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shocks/ suspension

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jesse Melara, Nov 2, 2014.

  1. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    OK. So don't make fun of me and my lack of knowledge in the subject lol. (My knowledge is in medical not mechanical) so my 2010 Toyota prius has reached 70,000 mikes and rides, not smooth. I can feel everything I drive on like I have nothing to smoothen it out. I'm guessing I need new shocks and what not, but not sure what I need to buy. I won't go to Toyota for it since I don't want to pay an arm and a leg, but my local garage said they will install them if I buy them. I've been searching and can't really find anything here on the form. Can someone please help me out. I don't want to lower it, I want to keep it stock. Thanks!
     
    #1 Jesse Melara, Nov 2, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    How are the condition of your tires? Brand? Size?
     
    #2 JC91006, Nov 2, 2014
  3. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    The OE shocks work fairly well. Order the parts online from one of the Toyota part sellers, such as Toyota Parts Zone. Order front struts, front strut boots and rear shocks. I paid about $275 for everything.

    The mounts do not need to be replaced on this car. Our mounts use these plastic cups inside of the mount assembly and they do not have any bearings inside.
     
    #3 The Critic, Nov 3, 2014
  4. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    The tires are brand new, at first I thought it was the fact that I needed new tires, but having them changed, it's still the same.
     
    #4 Jesse Melara, Nov 4, 2014
  5. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    That's all I need? Do you think ebay or Amazon will have them for a little cheaper? I know, I'm a tight nice person lol
     
    #5 Jesse Melara, Nov 4, 2014
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    What size are your tires? If you have a thicker side wall tire 15" vs a thinner side wall tire 17", you'll notice a big difference. Also what other car are you comparing the Prius ride to? A Prius doesn't feel all that smooth and quiet, even when new.

    Before spending all your hard earned money, jump into a new 2015 at the dealer and compare the ride.
     
    #6 JC91006, Nov 4, 2014
  7. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Nope.
     
    #7 The Critic, Nov 4, 2014
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I would not go cheap on shocks/struts. You'll regret getting into your car everyday if the ride quality is like crap. You'll just end up spending double to get rid of the cheap stuff later.
     
    #8 JC91006, Nov 4, 2014
  9. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    They are the stock size tired for the 15s.
    And compared to my sister 2012 prius and my cousins 2008 prius. Of course I wouldn't compare it to my other car which is a SUV. Lol
     
    #9 Jesse Melara, Nov 4, 2014
  10. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    I see, well, could it be anything else? I doubt it but if I must spend the money, I will have too because even today on my way into work, I hated it. I know it's not gonna be a smooth luxury ride, but it shouldn't feel like your driving a car built 1990 driving over rocks.
     
    #10 Jesse Melara, Nov 4, 2014
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Geesh, you guys have got me thinking. Not for our current ride, but a previous, still in the family Civic, with close to 170000 kms. Still on original shocks. Sounds/feels like an old prairie schooner now, comparing to our Prius. Talked to my son who has it now: he's meh, it's fine, lol.

    One tip I read in a similar thread here, kinda sneaky: wangle a test drive of a new Prius, to compare the feel.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Nov 4, 2014
  12. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    I can't find the front strut boots...are you talking about the bearing?
     
    #12 Jesse Melara, Nov 4, 2014
  13. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    Your symptoms don't sound like shocks to me, they sound like old tires, poor tires, or overinflation.

    Just as good new tires can greatly improve the ride, old tires or the wrong new tires can make it worse.

    You say that you have replaced the tires with new ones of the same size but I don't see what they are.

    Exactly what tire Make, Model and Size are you now running and at what Pressure?
     
    #13 energyandair, Nov 5, 2014
  14. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    Energy saver E/S. And it was the same with the tires that the dealer installed before I bought these. I'm sure it's the shocks, the tires are not over inflated or under. The actually made the ride a tad smoother.
     
    #14 Jesse Melara, Nov 5, 2014
  15. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    You don't need to replace the bearings on this car. Once you take it apart, you'll see what I mean. They're just two plastic pieces with nothing inside, no balls.

    The dust boot is #17: Steering Knuckle/Shocks and Struts for 2012 Toyota Prius
     
    #15 The Critic, Nov 6, 2014
  16. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    Lol, yea I figured out what they were when I called Toyota for the part numbers. And they think it is the shocks to from what I told them I was experiencing. Funny how they kept saying "you need to bring it in" or "we have good deals" lol.
    I will be ordering them soon. Thanks!
     
    #16 Jesse Melara, Nov 6, 2014
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