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Brake Replacment

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Tracy2, Mar 27, 2006.

  1. Tracy2

    Tracy2 New Member

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    I'm at 9k miles of my 2005 Prius. The brakes need to be replaced. I have changed the brakes, disc and rotar, on every car that I have ever owned. Question, "Has anyone out there changed the brakes on their Prius, and is it any different that a routine brake pad job?"
     
    #1 Tracy2, Mar 27, 2006
  2. unruhly

    unruhly New Member

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    Wow, at only 9k miles? You must live in a very hilly area.

    Nothing special about the brakes that I can tell.
    Front Specs are:
    Minimum Pad thickness = .039 In
    Minimum Rotor Thickness = .787 In

    Rear:
    Maximum Drum Diameter = 7.913
    Minimum Shoe Lining Thickness = .039
     
    #2 unruhly, Mar 27, 2006
  3. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    WOW 9k miles?! :eek:

    I have 21k miles and the brake pads are still so thick when I check them at 20k. Do you mind to provide more details on what kind of driving you do? How long do the brake pads last on you other cars?
     
    #3 ScottY, Mar 27, 2006
  4. FBear

    FBear Senior Member

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    You sure!!!! That is an awfully short time. The car uses regenerative braking when the brakes are first applied so the wear on the pads should be minimal. So unless you live in a very, very hilly area or your unknowingly riding the brake pedal, the car should not need brakes until about 30k miles.
     
    #4 FBear, Mar 27, 2006
  5. Begreen

    Begreen Member

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    maybe typo? 90K?
     
    #5 Begreen, Mar 27, 2006
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    i'd get a second opinion on that. there's no way you could be in need of new brakes at only 9k. maybe in a non-hybrid... but not in a prius.
     
    #6 galaxee, Mar 27, 2006
  7. jeneric

    jeneric New Member

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    Looks like she's in Philly. Don't know if that's hilly. She must like to stop fast, isn't that silly?

    Maybe the wear indicator's off. I had to bend mine back on my other car. I had already bought the new brake pads. It got me in the end tho', because by the time they really had worn out, my wife had the shop replace them, now I still have the new brake pads and had to pay the shop's labor charges. I still kinda suspect the shop of bending them in a little in the first place.

    I wouldn't think there would be anything special about changing the Prius's pads. That part should work like any other car, I would think.
     
    #7 jeneric, Mar 27, 2006
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    9k and you need new pads? wow. at 10k, I had 90% front left and 95% rear left.

    Replacement shouldn't be any different. They're standard brake pads.

    9k? you sure?
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Mar 27, 2006
  9. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    Tracy,
    Someone is pulling your leg. I have 34,500 miles on my 04 and there is very litttle wear on the pads. There is no way that your pads are worn out at 9,000 miles, they should last around 100,000 miles under normal circumstances.
     
    #9 seasalsa, Mar 27, 2006
  10. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i have 53k miles and mine still have life.... some.. hehe. i do a lot of high speed braking. especially when i'm testing the BT Tech brace on hicks. hehe. that's fun though.
     
    #10 V8Cobrakid, Mar 27, 2006
  11. Tracy2

    Tracy2 New Member

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    Thanks to all that replied. :) My break light came on along with the (!), VSC, ABS, and the 'needs maintenance' light flashes. Believe it or not, the break light is what stuck out in my mind- that's what made me think that the breaks needed to be replaced. I have an appointment with the dealer. I'll let everyone knoew what the verdict is.
     
    #11 Tracy2, Mar 28, 2006
  12. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Have them make sure that the ABS sensors at all 4 wheels are making good electrical connection.
     
    #12 tochatihu, Mar 28, 2006
  13. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Yea, something else is wrong, there's just no way, short of constantly driving with the brake depressed, that you should need new brakes. Others have gone well over 100k miles with almost no noticable brake wear on the Prius. Let us know what DTC codes the dealer pulls.
     
    #13 efusco, Mar 29, 2006
  14. Tracy2

    Tracy2 New Member

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    Well the preliminary verdict is in. The computer is not communicating with the wheels. The 'dealership rep' told me that a new computer has been ordered and will be installed tomorrow. The part costs approx $1300, but luckily it is under warranty.

    The problem started while I was driving along the highway, at approximately 60 mph. The lights, mentioned in my last post , came on. The car drove without any problem, and braking did not change. The one thing that I noticed when dropping it off was that the avg mpg reading was 36mpg- approximately 8-10 mpg less than my average. I also logged approx 80 miles before the first bar of a full tank clicked off, usually this happens somewhere between 40-50 miles. The mechanic said that he has seen this problem before, although it has not been often.

    Thanks for everyones input I will post the official findings after I pick-up the car.
     
    #14 Tracy2, Mar 30, 2006
  15. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    the "maintenance required" light flashing means you're coming close to your next oil change interval :)
     
    #15 galaxee, Mar 30, 2006
  16. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

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    I have 41k miles and have no indication that my brake pads are in need of replacement. How reliable is the sensor that illuminates when replacement is needed???
     
    #16 djasonw, Mar 30, 2006
  17. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(djasonw @ Mar 30 2006, 04:16 PM) [snapback]232553[/snapback]</div>
    there is no sensor. tracy2 was seeing the maintenance required light, which indicates the need for an oil change. see above post.
     
    #17 galaxee, Mar 30, 2006
  18. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(djasonw @ Mar 30 2006, 01:16 PM) [snapback]232553[/snapback]</div>
    The brake pad wear sensor is audible like most cars, not electronic. It is mechanical and very reliable. Don't know what "break light" she is talking about.
     
    #18 seasalsa, Mar 30, 2006
  19. Tracy2

    Tracy2 New Member

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    The brake light that I spoke of was the light that comes on when th emergency brake is on.
     
    #19 Tracy2, Mar 31, 2006
  20. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tracy2 @ Mar 30 2006, 12:03 PM) [snapback]232522[/snapback]</div>
    So, how long had you driven with the emergency brake on?
     
    #20 seasalsa, Mar 31, 2006
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