Rear brake replacement on '04

 Later today I'll pull the rear brakes apart, turn the
drums and install new shoes.

That's despite the fact that the existing shoes, at 55k
miles, look fine. My problem has been a last-second
grabbing by those brakes, and after repeatedly cleaning
and scouring all I get is a few days of relief.

Any thoughts on that brake job?

  "Hank" ..

I am thinking that this is an inexpensive and easy approach, especially
being that you do the cutting yourself (you said that right?), and then you
will know for sure that those will not be the cause if it returns.  I am
thinking that this ought to do it though.
Tomes

 Tomes wrote:

It was trivial - why did I worry? There is nothing
"special" about rear brakes in the Prius - it's like
every other car I've seen.

The binding is gone, the brakes are smooth and should
improve with a few miles as they seat.

 I thought that this low speed brake binding problem (>7 mph) was a
sign that the brakes were out of adjustment.  I find that tightening
up the brake adjustment makes it go away - since there is a smoother
transition from regenerative to friction braking.

Am I correct that the friction brakes kick in at about 7 mph?  This is
speed when this problem seems to occur.  If it is wet the car can
lurch or the tires chirp.

Mark B

 I pulled the rear wheels and sanded both shoes and drum,
and the problem would be gone for a few days. I also
checked lubrication and brake adjustment - all correct.

Finally, I beveled the ends of the linings on the shoes
- that ended the problem for a week or more. Convinced
that it was a problem with the shoes, I installed new
ones ($
0 at NAPA). Problem GONE.

On the pulls, there was plenty of lining. However, I
compared the old ones to the new ones, and without doubt
the originals were harder, more brittle. Whether that
was part of the problem, I don't know.

At the worst it was not a big deal, but annoying.


mark b wrote: