Tom's Prius Rear Suspension Member Strengthening Brace for a 2007 Toyota Prius.

[Presto]

^^
So far, nothing in terms of new creaks or rattles. The brace is in there solid. As long as I get the spacers in properly for the crossbar, it should stay quiet. I have too find some time to take pictures. It's been too busy this week. My arms are still sore from the brace installation haha.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jun 19 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]464735[/snapback]</div>

This is a great post! Out of curiosity, is there a chance of abrasion of the fuel tank from the triangular brace? Such as could occur from the fuel tank shifting and rubbing against the brace. (I don't know how the fuel tank is mounted to the chassis.) If there is a chance for fuel tank abrasion, then I can see the need for some sort of spacer arrangement. Again, thanks for the info; it looks like an order for a TOM'S Rear Suspension Brace is in my near future.
[/b]

I dunno about abrasion, but the tank isn't going anywhere. I'm curious as to SaeGai's install. It looks like the brace is touching the tank, as well. I'll do an assessment after the weekend, as I'm going for another trip through the windy Cascades

[prius62]

I went back and got shorter, more stable braces installed. The back end is definately more solid now. I still hear a clunking sound that I need to get resolved. The shop took everything apart down to the shocks and I still can't get rid of the noise. I believe the noise is related to the single bar i the back. I'll post if I find a solution.

Anyway since my Prius is an '05 and at least the gas tank is lower, the rest of you probably wont' have the same problems. I can take pics of the spacers if anyone is interested....let me know.

[bobdavisnpf]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jun 19 2007, 01:02 AM) [snapback]464530[/snapback]</div>

I installed the triangular piece of the rear brace tonight. It presses right up against the fuel tank when installed. I'm gonna leave it like that, unless someone can give me a good reason, otherwise. [/b]

I've been to enough movies to know for sure, this will cause the car to blow up in a fireball within range of a camera crew.

With all the flicks you shoot in Vancouver, I'd be worried.

Seriously though, if you're racing around skipping your rear tires on all that TRD & Tom's gear, I'd expect some kind of abrasion. Sounds like you see the underside often enough to keep an eye on it though.

[Naisi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bobdavisnpf @ Jul 9 2007, 07:43 AM) [snapback]475490[/snapback]</div>

I've been to enough movies to know for sure, this will cause the car to blow up in a fireball within range of a camera crew.

With all the flicks you shoot in Vancouver, I'd be worried.

Seriously though, if you're racing around skipping your rear tires on all that TRD & Tom's gear, I'd expect some kind of abrasion. Sounds like you see the underside often enough to keep an eye on it though.
[/b]

Thought I'd add another note on spacers required for clearance of the triangular rear brace from the gas tank. I've got an '07 and I needed a 1" spacer to lower the rear part of the brace to provide about a 1/4" of clearance (I didn't want an interference fit) between the brace and the tank. The handling still felt much improved over the original set up.

[apriusfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bogus Bill @ Jul 28 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]486923[/snapback]</div>

Thought I'd add another note on spacers required for clearance of the triangular rear brace from the gas tank. I've got an '07 and I needed a 1" spacer to lower the rear part of the brace to provide about a 1/4" of clearance (I didn't want an interference fit) between the brace and the tank. The handling still felt much improved over the original set up.[/b]

What did you use for a spacer? (I have the TOM'S Rear Suspension Brace kit arriving ~August 3rd and plan on having it installed shortly thereafter.)

[Naisi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jul 28 2007, 10:01 PM) [snapback]486955[/snapback]</div>

What did you use for a spacer? (I have the TOM'S Rear Suspension Brace kit arriving ~August 3rd and plan on having it installed shortly thereafter.)
[/b]

What I've got in there right now are a bunch of stacked up washers (1" O.D. washers x qty10). I'm planning on replacing those with some solid spacers made out of some 1" aluminum bar stock. The one inch spacers also required me to purchase some longer 8mm bolts that didn't come with the kit.

One comment on the washers, they were actually kind of handy in the first fit up excercise since I could keep adding them one or two at a time to get the clearance I wanted. Now that I know exactly how long they need to be it should be easy to fabricate the solid spacers. Given that some folks don't need spacers, others need 1/2" some need 1" makes it nice to have the adjustablility for determining the desired length.

I really appreciate this forum for pre-educating me that I might need spacers by the way, otherwise I would have been ticked off when I went to do the brace install and had so much interference. So thanks to all those folks who traveled the road before and decided to share their knowledge.

[apriusfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bogus Bill @ Jul 29 2007, 07:55 AM) [snapback]487055[/snapback]</div>

What I've got in there right now are a bunch of stacked up washers (1" O.D. washers x qty10). I'm planning on replacing those with some solid spacers made out of some 1" aluminum bar stock. The one inch spacers also required me to purchase some longer 8mm bolts that didn't come with the kit.

One comment on the washers, they were actually kind of handy in the first fit up excercise since I could keep adding them one or two at a time to get the clearance I wanted. Now that I know exactly how long they need to be it should be easy to fabricate the solid spacers. Given that some folks don't need spacers, others need 1/2" some need 1" makes it nice to have the adjustablility for determining the desired length.

I really appreciate this forum for pre-educating me that I might need spacers by the way, otherwise I would have been ticked off when I went to do the brace install and had so much interference. So thanks to all those folks who traveled the road before and decided to share their knowledge.[/b]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking along the same lines (stacked up washers). As you point out, washers are a great prototyping tool.

[rhythmtime]

Originally Posted by prius62

I went back and got shorter, more stable braces installed. The back end is definately more solid now. I still hear a clunking sound that I need to get resolved. The shop took everything apart down to the shocks and I still can't get rid of the noise. I believe the noise is related to the single bar i the back. I'll post if I find a solution.

Anyway since my Prius is an '05 and at least the gas tank is lower, the rest of you probably wont' have the same problems. I can take pics of the spacers if anyone is interested....let me know.

I installed Tom's Rear Brace kit, both the A-frame and the single bar on my '09 touring. The A-frame piece is tight against the fuel tank and when I go over certain bumps in the road I get a loud metallic slap from the rear of the car. I was wondering if you had diagnosed the source of the noise on your car?

[Boo]

Originally Posted by rhythmtime

I installed Tom's Rear Brace kit, both the A-frame and the single bar on my '09 touring. The A-frame piece is tight against the fuel tank and when I go over certain bumps in the road I get a loud metallic slap from the rear of the car. I was wondering if you had diagnosed the source of the noise on your car?

Hi rhythmtime,

This thread is pretty old. So if you don't get an answer, I suggest that you send a PM (Private Message) with your questions to apriusfan who, if I recall correctly, has a Touring Edition and put on all of Tom's braces.

[a_gray_prius]

Originally Posted by Boo

Hi rhythmtime,

This thread is pretty old. So if you don't get an answer, I suggest that you send a PM (Private Message) with your questions to apriusfan who, if I recall correctly, has a Touring Edition and put on all of Tom's braces.

I would also be interested, so a public post here would be helpful.