Stones In Brakes!?

[Chris Ray]

Hi

I have owned my T Spirit since April and have covered some 20,000 miles.

Last week, there was a terrible grinding sound from the front when accelerating, braking and turning the wheels. This evntually reduced to a slight "tinkling" sound as I drove the car to the nearest dealer.

They checked the brakes and removed several small stones. they also said that the disc was slightly scored but nothing to worry about.

I have noticed in the past that similar noises have come from the wheels/brakes when I had driven say slightly off road to allow someone to pass in a lane, and the dealer confirmed that the Prius did tend to pick up small stones when driving through roadworks or on gravel driveways (not good, as my office is situated in a long gravel driveway!)

Having driven many vehicles over the last 30 years, covering an average of 40,000 miles a year, it is very rarely that stones have entered the brakes, and I wonder if anybody else has included the same problem with the Prius and if this is due mainly to its design?

Obviously, I would prefer it if this did not happen, but it looks like, according to the dealer, it is a common problem and I will just have to live with it as the rest of the car is perfect.

[John in Hay]

Obviously, I would prefer it if this did not happen, but it looks like, according to the dealer, it is a common problem and I will just have to live with it as the rest of the car is perfect.

My Prius is quite new so no experience with that yet but I had the same problem a few times with my previous car - an Audi. The first time it happens is quite alarming and yes it is associated with driving over gravel / grit etc - especially if you have to brake. The last time it happened to me it even triggered the "total brake problem - don't drive any further" light on the car. No problem after a reboot (aren't cars getting like computers...)