Car suddenly started a high pitched whistling noise/metal on metal sound at highway speeds. It is intermittent, no noticeable pattern w/acceleration or breaking. Similar sound at lower volume when the shock/spring is depressed (pushing down on that corner of the car). Louder at low speeds. Thanks for any ideas.
Sounds like a wheel bearing or something like a rock caught between the pad and the rotor. Are you planning a DIY repair or taking it to a dealer?
If it's a rock & I could do it myself, that would be wonderful but am trying to get to my mechanic tomorrow so I don't damage anything.
Please do post the outcome, particularly if you are not using a dealership. People here ask about finding independent Prius mechanics all the time.
Outcome - it was a rock inside the hub area that would get lodged & rub on the inner corner of the rotor. I now have a rock w/a very shiny edge. The mechanic had to remove the caliper, pads & rotor to get it. Total bill $95. Thanks for the advice. P.S. the mechanic - Superior Auto Service in the Fremont area of Seattle. I take the Prius & our Honda Element there for everything & have been quite pleased.
Cool, thanks for coming back. Can't tell you how many times someone asks for help and then we never hear back.
Had the same horrendous noise -- high pitched squealing like super chalkboard scratching. I removed the decorative wheel cover -- after letting everything cool overnight -- and felt around behind the brake disk. There's a thin round metal piece that runs right up behind the disk; it must be a protective shield. There's enough room for a piece of gravel to lodge between it and brake mechanism. I moved my fingers along the space between the shield and the disk and a very small piece of gravel fell out. Voila; no noise. I hope that works for anyone else with the noise.
