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

Noise and wiggle when stopping

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by NoSUVnow, Jan 6, 2009.

  1. NoSUVnow

    NoSUVnow New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    When stopping; my '08 Touring (7500 miles) makes a clunking noise and the front end wiggles.
    This happens when I am making a very soft stop, not aggressively applying the brakes. I really am almost coasting to a stop with very little brake pedal pressure. The sound is a soft click or clunk and I get several of these before coming to a complete stop. With the sounds, the front end wiggles left to right slightly. It sounds and feels sort of like ABS is switching brake pressure alternately between the two front wheels. This only happens once I am below about 3 mph. It does not happen every time I stop, and I can not establish a pattern. This has happened on all types of street surfaces, wet and dry. Twice I was going to stop by my dealer and get it checked, but of course those times I could not get it to do it. :rolleyes:

    Has anyone else experienced this, or have any suggestions as to the cause?
     
    #1 NoSUVnow, Jan 6, 2009
  2. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2005
    1,761
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Are you sure it wasn't the ICE shutting down? It can be a little rough if not fully warmed.
     
    #2 firepa63, Jan 6, 2009
  3. NoSUVnow

    NoSUVnow New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Yes, I am sure it is not the ICE. That shuts off several seconds before I notice the noise and wiggle.
     
    #3 NoSUVnow, Jan 8, 2009
  4. taggart

    taggart Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    249
    14
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Funny you would bring this up. My '08 makes a sound during the last 3 mph or so when braking, but without the movement. Always has. It's like the friction brakes are intermittantly grabbing the rotor. I never really considered it an issue, but I wonder now if it is. I'll follow this thread with great interest. Good luck on it.
     
    #4 taggart, Jan 8, 2009
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,472
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'd suggest to NoSUV and taggart that you both try cleaning the front brakes by finding a road with light traffic, speeding up to 45-50 mph, then shift to N and moderately brake until you come to a stop. Repeat several times. Then see if you have the problem with noise and vibration upon very slow-speed braking.

    If you do, then you may have a warped rotor. If you can demonstrate the problem on demand, then I suggest you make the issue known to your dealer's service advisor.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Jan 8, 2009
  6. taggart

    taggart Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    249
    14
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thanks, Patrick. I'll try to do that this weekend. I assume by shifting into neutral, that will only use the friction brakes, which is the idea.
     
    #6 taggart, Jan 8, 2009
  7. Gutsy

    Gutsy Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2008
    30
    2
    0
    Location:
    Yardville, New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Helo,

    I was talking to a master mechanic that I know at a ball game a few months ago and learned that he owns a 2007 Prius. We exchanged notes about what we learned about the Prius because I recently purchased my 2008. One of the things he mentioned was that the wheel lug nuts should be tightened using a torque wrench, otherwise you could feel a shutter as you come to a complete stop. Wonder if a few of your lug nuts are tightened properly or slightly loose?

    Hope this helps!
    Dave
     
    #7 Gutsy, Jan 9, 2009
  8. NoSUVnow

    NoSUVnow New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hey, I appreciate the suggestions. I will try the brake cleaning in neutral. I also have a Torque wrench. Mine is a 2008 Touring model. What is the proper Torque setting for the lug nuts?
     
    #8 NoSUVnow, Jan 9, 2009
  9. Gutsy

    Gutsy Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2008
    30
    2
    0
    Location:
    Yardville, New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    #9 Gutsy, Jan 9, 2009
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Yes, that is correct. I do with mine on a routine basis. With the snow and humidity around this area, rust is a constant problem. My brakes always make a scraping sound when I back out of the garage until they get cleaned off.

    Tom
     
    #10 qbee42, Jan 9, 2009
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,472
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Whenever I wash the Prius I will hose out the dirt that accumulates on the front wheels and the front disk brake parts. Then I'll take the car for a short drive and do the "shift into N" procedure to clean and dry the front brakes.

    Yes, 76 ft.-lb is the correct tightening torque for the wheel lug nuts.
     
    #11 Patrick Wong, Jan 9, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)