Gen 3 popping noise at acceleration

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Nirosorin, May 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM.

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  1. Nirosorin

    Nirosorin Junior Member

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    Hey, guys,

    I have this weird sound coming from front right side, at every acceleration and sometimes during braking. It's like every time the forces change direction for the front right wheel, there's this sound.
    I've recently had the wheel bearing replaced on that side, and also sway bar links, tie rod ends and inner ends replaced for both sides.



    What you hear in the clip is what it is most times. If I'm really gentle with the acceleration, I can make it appear later, it's like if it passes a certain torque, then the whatever it is shifts and creates the sound.
     
    #1 Nirosorin, May 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM
    Last edited: May 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Sound like you haven't look into the drive shaft yet. Can you have someone drive as you walk alongside and listen? Maybe that's it? If it were me and that was the problem I'd live with it until there were multiple reasons for getting in there and replacing them.
     
    #2 PriusCamper, May 12, 2026 at 3:20 PM
  3. Nirosorin

    Nirosorin Junior Member

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    Well I have sort of excluded both brake assembly the CV axle because this popping happens in both braking and accelerating, meaning the breaks are in neutral state when accelerating and the CV axle is in almost neutral state when breaking, so none of these two culprits could be causing the noise.
     
    #3 Nirosorin, May 12, 2026 at 6:22 PM
  4. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    The direction of significant torque on the CV joints reverses every time you accelerate or regeneratively brake.
     
    #4 CR94, May 12, 2026 at 10:12 PM
  5. Nirosorin

    Nirosorin Junior Member

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    Would it make the noise when braking in Neutral? Because it does.
     
    #5 Nirosorin, May 13, 2026 at 1:11 AM
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Excessive brakes while braking will quickly break the brakes.


    Which is what you are doing by coasting in neutral. No regen braking and no regen recharging.
    Assuming the drive axle cv joints are good without checking them is equally bad. It is true Toyota cv joints rarely fail but people sometimes replace axles with poor quality aftermarket or the cv boot tear losing grease.
     
    #6 rjparker, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 AM
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