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UK '07 Prius, 32K miles, Squeaking Brakes - Intermediate or Full Service?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by OrphanageExplosion, Feb 2, 2014.

  1. OrphanageExplosion

    OrphanageExplosion Junior Member

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    Hi there,

    I have an '07 Prius I bought in September '12 with 21K miles on the clock - I took the car for an intermediate service in Feb '13.

    A month later, I started to get a squeak from the front-right wheel when I turned a little right. I took it to the dealer who said that the brakes were binding (common on low mileage vehicle apparently) and the issue was fixed. However, the dealer also said that if I'd done the full service, the issue would have been picked up as the wheels are removed on the full service while they're not on the intermediate.

    Six months later, the left wheel is doing the same squeaking - and it's just getting worse. The dealer is saying that there's no binding issue this time, there's a "lip" on the disc. It's not dangerous - it's just annoying, and becoming even more annoying every week - but it'll cost £240 to replace the discs. Edit: I should point out that the brakes also have the same issue at speed.

    So now the car is ready for its next service. I have two questions here:

    1. Should I get the full service or another intermediate?
    2. Are there any options on getting the brake discs replaced that aren't so expensive?

    Hope you can help!
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I believe resurfacing the disc will solve your problem. It shouldn't need replacement

    SM-N900P ?
     
  3. OrphanageExplosion

    OrphanageExplosion Junior Member

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    Excuse my ignorance, but who's likely to be able to resurface the disc?
     
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Normally, any reasonable mechanic would be able to do this. However in the case of the Prius, it is necessary to disconnect the 12V battery first to avoid having the skid control ECU log DTC. So if you are going to have a non-Toyota dealer shop work on this, ask them to be sure to disconnect the battery before they start this work.
     
  5. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    Rust on a low mileage Prius is a common problem in the UK . A full service brake shop might be able to resurface the disks.
     
  6. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    The others are right, I bought my Gen2 from Scotland with only 57k miles and all discs and pads had been changed by the garage prior to putting on forecourt.

    Maybe purchase genuine discs and get an Indy mechanic to fit them. I would do them myself, but I am nt sure hw handy you are.
     
  7. OrphanageExplosion

    OrphanageExplosion Junior Member

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    Would this sort of outfit be appropriate?

    skimmydiscs dot co dot uk

    (Not allowed to post a full link it seems!)
     
  8. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    Yes. they should be able to resurface the disks.
     
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    If you have a search on Ebay you will find you can buy new front and rear discs at very good prices.
    If your discs have a lip they will need skimming to below that level on both sides of the disc. The minimum thickness for the discs is 19 mm and they are only 22 mm thick to start with. So skimming close to 19 mm gives you no safety ware margin and the discs will ware out below the limit and you will the have to replace them again anyway. Discs below the limit will fail the MOT.

    Any mechanic will be able to fit the new discs as there is nothing special about them other than the 12 volt battery must be disconnected before changing. I bought front discs at £30 for the pair and rears at £16 for the pair both sets branded British makes that seem to be more rust resistant than the OEM Toyota.
    Make sure if you go this route that the discs are 5 stud for the gen2 Prius and not 4 stud for gen1 Prius. Also read the add carefully as a number of sellers give the price for one disc making it look a good deal hiding the fact deep somewhere in the add, when you think your buying two discs.
    See Ebay item number 330920650085 Prius front discs £15 each £30 pair delivered $45 US

    John (Britprius)
     
  10. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    A further point. If you have the discs skimmed you will also need to replace the pads or alternatively if there is sufficient life left in them they also will need resurfacing to make them flat and bed in to the resurfaced discs.
    Not doing this will case the discs to rust as the pads will only contact the discs on the high spots.
    The Prius uses the discs so little they will take an age to bed in. While they are bedding in emergency braking will be severely compromised. Normal braking will appear ok as this is done by regeneration.
    If you check on Toyota's web site and look at the difference between the intermediate service and the full service you will find the difference is a load of safety checks that are all covered in much greater depth in an MOT.
    I only ever have the intermediate service at 10,000 mile intervals that for me coincides with one year. I have the MOT done first then the service. This gives me a full set of stamps in the book. All other work I do myself.
    Also note that in the intermediate service according to Toyota the wheels should be removed.
    Finally any mechanic should be able to replace both discs in an hour. Once the wheels are off there is only two bolts holding on the caliper and once removed the discs just pull off.

    John (Britprius)
     
  11. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    If they're squealing then it was known in my old trade as 'taxi brakes'. You'll have over heated them, probably because the discs are rusty or worn out.

    Get them replaced. You can't really use the pads again by the sound of it. There's no point skimming the discs for the reasons given about but also because it's almost as expensive as putting new discs on instead.

    A rough guide to prices via a main dealer;

    Pads £100 for the front or rear
    Discs about £150 fitted front.

    Or £250 total.

    Sure you can get them fitted cheaper but just make sure they know what they're doing with Prius brakes.
     
  12. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    GC front discs and pads on gen2 at dealer "Toyota fixed price" is £220. Rears are £210. Now that's what I call expensive. Bearing in mind if your changing pads the discs only take another
    5 minutes maximum "to get them out of the box" to change.

    John (Britprius)
     
  13. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I was giving a worse case. £500 aint that bad all done for peace of mind.
     
  14. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I agree your price was just about spot on, but the work involved and parts should really be half that. In my opinion there is absolutely nothing special about the Toyota OEM discs. In fact I would go so far as to say they are poor compared with the NBD discs I fitted 30,000 miles ago. These seem to have mirrored up and show no signs of ware, rusting, or grooving like the OEM's did.

    John (Britprius)