Brake work - DIY??

Our 2010 Prius has about 57K miles on it (mostly highway and rural commuting). The rear brakes just started to make some noise the other day at low speeds. It sounds like a light metallic squeal, similar to a brake pad wear indicator. It only occurs at low speeds and in reverse. Last time I checked the pads, they had lots of life, but that was in the spring.

I'd like to take apart the brakes to service them, but I don't know if this is a DIYer job on a Pruis. I have tons of experience on auto repairs, and have done hundreds of brake jobs (I also perform auto restoration as a hobby and have done almost every type of mechanical work on a car). So I am not really worried about my skill, but I am worried about knowing the proper procedure to do the repairs on a Pruis.

Is this something I can do? Has anyone done any brake work on a 2010+ Prius? It just so hard to pay a dealership to do this work when I can do it for a fraction of the cost myself (all my other vehicles are self maintained).

 

This is the information I need. What exactly is the techstream, I am assuming it's a computer program? Where can you get the service manual for these cars? I'd invest in what's required because I know it's worth it to have in the long run (we plan to keep this car for a while yet).

 

Okay, so the techstream is like a GM Tech 2, so I could see that being big bucks.

Thanks for the info on the Prius bleed. I will play around with the search to see if I can find the brake pad/service page like that, I haven't had the best luck with the search engine so far. It says on this document that you can service the brakes by putting the elctronically control brakes in invalid more. That is very helpful. I am assuming this would work to disassemble the brakes too, but I shouldn't assume with a car like this.

I am not worried about the mechanical repair procedures, I just don't want to bugger up the eletronics on the brakes. Last I checked the brakes we still had a fair amount. My plan was to disassmeble, lube the calipers, scuff the rotors and pads, and add some anti-squeel to the back of the pads. I figure that should eliminate the brake noise, and the calipers probably could use a good cleaning and lube anyway (I just did my Tundra's last week, and made a massive difference).

I called Toyota, my local dealer wants $216 + taxt to service all four brakes (that's replacing no parts, no doesn't include a brake bleed). That seems high to me, but I can't really take it elsewhere.

Thanks for the help so far. Is anyone has any other helpful information or links it would be greatly appreciated.

 

I suppose the price is okay, but you have to think of it from my perspective, when a typical brake service costs me basically nothing (some lube, sand paper, brake cleaner and an hour of my time). I mean, for something that will probably take a mechanic less than an hour, I just thought it was a bit steep, but I guess that's the price of mechanics these days.

Yes, the car has 57K miles, 91K kms. It had the first brake service done by the dealer by the first owner. I know I am overdue for one (we rack a lot of highway miles on our car). I have been searching old threads and haven't found much detail for Gen III brake work. I did find this one thread where the guy did the work and didn't remove the 12volt battery or pull a fuse (which I am not sure), and it came out fine.

Rear brake pad replacement for Gen 3 | PriusChat

If anyone else has any input, please let me know. I really would like to be able to at least do the brakes on this car my self. Someone on here must have done some brake work??

 

Awesome! Thank you. This is what I needed to hear. I just want to do a clean, lube, check. 90% of the time this works to get rid of annoying brake squeel (at least on my other vehicles). I was just paranoid about messing something up with the electronics on the brakes, but I will be sure not to open the drivers door.

 

One other question. If by chance I have to replace the pads (I don't think I will), will it mess anything up when you compress the piston back into the caliper?

 

Looks like one of my rear brakes are pretty worn, so I am going to a brake job. I pulled the caliper off to get a good inspection of them, and it set no codes. The brakes are super easy to work on so far.

So, hopefully when I screw the rear piston back in for the new pads it doesn set a code.

BTW, it will cost me the same to service the rear brakes at Toyota for me to replace pad AND rotors. I just have to wait until the weekend to do the work.

 

No I don't, but they wore unevenly as it looks like one pad got hung up recenty due to corrosion. The rotors are also gooved and rusted. I meant to clean the brakes in the spring, but didn't get around to it, so the rust caused premature wear. I am sure they would have lasted longer normally.

 

I ended up doing the rear brakes today. Pretty easy if you've done a brake job before. The one pad was seized solid which caused the other pad to wear prematurely (done to about 1-2mm). The other side of the car still had even wear but the caliper pins were in dire need of lubrication. The even side had 5mm of pad life left, so I figure if the pads hadn't have seized up due to corrosion, I probably could have double the milage. The rotors were due for a change though as the back side were very rusted and scored.

I ended up disconnecting the battery to be on the safe side. The pistons compressed easy with my rear caliper tool. The only advice I can give to someone else doing this job is don't put too much lube in the caliper pin holes. The pins will not move through there full travel if there is too much lube and this will cause problems with the caliper movement.

I bedded the brakes and it stops very strong and quiet now.