Brake clicking noise

I am not sure why you hear a click. However, the Prius does transition automatically from regenerative braking to friction braking when you approach a complete stop, or if you brake very hard. The click may be the sound of the acuator making this transition. Although I don't recall hearing a click, there may be some varation in the noise the actuators create from unit to unit.

 

I have this on my Lexus RX300. It's not normal (no other car I've ever had does this) but it appears to somewhat common. It's the calipers moving on the slide pins. Some thick grease on the pins will stop the noise temporarily but it will come back.

 

Keith:
We are talking about a different noise that originates in the actuator under the hood, not the calipers. No other car has this, unless it is a hybrid.

 

I have a clicking noise too, usually when I break (at least thats when I noticed it)
seems to be coming from the fron wheel

 

The mystery clicking brake noise appeared for me today, I've just reached 1k miles and either I didn't notice it up to this point or it just started.

It's a one time click every time I very gently apply the brakes at very low speed, 2-4 mph, I was in crawling traffic with the windows up and radio off, they clicked every time the pedal was even slightly touched.

When I got to my garage I kept the car powered up in the EV mode, opened the hood and had my wife gently apply the brakes, not only did it click, pumps and whatever controls this complex braking system started making various noises.

My guess is the click is a solenoid, actuator or god knows what...its just a noisy system...only thing that bugs me is not having heard it during the first 995 miles.

It's my first Prius, clearly I'll need to just deal with all the goofy sounds a hybrid makes or I'm gonna drive myself crazy, if it breaks they'll fix it.

 

HELP. I have a similar noise, however mine clicks not just once but several times. Only have found it to happen when I slow at the 2-4 mph like others yet only when I turn the steering wheel to the right. Like I am slowing to stop at a stop sign and turn right. I have inspected the wheel hoping to find a stick or something but no luck thus far.
It doesn't do it all the time, but quite a lot. Seems more like the playing card in the bike spokes thing at a slow turn. I have an extended warranty, but if something is wrong I would like to fix it now , not just for the current distraction, but to keep from having more problems later.

 

I hear this also, on occasion. Turning slowly with brakes on, click click click, proportional to speed. I think it is from the CV joints in the front axle. My car has low mileage, so it is not a wear issue. Thinking about the braking, as the transition from regen to friction comes about, there will be a change in the torque on the front axles, such that they go from being loaded to just spinning with no load. That unloads the CV joints, and allows the play in them to be heard. At least, that's my guess, as I hear a similar sound in the universal joints on the PTO shaft of my tractor. Under load, they are silent, coasting they click.

 

Another possibility to consider is if the "single click" occurs after you've driven in reverse. The brake pad shifts within the caliper when braking in reverse, then shifts again when driving forward. The click you hear is simply the brake pad contacting the caliper... nothing to worry about.

 

I also get clicking with slight braking and turning right. Its started at 52000 miles and is getting more noticeable.
I have 53,000 miles on my 2009 prius. I cant feel any play in wheel bearings or cv joints and boots are all fine..

I was thinking the transaxle was low on fluid but I checked it and fluid is full...
I see about a dozen reports of this clicking and no updates posted..
I did change my transaxle fluid (ws toyota fluid) about 10k miles ago.. most of my driving is city rather than hiway.
I have original tires(only half worn) and alignment, orignal breaks (no wear) and I get 55mpg.
I am wondering if others that have this clicking have also changed there transaxle fluid, have orignal tires and brakes?

 

Both of my Prius' make clicking noises when the car is braking to a stop, especially when the wheels are turned during braking (2008 136K/2011 43K), and most noticeably when the car is at low speed. I remember seeing other threads on the issue, but it has been a while. It's not the same CV failure I'm used to hearing, where there are noticeable clicks (I would even say they could be felt) when the wheels are turned at their extremes, so I don't know what to attribute it to. I would be very surprised that the 2011 would have a CV failure so soon, and because I am experiencing it in both cars, I am honestly just accepting it as normal. I have not had any ill effects from the noise, so unless someone can correct me otherwise, I don't think it's that big of a deal. The other theory is that something my wife does during driving is causing the issue .

I will confirm that the clicking is almost always experienced while stopping and turning to the right, but that should make sense for cars driven in America, because the bulk of our stopping with the wheels turned is done so when turning to the right (can someone confirm that this happens in countries where they drive on the opposite side of the road?).

epoch, I am on original brake pads, I did have the rotors remachined because they were slightly warped. No transaxle fluid change (yet).

 

I still hear this once in a while, and I too think it is just a more or less normal noise. I don't think it has to do with transaxle internals or brake wear.

 

I have the same problem, took it to the dealership today for service. they say i can't find anything wrong with the front brakes nor hear anything wrong when turning... so frustrating!

 

I have this noise when parked. It just started, and I have a little over 1000 miles on the car now.

 

Soncifox, It would be best to post a query in the Prius C forum. But with so few miles, it is something the dealer needs to hear.

 

Thread bump. I've got a 2010 with this problem. Very fast ticking, at slow speed, during a right braking turn.

So far they've replaced:
Caliper slide pins
Caliper slide bushing
Wheel bearing
Now in the process of replacing caliper bracket

 

I have a 2013 Prius that has had the same issue 3 months in to buying it. ive taken it to the dealer 3 times now. Every time I take it in they claim to not here it until I have one of there mechanics drive with me to replicate the noise. It's currently in the shop and looks like they want to replace the front end. Will try to post update when I hear something new

 

Can someone record the clicking noise and post it? I believe we may be talking about different clicking noises, different causes.