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Replacing brakes on Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by env100, Aug 20, 2015.

  1. env100

    env100 New Member

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    I appreciate all the fantastic information here and I am hoping someone can help me. I am looking to buy a used 2008 Prius with 94,000 miles from a dealership who changed the rear brake pads and turned the rotors before placing it for sale. The previous one and only owner traded it in for a new Prius. I understood that the brakes should not need replacement on the Prius, especially this early. Is this so? Should I be weary of a Prius that has had the brakes replaced?
    Thank you!
     
  2. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Prius (and other cars as well) brake wear depends mostly on driving habits and terrain. In some cases brakes can wear down in half off that. But also if brakes weren’t really used at all (which is possible with Prius) they can just become so rusty that they became grabby, noisy, or even break something. If brakes are opened its normal to replace all parts even if some are still good.

    Rear brakes in North American gen 2 Prius are drums so if you’re talking about them they have drums and brake shoes.
     
    tanglefoot likes this.
  3. derBara

    derBara New Member

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    The highest factor is the user of course. Ive seen priuses with 25000 miles on them and brakes were 3 mm. They start at 12 mm thickness on the pads out of the factory. Replacing any brake pads shoes, rotors or drums should not be a big trouble. Just clean everything good. There are a lots of videos of this process on youtube. If you need further help, let me know.

    Cheers derBARA
     
  4. KV55

    KV55 Member

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    I drive cross country roads in the UK with plenty of bends hills and junctions, plus the rain and winter salt. All the brakes were replaced last year at 120,000 miles/9 years but the front rotors had been changed once before. I am also on the second 12v battery and the end section and silencer of the exhaust, oh and new headlight bulbs last winter. Enjoy your Prius :)
     
  5. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I am about 50 miles north of you with a 2008 (7 years old) Prius with similar millage. Discs going rusty are the main cause of brake replacement in the UK. This can be reduced by braking in neutral occasionally to keep the discs clear of rust (stops regen and forces friction brake use) and by fitting more abrasive pads than the OEM versions. The exhaust on my car is all original the only real replacement part being a FNS wheel bearing.

    John
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    something fish going on here, since the u.s. 2008 has rear drums?o_O
     
  7. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Not in the rest of the world Bisco. Only on the north american continent does it have drums. The UK version has disc rear brakes for the foot brake, and small drums for parking brake use.

    John
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's why i said u.s., is o/p from somewhere else? maybe the dealer is selling a non u.s. version.
     
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Bristol UK in the case of KV55
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think you're confusing the o/p with a carpet bagger who still his thread.:p
     
  11. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Another alternative is someone upgraded the rear brakes to UK spec. The parts are used on other US Toyota cars such as the Celica.

    John