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Creaking Sound from Front of Prius While Braking

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Kizzy, Mar 24, 2016.

  1. Kizzy

    Kizzy Member

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    I could hear mine even with the driver's side window rolled up, but with the A/C running I couldn't hear it unless I was really listening for it.

    It has been almost a month now and the creaking sound is still gone. Hoping that continues...

    -Kizzy
     
    bisco likes this.
  2. cdnbrit

    cdnbrit Junior Member

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    Took my 2012 V in to Toyota today to get an oil change, Rolled inside the inspection bay on battery, Could hear Creaking From the front end, Service tech was standing right there, never said nothing to me about it. I only hear it on occasion.. Usually very low speed on battery power (i'm sure i wouldn't hear it if the ice was running) When i say low speed i think its like 1 or 2 mph kinda speed.. Nothing wrong with my brakes, They work very well. Not sure what all the creaking it about..
     
  3. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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  4. Kizzy

    Kizzy Member

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    The sound referenced in that post is very similar to the creaking sound I was hearing, which is still gone as of today. It vanished as mysteriously as it appeared.

    -Kizzy
     
  5. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

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    I had a similar, randomish creaking. My mechanic suggested it was rusting brake shims. I cleaned the as best I could and serviced the brakes and the sound has so far not returned. The pads surfaces are great, at 150000km, but rust seems to be wrecking the finish on the shims and back of the pads...possibly causing them to shift around, usually when the car heats up.
     
  6. Michael H

    Michael H Junior Member

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    Oddly enough my 08' has had a creaking sound coming from it for the last 4 months. On the front left driver side too. To me it sounds similar to a rusty spring and occurs when applying the brake when the car is stationary or when force is directed to this corner of the car. I believe the seal is likely cracked in the strut and rust is possibly just causing the creaking, or something similar?

    The struts/springs don't sound terrible to replace, but I would wait until it is warmer out to do it myself. Will have to check if that specific creak (not "bark") occurs when I am slowing down.

    So I am not sure if it is the same to the OP, but still interested to follow.
     
  7. Derhabs

    Derhabs Junior Member

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    I had a similar issue. Barking from the brakes when at a stop. Noise did not occur when moving or when I put the car in park and released the brakes.

    I finally brought it into Toyota for a regular service maintenance and asked them about the noise. They diagnosed it as a faulty ABS component. Thankfully, it was covered by extended warranty, I was well over 100k. . No more of that barking noise what so ever.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

    PS. It was a Toyota extended warrantee, I never buy those. Apparently, this is a known issue to them.
     
  8. bigbird

    bigbird Junior Member

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    If
    if the caliper slide pins are not rusty, the noise is most likely the stabilizer bar bushings.seen this issue numerous times. Use only genuine toyota parts. Im a 30 year toyota tech.
     
  9. DaveDom

    DaveDom New Member

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    Exact same sound. Happens only when you are almost at a stop and hybrid breaking switches to mechanical. Like 8mph to 0mph. Also happens when stationary. It's much more pronounced when going/standing downhill. Now my question is.. how can it be a stabilizer bar bushing if it happens while stationary even on flat surface? Put the car in park or even turn off on a flat surface and press the pedal. And you've got the same creaking wooden-like noise. The only solution i've found (even tho it was temporal) was re-greasing the actual piston and making sure rubber is sealed and has no holes. Hell of a job though... might also just buy 2 new pistons 2 new rubbers instead of regreasing it and try putting it back together. Plus it required air bleeding after that and air bleeding without techstream is quite an "adventure" too. It might be possible to do it without air bleeding but it'll be even harder to put piston back in. 1 year later... the sound is back. Not sure what to even do about it anymore because many dealerships will tell you that it's normal but it definitely isnt. I've tried a few places and you can see the look on their face.. It's like they know already how hard it is to re-grease pistons and put it back together. Anyway my best guess re-greasing the caliper pistons and cleaning everything inside will solve this problem (atleast it helped me for a year). And buying new pistons/rubbers would be the best but not the cheapest choice.
     
    #29 DaveDom, Jul 20, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
  10. Transit

    Transit Junior Member

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  11. Transit

    Transit Junior Member

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    K
    Kizzy , I have the same exact problem on my 06 Gen 2 Prius . Been happening for about 4 or 5 weeks . As I use the brakes and pull up to stop , just before stopping the right hand wheel , listening from inside is creaking like an old staircase . Exactly that ☝️
    So what was the problem , I ask ?
    I am located east coast Australia . I am now the resident battery recondition guy !
    Around these parts !
    Cheers
    Transit
     
  12. Panagiotis Garbis

    Panagiotis Garbis Junior Member

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    Hi there,


    I’m recently having the same issue (if it is an issue, more of an annoyance) and wanted to see how this played out. I think the car i purchased laid idle for a bit and makes similar noises. Did the sound ever come back?
     
  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Very common issue especially if the car lives outside and has not been driven in a while.
    The brake rotors when they get corroded they really make a racket on this car.

    On the front wheels get a flashlight and look through the spokes at the big round flat plate that's the brake rotor. The brake pads grab that plate to stop. That plate should look nice and shiny and smooth.
    Yours is probably rusted and have some bad gouges in it.

    If its real bad they must be replaced.

    The basic way to fix it is to find a nice long road and with no one behind get up to 60 miles an hour
    then put the trans in neutral and press firmly on the brakes till you almost come to a stop.
    Put the car back in neutral and get back up to 60 miles an hour and do it again.
    This will clean all the rust off the rotors. Kinda.
    In neutral there is no regen assistance and the car will have all the stopping power of a go kart. Put it back in D and drive away.

    May have to do that a few times.

    Take a picture of the rotors through the wheel spokes and post it here. lets see how bad it is.

    PS: In the future dont tag an old post start your own thread. Its much more manageable.
     
    #33 edthefox5, Apr 13, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2021
  14. Kenzo

    Kenzo New Member

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    I wanted to let everyone what resolved the issue of the creaking "stair" noise for me coming from the driver side brakes. I checked the caliper slide pins and they were not binding. The pads were still serviceable but getting a little thin, so I decided to change them out along with new rotors. After the replacement of these parts - no creaking noise! In my case the rotors were not rusty since this is a daily driver. Maybe something in the disassembly/reassembly process cured the issue or replacing with new parts fixed it. Whatever fixed it, I'm happy!
     
    Raytheeagle and bisco like this.
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats!(y)