I have a 2012 base model V6 Rav4 with 18K miles. I bought it used in December 2013 with 11K miles on it, which was driven by a Toyota corporate employee. For the past 5-6K, nearly every time I step on the brakes, I can audibly hear and sometimes feel (depending how intense) a knock or clunk (sometimes several) in the brakes. Only does it with the brakes applied and at lower speeds (about 35 and under). I have taken it to the dealer where they applied grease to the spring clips the brake pads sit in between. That fix worked for about a week and I took it back where they tightened all of the suspension bolts and told me they don’t know what it is.
I have escalated the matter to a regional rep that is going to look at my vehicle in about a week. I have done countless google searches hoping someone else has had a condition such as this. Since the greasing worked for a week, I believe the clip/springs that hold the brake pads have prematurely worn. The dealer can’t replace the brake pads under warranty unless the regional representative OK’s it because they are a wear item. The brake pads have a lot of life left, it’s the clip/springs that must have worn out prematurely.
It may also be the calipers or the simple fact that the Toyota corporate employee that drove my Rav before I purchased it, abused it badly. I am concerned it may be a safety issue even though the dealer said it was perfectly safe to drive. I am not sure, but my Rav sounds worse than a Chevy with 50K miles on it. Ha ha ha.
What I am asking from you guys/gals is if you have any strategies or ideas about how to approach this with the regional representative? You might have a solution too? I was thinking that if he advises a specific problem, that I have him show me with the vehicle on the lift so that it makes sense how the noise is created under braking. If he says we don’t know what the noise is, or if it is “normal”, then what? Any tips, ideas, advice, or guidance for flushing out a solution would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for reading and or a response if you made it this far.
I have escalated the matter to a regional rep that is going to look at my vehicle in about a week. I have done countless google searches hoping someone else has had a condition such as this. Since the greasing worked for a week, I believe the clip/springs that hold the brake pads have prematurely worn. The dealer can’t replace the brake pads under warranty unless the regional representative OK’s it because they are a wear item. The brake pads have a lot of life left, it’s the clip/springs that must have worn out prematurely.
It may also be the calipers or the simple fact that the Toyota corporate employee that drove my Rav before I purchased it, abused it badly. I am concerned it may be a safety issue even though the dealer said it was perfectly safe to drive. I am not sure, but my Rav sounds worse than a Chevy with 50K miles on it. Ha ha ha.
What I am asking from you guys/gals is if you have any strategies or ideas about how to approach this with the regional representative? You might have a solution too? I was thinking that if he advises a specific problem, that I have him show me with the vehicle on the lift so that it makes sense how the noise is created under braking. If he says we don’t know what the noise is, or if it is “normal”, then what? Any tips, ideas, advice, or guidance for flushing out a solution would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for reading and or a response if you made it this far.