2021 MYLR Dual Motor: grinding/squeal when shifting into Part

[Pianewman]

46k miles: Every time I shift into Park, I hear a grinding/squeal, coming from the rear wheels...I think...If this were a conventional braking system, I'd be looking for a place to lubricate the parking brake cable/mechanism.

Service Center says the parking brake mechanism needs to be "calibrated", a minor service.

Thoughts?

 

[Pricedm]

Could be the parking brake (aka rear brakes) need routine service. My brakes had a squeek when engaging parking brake. A quick DIY service (follow the manual) resolved the issue. Either DIY or have your service center do the routine brake service.

 

[GtiMart]

Your car does use the rear brakes as the parking brake. The rear calipers are activated electrically but that ends up just pushing the pistons. Tesla already recommend cleaning / lubricating the brakes yearly, at least in harsh climates like where I live. How long has it been since your last brake clean/lubrication?

 

[Pianewman]

GtiMart: BUSTED! Never serviced the brakes. I'll let the tech do it this time, and follow up with my own service in the futurie.

I live in a salt-free climate, car has spent only a few miles on liquid applied chemically treated roads.

I think y'all have answered my question. Thank you!

 

[Pianewman]

So, I visited Tesla SC on Aug. 4. Service Center confirmed the noise, said rear brake calipers need replacing.

Text from Tesla: "...the parts are in. Scheduled for service Sept. 27, 7:00am"

Took the car in this morning. Different tech evaluates the sound, says, "It's normal. No service needed."
2nd tech: Ditto
3rd tech (5 years with Tesla): "The excessive noise simply means the rear parking brake actuators need to be calibrated."

While I wait, he says, "Why didn't they do this for you when you brought it in Aug. 4? If the actuator isn't calibrated periodically, it will make excessive noise. FYI, I've never seen an actuator that has failed, they just get noisy."

He calibrated the actuator (twice). The screaming scrunching sound is eliminated.

So, they were planning on replacing BOTH rear calipers, which have the actuator built-in. I'm glad they didn't throw away perfectly functioning expensive parts.

 

[Pianewman]

Well, so much for "calibrating" the rear brakes. The brake actuator scream is back. It's significantly louder than than a "normal" actuator sound.

I plan to camp at an RV park. The sound is loud enough to wake the dead. (Yes, I know, I only have to do it when I shift from D to P, but that might be at 1:00am!)

Is the rear parking brake actuator serviceable? Is there some way to lubricate the squealing part? Is the actuator replaceable?

I'm now thinking I should let them replace the calipers, unless someone knows of a solution to this noise.

 

[GtiMart]

Did you ever service the brakes to clean and lubricate everything? Just in case it's something other than the actuator that's making the noise when the piston is pushed? Do you have any noise when you brake relatively hard in normal driving?

EDIT: Do you also get the noise when going from P to D? That should move the same actuators in the other direction.

EDIT EDIT: What about when you hold the park button after putting in park (e.g. the "parking brake"). Does that make additional noise?

 

[CMTwinDad]

Well, so much for "calibrating" the rear brakes. The brake actuator scream is back. It's significantly louder than than a "normal" actuator sound.

I plan to camp at an RV park. The sound is loud enough to wake the dead. (Yes, I know, I only have to do it when I shift from D to P, but that might be at 1:00am!)

Is the rear parking brake actuator serviceable? Is there some way to lubricate the squealing part? Is the actuator replaceable?

I'm now thinking I should let them replace the calipers, unless someone knows of a solution to this noise.

Did you ever get this permanently fixed? I’m having a similar problem, my rear brakes make a loud screeching noise whenever I shift in the park and again when they release shifting into drive.

 

[Pianewman]

Did you ever get this permanently fixed? I’m having a similar problem, my rear brakes make a loud screeching noise whenever I shift in the park and again when they release shifting into drive.

I didn't believe the SC when they said it was normal. They also claimed Tesla isn't the only brand with this issue.

Our 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid makes the exact same noise.

It is normal.

 

[CMTwinDad]

I didn't believe the SC when they said it was normal. They also claimed Tesla isn't the only brand with this issue.

Our 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid makes the exact same noise.

It is normal.

Mine suddenly started getting noisy a couple of months ago. it always makes some noise, that is normal. But it is very loud now, enough to turn heads of passersby. I have a service appointment soon. Hopefully they will take it seriously.

 

[nate704]

Change (full flush) your brake fluid with Tesla approved DOT4 fluid. The noise will go away.

 

[Pianewman]

Change (full flush) your brake fluid with Tesla approved DOT4 fluid. The noise will go away.

Could you explain how this works, please? I don't believe the friction point, causing the noise, is associated with brake fluid, which is internal.

 

[CMTwinDad]

Change (full flush) your brake fluid with Tesla approved DOT4 fluid. The noise will go away.

I understand the parking brake uses a screw that turns to lock the rear brake(?) It sounds like the normal screw spinning sound, but one day it was suddenly much louder. Not a gradual increase. And no sound when pressing brake pedal while driving. So I don’t think it is brake fluid related, but I may be wrong.

 

[CMTwinDad]

Update: The service center fixed the parking brake noise by replacing one of the rear brake calipers (lefthand caliper, in my case). Warranty covered, no cost. We shall see if the fix lasts. In case this is helpful for anyone who has this problem in the future, here is what my invoice said, including the part number (for a 2022 Y):

“Concern: Customer states: Other · Brakes - Parking brake recently started making an unusual noise when engaging and disengaging. In the attached video, you can hear the normal whirring noise of the parking brake screw turning, followed by a very loud squeal.
Repair Notes: Diagnosed and Replaced LH Rear Brake Caliper. Verified Noise Is No Longer Present.
Correction: General Diagnosis
Correction: Brake Caliper - Rear - LH (Remove & Replace) - Remove and Replace
Parts Replaced or Added
Part Quantity
BRAKE CALIPER - 1.00 REAR - LEFT HAND - BASE(1044623-00-J)”

 

[fiehlsport]

My car just started doing this two days ago, which made me remember reading this thread.

I fixed it, I think, by going into service mode and putting each parking brake into service position. (I think it's called EPB Service Mode, for when you're replacing the rear brake pads) This fully retracts and engages each parking brake, taking it through the full range of motion. After I did this, the squeal/squeak stopped immediately when putting the vehicle into Park. This is probably the "Calibration" that the service center did on OP's car. But it's not listed as a calibration, it just takes the EPB to both extremes.

I'll update if it comes back. My guess is that the full unwinding of the parking brake screw stirred up some grease and re-distributed it on the threads. My car only has 22k on it, there's no reason for it to need new calipers so soon.

And yeah - there's no logic to brake fluid or a caliper slide lubrication service changing this sound. The noise is coming from the EPB motor.