Brake work - I'll never need it

That really depends on your driving style and environment. If you do frequent stop and go, and your stops tend to be abrupt, you will wear the brakes faster. The friction brakes are used under 8 MPH or so, panic stops, and situations requiring ABS or VSC.

Granted, even under the worst driving style, you will find much less brake wear than on a conventional car without regen braking.

By the way, the classic does use some friction braking along with regen.

 

I understand that Prius brake maint is rare, other than if road salt corrosion pits the discs or damages the front calipers. In Andrew Grant's original Prius taxi the rears were done once and the fronts twice IIRC. But taxi service is more taxing? Also he had several hydraulic fluid flushes, which might have been needed, or just a bit of profit for the shop.

My 2001 Prius has passed 83k miles and has those young-looking friction parts.

DAS

 

It is probably a bit premature for those of us with varied driving styles to be planting in our brains the thought that brake jobs will never be done on the Prius. Folks who commute 40+ miles each way on freeways with little braking below 7mph will probably have the longest brake pad life. On the other hand, my driving is pretty much urban and short distances. I suspect that I will be having a brake job done in the future. The question is when?

 

Had to have my rotors replaced at 42,000 mi. - not because of wear but rather salt corrosion. Stainless rotors would be a great option for the Prius, since they would have probably gone another 40,000 mi. if not for the corrosion problem, according to my trusted mechanic. SS rotors are available for some vehicles, just not the Prius -yet.

 

Have you noticed that the wheels on the Prius stay much cleaner due to the lack of brake usage. The front wheels on my previous car were black within a couple of days after it was washed.

 

Hey..... Now that you mention it.....

 

Brakes in general have gotten a lot better. My first car with discs (1968 Pontial Grand Prix) needed new discs at 30,000 miles. The 1996 Explorer I just traded in for the Prius had 150,000 miles on it and the brakes were 70% worn. The dealer said I could probably go to nearly 200,000 miles on them. My 1993 F150 has only 80,000 miles on it and the brakes are fine for some time to come. I would be shocked if I had to get new brake linings on the Prius within 100,000 miles.

 

I am at the dealer with my Prius with 48,000 km and I've been told that I need brake work. I really don't trust them at all...is this likely?

 

Re: Brake work - I'll never need it

not likely, but possible. what exactly do they mean? have them show you and consider a second opinion. i have my daughters 04 being looked over by the local mechanic before i put it up for sale. 94,000 miles and he says it needs front pads and rotors. i'm going to go take a look. the pads are good to 1/10" and the rotors i would be concerned about grooving or warping. he wants $280. seems reasonable and makes me wonder if he's done a prius.

 

hm can some get away with not going with a front brake and rear brake service?

which means relubing the caliper pins, and applying anti seize for the rear drums where the shoe sits.

 

Re: Brake work - I'll never need it

My service records regarding brakes.

156K miles

Then 241k miles

 

My 2005 Prius (112k miles) has never had any brake work at all. I consider using the brakes as my failure as a driver.

I also have a Ford Escape Hybrid, which should have the same brake life. Guess what! At 16,000 miles the rotors and the brake pads rusted out and all had to be replaced. (pix and a major whine at Feud With Ford ). Both vehicles were parked in the same driveway for most of their lives and subject to the same weather conditions.

I would accuse Ford of using cheesy brake hardware, but cheese at least wouldn't rust.

Richard

 

Re: Brake work - I'll never need it

what mileage are these listed at in the service manual?

 

seb?

 

there is no mileage interval, it is just preventative maintainence... like if your brakes squeak a lot or some nonsense like that in wet salty weather

 

Lubing the slide pins prevents a sticking caliper which would cause uneven pad wear (inner vs outer). It is a trivial task by any mechanic with a lift and can be DIY using jack stands or shallow ramps.

JeffD