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

Drum brake hum?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by user456101, Jul 13, 2016.

  1. user456101

    user456101 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    12
    7
    0
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    When the car is almost stopped, one or both of the rear drum brakes makes a sound. I'll call it a hum. It definitely isn't a scraping, scratching or screeching sound. Anyone else solved this problem? I took the wheel and drum off of one of them and cleaned it. Thought it was gone for awhile but then it came back. Any help would be appreciated.
     
    #1 user456101, Jul 13, 2016
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2004
    1,711
    654
    0
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    My guess would be that you are hearing the brake shoes vibrating. If at your inspection and cleaning there wasn't any sign of leaking, the drums were smooth and the shoes were not worn excessively, I don't think you have a problem.
     
    #2 DonDNH, Jul 13, 2016
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,452
    38,667
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There's typically 3 contact points between back of brake shoe and the backing plate. I'm not familiar with Prius drum brakes, but usually if you remove the brake shoe hold down clips, you can pull the shoes away from the backing plate enough to put a dab of high temp grease on the contact points. Be careful to not get it on the shoe itself. Might help, worth doing periodically anyway.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jul 13, 2016
  4. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2009
    993
    324
    0
    Location:
    Golden, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Are they adjusted correctly? The shoes should just kiss the drum. Check both sides. Is the parking brake working right? Are all shoes evenly worn both sides? How much pad left? Check wheel bearings and struts and suspension bushings while you're back there.
     
    #4 andrewclaus, Jul 13, 2016
  5. user456101

    user456101 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    12
    7
    0
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    thanks, I lubricated as you suggested, as best I could, and got rid of the hum. I appreciate your time and advice.
     
    #5 user456101, Jul 14, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)