Touring Suspension Parts Research

OK, I'm comprising a list of parts needed to convert my '05 to Touring suspension, so I've been doing some research into what exactly the differences are between the Touring and Non-Touring suspension.

According to the Toyota e-brochure for '07:

Non-Touring: Front Suspension- Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar.
Rear Suspension- Torsion beam with stabilizer bar.

Touring: Front Suspension- Independent MacPherson strut with tuned
stabilizer bar.
Rear Suspension- Torsion beam with tuned shock absorbers, springs
and stabilizer bar.


So basically, the only difference with the front suspension is the stabilizer bar. The rear suspension has the most differences with shocks (struts), springs, and stabilizer bar.

I have confirmed this data while pricing out parts at Toyota Parts - Toyota Auto Parts at a discount

Collision Catalog - 2007 - Toyota - Prius

Front suspension, Stabilizer bar and components, Stabilizer bar, W/touring, W/touring (1) $74.63

Rear suspension, Stabilizer bar and components, Stabilizer bar, W/touring, W/touring (1) $48.77

Rear suspension, Suspension components, Spring, W/touring, W/touring Back (2)$37.66=$75.32

Rear suspension, Suspension components, Strut, W/touring, W/touring Back (2)$92.96=$185.92

Total= $384.64 (plus shipping)

The rear struts appear to be the most expensive component. Of course, I will have to re-use certain hardware and such off my old pieces. But overall, I don't think the price is too bad...

Thanks for the info.

I thought there were Touring Edition springs in the front too?

Anyway, I've emailed my Toyota dealer's parts department and posed the same general question to them, i.e.:

Exactly what parts do I need to change my standard Prius suspension to the Touring Edition suspension, how much $, and how much would the dealer charge me to install them?

But I must say, I have ZERO confidence in my Toyota dealer's sales or service departments, and no knowledge of its parts department.

Well according to the parts listings, no. There are no separate parts listed (w/ touring, w/o touring) for the front suspension, except the stabilizer bar, check it out.

Yeah, I'm getting confused. I had also thought the Touring Edition's front struts were different.

I know that when Touring Edition guys upgrade their suspension to TRD Sportivo they swap out their Touring Edition front and rear struts and springs for TRD Sportivo struts and springs. But that doesn't answer the question about the differences between the standard Prius' and Touring Edition Prius' suspensions. Wonder what my Toyota dealer will say if and when they answer my email.

so it cost $384.64 for me to make my car touring???? that's pretty cheap~

Of course that would be doing all of the work on your own, and reusing alot of the hardware and small pieces such as the strut tops, etc.

To complete the package though, you would need the larger rear spoiler, the 16" rims, and the touring badges...

wasn't it efusco??? that posted pics on here concerning the rear suspension parts? so all i know is the rear's a totally different part
and it's color coded differently

You'll be surprised, but the spring rate on the Turing is softer than the normal.

Turing front=24N, rear=28.5N
Normal front=24N, rear=30N

A suspention setting is total thing including tire stiffness.

Ken@Japan

But what is the sway bar rate? A stiffer sway bar can add stiffness to either side by taking part of the load of a single wheel bump and transfering it across the car. Are the struts stiffer?

Hi Ken,

Interesting that the front springs are the same in the standard and Touring Prius.

Do you know if the front struts are also the same in the Standard and Touring Prius as Berkshire Prius concludes?

Sorry, but I don't have specs for dumpers and stabilizers.

Ken@Japan

What touring badges? The 2007 Touring editions didn't come with badges.

Getting part numbers for the following components (Touring/Non-Touring) would help clarify things:

Front Left Strut
Front Left Spring
Front Right Strut
Front Right Spring
Front Stabilizer bar

Rear Left Shock
Rear Left Spring
Rear Right Shock
Rear Right Spring
Rear Stabilizer bar

If the stabilizer bars are different diameters, we will very likely need different bushings to mount them. Most of the rest of the hardware can be reused, but often they will recommend replacing strut-top nuts and strut mounting hardware to be on the safe side.

So has anybody done this yet? I'm surprised this thread just sort of died out!

Me too. I was going to ask Berkshire Prius if he did it.

On my end, I have yet to get a decent answer from my dealer as to exactly what suspension parts are different on the Touring Edition (no surprise ... my dealer is terrible).

:twitch: I'm curious what "tuned" means. Perhaps it is a matched pair of struts with same tension specs. For me, the 16 inch wheels and tires must be the biggest difference. The longer tail fin is a bit of class distinction too!

Unless the new ones come with a "touring" badge, it is a DIY feature. Mine comes from the Solara Touring model.

Lee

Some good explanations are given here:

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-technical-discussion/44046-tuned-suspension-what.html

Badges? Badges?

We don't need no stinking badges!

Thanks, Tom! I think I get the tuning idea. What of Ken's comment that the Touring model has softer suspension? If indeed the tuning is a total of all the parts engineered together, are we creating disharmony or discord by running the tire pressures higher than is factory spec?

Lee

Sorry, been very busy... I still plan on doing this as soon as my tax return comes in. Will keep you posted.