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Parking brake

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by lexidium, Jan 20, 2020.

  1. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    My car just failed it's MOT 'inadequate effort on rear offside wheel.'
    For once, I can't see anything about it on Youtube and not sure what's involved on a Prius as opposed to some other cars.
    Is it likely to be a cable?
     
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    When did you last have the parking brake adjusted? I suspect that is all it needs.
     
  3. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    It was about a year ago.
    He said just tightening wouldn't do it and that there were separate pads or something.
     
  4. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    You have the European Prius model with rear disc brakes. Drum brake parking brake is inside the disc brake. Most likely it's something wrong in the drum brake mechanism or shoes. Many times you can tell/ques by the numbers that that they measured in the inspection. You could try adjusting but there's probably something wrong with it.

    Parking brake system is very simple and relatively easy to work on. Just remove the wheel and rubber cap under it. Then you can turn the brake rotor to get the adjuster lined up with hole where rubber cap was. I think the adjuster rotated down to loosen. But of course if you turn it the wrong way it will just get tight.

    Then remove the disc brake caliper. Best if you would disconnect 12v battery before this. After that you can install couple of bolts in the brake disc. Tightening those and maybe help from hammer (only tap the hub area) you get the disc-drum off and can see the mechanism.