Rear Brakes - Weird Symptoms

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by hendr1x, May 8, 2025 at 10:59 AM.

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  1. hendr1x

    hendr1x New Member

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    Hello everyone,
    I have a 2011 Prius. Yesterday I noticed a strong brake smell coming from the driver side rear wheel. Today I pulled the wheel off. The brake pads were worn to the metal closest to the center of the hub but on the outer area had 1/4" left. The rotors showed rust on the outer part. The caliper piston and pins moved/slide perfectly. Using the ebrake showed good movement on the mechanism but I don't know how to test that properly. Also note...I basically never use the ebrake so that is not the reason for the smell. After reassembling the smell didn't appear again after a few 15 minute drives.

    I'm not really use what to make of this. Normally I would change the caliper but these symptoms don't make sense to me and I don't want to waste time/money. Figured I would ask here before putting on new breaks/rotors and potentially messing them up.

    Any thoughts/ideas would be apprecited.
     
    #1 hendr1x, May 8, 2025 at 10:59 AM
  2. Buzzhead

    Buzzhead Non-Interference w/ devel of pre-Warp civs

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    I had problems on my 2010, in spite of the caliper pins being free and the piston being correctly aligned, and new fitment kits (the shiny sliders). After my 5th set of brake pads, I ended up changing the caliper bracket and the problems have gone away.
     
    #2 Buzzhead, May 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    So you replace the pads and all springs clips and all of that stuff are in place and now you have no smell in the braking spine I'm assuming you change the offending rotor? But yeah all smells should be gone good job I guess
     
    #3 Tombukt2, May 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Did you service (or have someone else service) the rear brakes recently? It sounds like misaligned caliper piston. See "3rd Gen rear brake drag info" link in my signature (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures).
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, May 8, 2025 at 2:29 PM
  5. hendr1x

    hendr1x New Member

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    @Buzzhead : You replaced the caliper bracket? But not the caliper itself?

    @Tombukt2 : I didn't replace anything. I just assembled it all again with old/worn out parts.

    @Mendel Leisk : I just checked my spreadsheet. Shop did them at 55k (currently 140k). I checked 10k ago and noted 1/4" left..haha. So I never knew about this orientation. I appreciate you telling me as I would definitely assembled them incorrectly. I'm gonna assume this was my main problem.

    Thanks everyone, I appreciate your time/help.
     
    #5 hendr1x, May 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    The pads were not installed correctly.
    There are two pins on the pad that align with the puck.
    If the puck in not in the correct position when the pad is installed, it will be at an angle,
    and will wear quickly because only about 1/4 of the pad is touching the rotor.
    Who recently did the pads? You, or a shop? If a shop, take it back and make them fix it, correctly.
    Bet the other side is messed up also.

     
    #6 ASRDogman, May 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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  7. hendr1x

    hendr1x New Member

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    @ASRDogman : Sounds about right. Does the front have the same setup?
     
    #7 hendr1x, May 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    No I don't believe it does just like a Corolla or most other Toyotas there's no pins or anything if there's no parking brake in the caliper in the back there is and I guess those little pins interact with the back of the pad or something whatever all I do is use the tool and turn it down make sure it's smooth if I'm putting a rotor on do that slide the new pads in place make sure the springs and clips are right stick the caliper back on and usually go to another near 200k at least that's what it was on our 2010 delivery vehicle but croaked at 396
     
    #8 Tombukt2, May 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
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