'14 Prius V 150k miles. Over the past couple of months a grinding sound has arose when I slow down between 20mph-5mph. You can't really hear it outside with the windows down, but you can in the cabin especially with the windows up and the cabin is quiet. I can even feel the grind in the steering wheel when slowing down to brake and if going left/right at low speed. I assumed it was the brakes, but the pads, calipers and slides are all look and work smooth and perfect. The pads were changed about 3000 miles ago so their still brand new. Next I thought it must be one of the wheel bearings. So I changed both front wheel bearings. Nope, noise is still there. I reversed and got to speed and tried to brake, but the sound is not there when in reverse, just forward. Anyone have any idea what else it could be if it's not the brakes or the bearings? Thanks all!
If it were the tranny, why would it grind when breaking? Slowing down without the brakes applied you barley hear it... Turning hard left or right at low speeds you can hear it without breaking, which is why I thought it was the bearings.
hard left or right could be cv joint tranny is always regenerating above 6mph foot of the gas, and more so when braking, but turning shouldn't affect it
So these would grind more when breaking? Wouldn't they just grind all the time breaking or not? And is there a way to test and re-lubricate these or do you need to buy new ones reguardless?
A cv joint could make noise when braking, not when breaking. Breaking would be the clicking sound. Possible struts or front end parts like ball joints. A front end shop could diagnose. You buy new axle(s) with cv joints if needed.
The grind (later, click or pop) occurs when mechanically braked wheels retard the motion of the CV and linked transaxle. When regenerative braking occurs at higher speeds, it is the transaxle doing the braking, not the wheels. These CVs are sealed, so not easily re-lubricated.
