Two issues with my Prius: turning the steering wheel and rattling at braking

Hi everyone,

I'm a recently new member and I first off I want to say this is the best forum ever. You folks are extremely helpful, friendly and patient! Thank you so much!

Some context: a few weeks ago I've purchased my first Prius— 2012 with 90k miles (V modification). Overall it is in a good shape but has few issues that I've never noticed at previous cars I've owned, so could you please clarify whether this is normal and if not maybe you can advise what the issue could be. English is my second language, so please forgive me if something sounds unclear.

Here are the issues I have:

1. At low speeds (e.g. on the parking lot or at standing) when I turn steering wheel I feel a slight knock/kick/click (don't know the best word to describe it). I can only feel it with hand, it almost doesn't make any sound (that's why no video). I can reproduce it when turning the wheel by applying force, then I stop applying force and the wheel goes back a little bit—that's when I feel this knock. Any ideas what that could be?

2. This doesn't reproduce all the time but very infrequently (that's why I couldn't catch it on video). When braking at slow speed (or standing) and letting go the pedal, I feel and hear a rattling sound. I've read the forum and, at first, thought it is brake actuator but it happens not all the time and I don't have any lights on and actuator problem seemed to happen on Gen 2. I've noticed the same sound after I turn off the car and wait around for a minute. After that, it feels like something turns off and that's when I hear the same sound (not always).

Any thoughts or ideas are extremely welcome and appreciated.

 

Could you please clarify what you mean? I thought Prius has CVT which doesn't have a suspension? Is that not the case?

 

OK, thanks for the advice, I'll check those!

Does anybody have an idea what could be the reason for the rattling noise when I turn off the vehicle?

 

Re. noise: yes, I read the forum re. brake pump sound but it doesn't seem to be it. Pump's sound is more like humming and I hear it always when open the door (after the car was in the garage for some time) or when press the pedal.

The sound that worries me is more like rattling, it sounds as if a small gear slips over another gear and it last only fraction of the second. It doesn't happen all the time but only sometimes when I press the pedal (~once per 50 pressings) or after I turn off the vehicle and wait about a minute (also not always though).

 

I've read the forum a bit more and believe that issue #2 is related to the air in the brake system. I will try bleeding it and hopefully, it will go away. Otherwise, it is probably brake actuator.

Issue #1 is still not clear though. I've looked under the car and everything seems fine. The struts don't show signs of oil and the car is firm on suspension if I try moving it side-to-side or up-and-down.

CV books also seem perfectly fine not showing signs of splits or grease. If no splits CV joints seem to be very reliable according to what I read online. or how do I identify there is an issue with them otherwise?

If not joints, I start thinking it is a steering system itself but not sure what could be the issue and how to identify it. Unlike with struts or joints everything is inside and hardly visible.

 

Ok, thanks a lot, I'll check.
Out of curiosity what makes you think this is CV joint? I can feel the click even when the car stands, shouldn't it be an issue only when it moves if it is a CV joint?