Brakes already!?!?

@ChapmanF i believe it's 3 years or 30k miles.

@alanclarkeau new pads are likely 10mm, definitely not more.

 

Could be - just going on what they told me at service. I asked that they check when I handed the car over. Surely it's not another regional difference?

But I did find elsewhere on PriusChat 10mm mentioned, and 9.5mm rear.

 

Yeah those are 3rd gen thickness, very likely 4th Gen is the same.

I'm on the road, away from my "library" lol.

 

You need another quote as $630 is high for pads. Even if they turn the rotors that is high. However if the replace the calipers then ok.

Brake jobs are the biggest profit makers for shops and the easiest to do on disk brakes.
Ask Advance auto parts and Autozone who they recommend and check a couple of reputable tire stores.

 

The garage queen is on a road trip.

Hope she gets to stretch her legs a bit.

 

When you have an answer - please let us know!!

I was thinking of a couple of options:

• we have RAC (Royal Automobile Club) here which we can ring technical advice, they're very helpful - is the AA in US or UK?;
• maybe you could ring TOYOTA Corporate - not sure if they have technical advice?; or
• most of our TAXIs use PRIUS or other Hybrids - I rang their workshop for advice on a technical question before I bought Samantha.

 

I don't know where either of you got this, but the Warranty & Maintenance Guide I have in front of me says, "Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs" every 5,000 miles or 6 months, and adds "Brake lines and hoses" every 15,000 miles or 18 months.

 

No need to get defensive. Some people actually do NOT know that those things can wear out the brakes prematurely.

So.....that leaves us with BOTH shops trying to sell you something you don't need.....or there is a fault in the brake system that causes ALL of the brakes to "drag" while your foot is off the brake. The first is highly likely; the second MUCH less likely.

Do you drive with your left foot on the brake pedal ?
It's called "riding the brakes" and that can cause premature wear too.

I think you need a third opinion.
When you do that, ask for a brake INSPECTION first. If you just ask them for a price to replace the pads, they will give you one......and will be happy to do the work if you tell them to......whether it needs to be done or not.

The price difference likely is because the first dealer only does a standard brake "package" which includes rotors too, which you certainly should NOT need at that mileage.

 

On the road so don't have the US schedule available. Could that 15k be under special conditions?

For reg maintenance, look at the 30k or 3 year page, that's where I saw the change, goes from "visual" to in-depth description.

 

Well, we are in the gen 4 forum

 

Doh! Yep, it might have changed, I've never so much as seen a Gen 4 manual.

Under regular schedule, but in the Warranty & Maintenance Guide, not the regular manual. I default to that one since it's where I keep a record of all my self-performed services. Coming up on 80,000 miles and the brake pads look like new, just regreased all the pins and replaced the boots at 75,000 so I'm hoping that keeps up.

 

Did you replace the piston boots? I've never tried to do that, any time I wasn't re-doing the caliper anyway. I guess it should be possible, depending on how far the piston is extended.

I tend to operate on the have-boots-on-hand-but-don't-replace-unless-damaged philosophy.

 

any news?

 

When you go to the 3rd garage, don't tell them about the previous places and their results. Just tell them you want their opinion on the condition of your brakes. I'm really having a hard time accepting that your brakes are so bad at your current mileage that you need them replaced. And replaced can mean a lot of things. My feeling is that they were going to replace the pads and grease the pins, charge you an arm and a leg and call it day. I have driven many a car and you really have to be an awful driver who drives in the most extreme weather conditions to have to have your brakes completely replaced at the mileage you are at.

 

Yep, good advice. I really like the emergency brake warning on my two as I have left it on several times on every car I have owned and I am a mechanic. All it does it loosen the system which makes it harder to stop the car when you need it. Never drove more than 100' with it on but it happens. A good EB with keep you from moving the car without great difficulty. Most of us like it a little loose for good MPG.
Anyway, just wanted to share that even the best of us leave it on. My wife yells at me "you left the brake on"

That is definitely not the issue in this thread.

But like Bisco I am dying to know the mystery and its solution.

Pictures please!

Hyundai makes good products BTW

 

Driving with the parking brake on will get the rear brakes quite hot, so if it goes on long enough, can cook the rubber parts, etc.

It doesn't really 'loosen' anything, unless it goes on long enough to wear extra material off the pads, and that will just get readjusted out the next time the regular brakes are used without the parking brake on (assuming Gen 4 has the same kind of combo parking calipers used on the US Gen 3 liftback).

 

One more comment:
I think that the OEM new pad thickness on a Prius is somewhat less that what it is on "normal" cars.......because the assumption is that the pads will be used much less. I think.
That might cause some independent "brake shops" to pronounce the pads "worn out" if they don't check the actual Toyota specs on what is the recommended minimum thickness.
I can't verify this; maybe someone with quick access to the specs can comment.

I can't see what salt accumulation would have to do with this question.
If there is a little, it shouldn't last long.