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Passenger CV joint and one sided rear brake - 2013 Plug-in, 230,000 miles

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Dermot McGuigan, Aug 25, 2024.

  1. Dermot McGuigan

    Dermot McGuigan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2015
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    Location:
    Woodstock, NY
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Passenger side CV joint leaking, no sounds when I crank wheel, drives well. Garage says to replace CV axle assembly on both sides. Online quotes (Hudson Valley, NY) show $1K+ to do both and $800 or so to do one. Does it make sense to do both sides (just in case)? And could it be solved by just replacing the rubber cover, though everything has got to be removed to find out.? I have to have it shop done. Shop quotes $860, better than the online average.

    Following what I read on this site I used the B setting to remove rust on both rear brake rotors, one side cleared up well, the other side brakes on a narrowish band of the rotor, leaving about 60% bandwidth rusted. After driving there is noticeably more heat coming of the wheel with the partial pad-to-rotor connection.
    Dealer wants $600 to replace pads and rotors on both rear wheels. 35,000 miles on them and five years of use. Is there any other trick I can try to get that one pad fully engaging the rotor.

    Bought car used with 200,000 miles, odo at 235K now. I have enjoyed five trouble free years. Getting 10 miles charge this summer, which I am happy with.
     
  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
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    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    IMHO: I would take it to a tire & brake repair shop. There's nothing special about the suspension & brakes on this car that requires dealer intervention. I would do the work myself. 1.0 to 1.5 hrs per half-shaft (~$75 each rebuilt or $300 each new OEM) and 2 - 3 hours on the rear brakes; depending on the amount of rust on those calibers.
    The reason the shop is incentivizing you to replace both half-shafts and not offering a boot replacement is based on the mileage of your car. If I owned the shop, we would both be peeved if the other side failed a few weeks or months after replacement. Bad feelings all the way around, from a warranty work perspective. That's why most respectable shops won't do "patch-work" - it's all or nothing.
    The rear brakes calibers needs to be rebuilt or replaced, because the slide pins the calibers float on - seems to be frozen in place. Just regular braking should've scrubbed the rust off those rotors, just like your front. You shouldn't have to resort to B-mode to clear rust off the rotors, unless something isn't working correctly. New calipers ~$90 or rebuilt ~$60 each - pad and rotor kit ~$70 pair.

    Hope this helps....

    PS: make sure the shop disconnects the battery, BEFORE cracking open the brake lines. If they don't know this - DO NOT get the work done there. Flush-out the entire brake system with new brake fluid while your there.
     
    #2 BiomedO1, Aug 26, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2024
    Dermot McGuigan and bisco like this.
  3. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
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    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Take your chances either way with the CV replacement. A shop is going to do what a shop does and there's no way you're gonna know exactly what that is, even if you know the mechanic or owner of the shop.
    B doesn't do anything to the brake pads and or rotors. Don't know what thread you read that in, but if it was here, it was bad advice.

    There are plenty of tricks when messin with brake pads and rotors, How well any of them work is up for lengthy debate. There is a difference though between a decent brake job and a slapped together install of pads and rotors.
     
    Dermot McGuigan likes this.
  4. Dermot McGuigan

    Dermot McGuigan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2015
    4
    4
    0
    Location:
    Woodstock, NY
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Than you very much for your comments, and the reminder re. disconnect battery.