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Brake or Suspension Creak after making complete stop

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Ethan Waldman, Sep 27, 2016.

  1. Ethan Waldman

    Ethan Waldman Junior Member

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    I'm hoping someone can help me troubleshoot a noise that has been bugging me for a while in my 2011 Prius Three. I honestly can't remember how long it's been, but I did have all four break rotors and pads replaced by a trusted mechanic back in February when I bought the car.

    The noise happens right after making a complete stop, like as the weight of the car is coming back up. The sound is a creak, almost like a mattress that makes noise when you put your weight on it. At first, I thought it was a suspension issue. However, I can't replicated the sound just by pushing down on the front of the car and letting it spring back up.

    The brakes make a similar creak right before I start moving again, when I take my foot back off the break pedal. I'm hoping this is a simple matter of lubricating a part, since the brakes are relatively new. Any advice greatly appreciated!

    I also made what I think is a pretty decent recording of the sound that you can listen to here. The If you listen closely you can also hear the creak sound happen a second time when I lift my foot off the pedal.

     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could be suspension bushings or rust on the brake rotors. how many miles on her?
     
  3. Ethan Waldman

    Ethan Waldman Junior Member

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    62k miles. Front and rear rotors and pads were replaced at 49k. Vermont can be rough on cars (lots of salt on the roads, dirt roads, etc.).
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that wouldn't be normal wear and tear then. perhaps you can have him look at the rotors and suspension.
    since you trust him, i won't question his work, or if he used all oem parts.
     
  5. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Did your trusted mechanic re-fit the anti-rattle shims on the pads ?
     
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  6. Ethan Waldman

    Ethan Waldman Junior Member

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    I'll ask him. Are the anti-rattle shims something that is specific just to Priuses or standard for any brake job?

    @bisco: I do trust him but no mechanic is perfect. He used SST pads and Federated rotors.
     
  7. stanigu

    stanigu Member

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    Maybe you'll get more responses by posting in Gen 3 section...
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I wouldn't pursue the above too far. The highlighted items (front brakes shown, rears similar) are not called "anti-rattle" by Toyota, but I believe it's these sometimes are referred to by the term:

    upload_2016-9-29_9-27-8.png

    It seems improbable that a decent mechanic would not reinstall the clips. I doubt they would even remove them, it is a royal pain without completely removing the caliper support bracket. Also, I can't see their omission making all the noise.

    My guess for the source of the sound would be the suspension.
     
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  9. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Very standard for any brake job. And if they aren't correctly lubricated, rattles can result.

    One thing unique to Prius (well, maybe others, I do not know) is a "button" on the back plate of the inboard rear brake pads. That's rear brake pads, the pad that's inner, has a "button" on the back of the pad. This button needs to align with an indentation on the brake piston. Your mechanic may not know this. I didn't know it or understand it until Mendel showed me a picture.
     
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  10. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

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    Are you new to the Prius? The reason I ask, is there is a transition from regeneration braking to the mechanical brakes around 3 MPH. The car wiggles, noises, etc. sometimes the brakes are a bit grabby because of rust. One of the Prius quirks. The good news is my brakes are at 200 K and so is most every body. It could be your looking at this to closely.