changed this morning. The old ones had a litle life left on them and would probably have made it to 40k but the taxi test is due next week and the car would have failed with the pads as they were. The back ones look brand new by the way.

    Judgeless, I am so jealous of your brake wear (or lack of). You must have corrosion problems before they wear out? Regarding my brake wear - I must be on the brakes 40% of my time as most of my runs are in heavy traffic and between traffic lights.
     
    #8 GrumpyCabbie, Oct 5, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)