Another Bizzare Gen 3 Anomoly

[RadioMan]

OK, this is a weird one. I had about 150 lbs of music gear
in Pearl's cargo area for a day. When I took out the gear,
the car was no longer parallel to the ground. Yup. It was lop-sided, closer to the ground on the driver's side by 1.75 inches. It stayed that way until I drove it a good while. I measured it from the rear body to the ground and the wheel-well to the tire. I couldn't bounce it back by hand. I stopped by the dealer and they checked it...all OK of course. I'll bet that there is something in the suspension that causes this to happen. I'm sure we will see this popping up on other Gen 3's.

Bob - Hot Springs

[spiderman]

Very odd. Was it cold out during that time? Are you CO?

[TonyPSchaefer]

I think you'll find these threads interesting. Both talking about the same phenomenon.

Prius leans left
Prius Leans

[garygid]

Wow, 1.75 inch lean is a LOT of lean. It does not sound proper to me.

These other forums talk about alignment (the second link) and a small left lean (1/4 to 3/8 inch) in the Gen II vehicles.

I believe that this large amount of lean (1.75 inch) is unique, and the first reported in the Gen III (2010) Prius. As a "Large GenIII Lean", it is proper to gather more Gen III information here.

I will measure mine when I get a chance. I put 260 pounds of driver in the car. I have also had 240 on the passenger side along with 120 or so in the back passenger side.

[kfalandays]

shoot, I get lopsided for a few hours if I just sit the wrong way!

[esoniat]

Maybe it is a retro thing. FJ40's and FJ60 did this. Mine leaned for over a decade before I put new springs under it.

Maybe I'll put a new suspension on my Prius when it is 20 year old too.

Originally Posted by kfalandays

shoot, I get lopsided for a few hours if I just sit the wrong way!

[cpatch]

So it was leaning to the left? Perhaps it was making a political statement.

[jburns]

Originally Posted by RadioMan

OK, this is a weird one. I had about 150 lbs of music gear
in Pearl's cargo area for a day. When I took out the gear,
the car was no longer parallel to the ground. Yup. It was lop-sided, closer to the ground on the driver's side by 1.75 inches. It stayed that way until I drove it a good while. I measured it from the rear body to the ground and the wheel-well to the tire. I couldn't bounce it back by hand. I stopped by the dealer and they checked it...all OK of course. I'll bet that there is something in the suspension that causes this to happen. I'm sure we will see this popping up on other Gen 3's.

Bob - Hot Springs

This has reminded me of smething I saw several years ago. I was sitting in the supermarket parking lot waiting for my wife to finish her grocery shopping. She has banned me from going in with her. Funny thing is my mother did the same thing 50 years ago.

Anyway, while sitting there I noticed an old Olds 98 sitting in the parking lot with the drivers side almost down to the ground. I've never seen a car lean like that and figured both springs were broken. About that time out of the supermarket came a man that had to weigh at least 400 lbs. He got into the Olds and I swear you could hear the car go UGGHHH. So maybe it isn't the music gear at all.

[RadioMan]

OK, It has happened several times now. Whenever I put over about 50 lbs of gear in the trunk for a few hours, when I get the gear out, the car remains lop-sided. Yes, it is between 3/4ths and 1.5 inches lower to the ground on the drivers side- measured at the rear of the car. The wheel-well to top-of-tire and the car frame to ground are identical. You can't bounce the Prius like a normal car.
Only after driving it without luggage for a while does it equalize again. As little as a half-inch is visible to the eye. 1 inch looks really bad. Has anyone looked to see if this is happening to them? Help!

Bob in Hot Springs

[Tickwood]

Originally Posted by RadioMan

OK, It has happened several times now. Whenever I put over about 50 lbs of gear in the trunk for a few hours, when I get the gear out, the car remains lop-sided. Yes, it is between 3/4ths and 1.5 inches lower to the ground on the drivers side- measured at the rear of the car. The wheel-well to top-of-tire and the car frame to ground are identical. You can't bounce the Prius like a normal car.
Only after driving it without luggage for a while does it equalize again. As little as a half-inch is visible to the eye. 1 inch looks really bad. Has anyone looked to see if this is happening to them? Help!

Bob in Hot Springs

I think there are a number of posts on this. It is not a bug, it is a feature.