So I'm driving in downtown Portland this afternoon on my way to REI when all of a sudden the loudest metal-to-metal sound I've heard screams from the front of the car. It stopped when I did at the intersection. I looked at the delivery truck drivers on either side and they're looking at the front of my car so I start thinking "What, the tire installers screwed up, some new bug in the '05's, I have a cat stuck in the wheel (kidding cat lovers)?". No dreaded lights or any dash indication anything is wrong. At the green light I take off slowly and the fingernails on the chalkboard echoes between the buildings as pedestrians look at the car frowning. The UPS guy pacing me starts laughing. I'm a poor ad for Prius. After a few more blocks and no smoke, I figure I'll drive it to the dealer or until it blows up, but first REI for my climbing gear. I pull into the parking garage avoiding the stares of others parking. I head for the back corner slot and the only way in is to reverse. As soon as the car moved backward, the noise stopped. I finished parking and inspected both wheels and rotors for any apparent damage. None found, but there was a scraped up pencil eraser sized pebble where I started backing in, the suspected cause of the malfunction. It probably wedged between the rotor and caliper, but luckily fell out in reverse. No problems the rest of the afternoon. Drove serenely around town enjoying the now very quiet Prius in Stealth Mode more than ever!
Well, it's great that the problem-causing pebble fell out, but I'm sure a once-over inspection would be in order. I find it hard to believe that something could make that much noise without inflicting some damage. Now that it has a happy ending, I have to laugh at the thought of all those poeple staring. Unfortunate, though, if they blame the Prius.
actually the louder the squeal the less damage being done. the squeal is from the stone vibrating rapidly usually side to side against the rotor and that only happens if the rock is lightly touching the surface. if it had lodged in a little tighter, it most likely would have started grinding into the rotor as the rotor broke it up. that might have scratched the rotor a little. but most rocks arent really hard enough to do damage. i was wondering from your location if you didnt get a little volcanic glass. they are very hard but have no tensile strength.
