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Michelin Premier--Very Noisy After Rotation?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Starship16, Jun 8, 2018.

  1. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    It's true, I am hiding out down here on the UK's south west peninsula and yes, it's great when the sun is shining. (BTW, the latest series of "Poldark" started airing on BBC within the past seven days, so those VPN inter-web surfers might chance riding the iPlayer for a fix).
    Of course, being exposed to the full might of the North Atlantic ocean, we do we occasional see gales, severe gales and storms. Horizontal rain is not unusual here. It's not as hot and humid as Florida, but is comparable for the influx of emits, (like your snowbirds) every major holiday in the summer months. Prices increase in direct proportion to population, so as our incomers more than double the head count....... sigh!
     
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  2. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Wine tasting? I'm more of a grilled Brat & beer man. :)
     
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    There are plenty of micro breweries up here, so a beer tour can also work:).

    Or time your trip when the NASCAR event is at Sonoma (2 weekends from now) and there are plenty of those out and about;).

    The state fair in July is another possibility to get those tasty treats as well(y).
     
  4. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I can't even recall the last time we had significant rain here in Southern California. Good hearing from you RCO.

    I am enroute to the dealer to get the alignment checked on my Prius. I will ask them to check the wheel balance again. Two different tire shops just can't get it right. Maybe I have a bent wheel? Bent suspension? Many streets in my area keep sprouting potholes.
     
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  5. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    On a dynamic balance machine a bent wheel would be obvious. Bent suspension? maybe so, but unlikely and should have shown up in your alignment attempts.
    And it seems that the only time it rains here in the Southland is when I play golf or wash the wife's car...
     
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  6. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Final Update: (not that anyone cares:ROFLMAO:)
    Went to Longo Toyota, in El Monte, California. The largest Toyota Dealer in the world. "50 consecutive years of being number 1 in sales", says the sign. Click on photo to get an idea how huge this place is. (But half is Lexus.) The 5-story parking structure at the top of the picture, holds 2500 new vehicles. Only about 5% of their new Toyotas are parked in an open lot, out front. (There is also underground additional vehicle storage). I've bought 3 cars from this place, going back to 1995. Only had one questionable service repair, about 8 yrs ago. Service dept is very big too. Overall, very good service.

    Long story short :LOL:, My Starship is now operating in (nearly) silent warp drive. Ok, I'm exaggerating. NO CAR is totally quiet, but my Michelin tires are now about 50% quieter. And the vibration I felt thru the floor pan and steering wheel is gone. The ride is no longer harsh. That's good enough! Longo did an alignment and re-balance. Those two tire shops were awful. Free balance & rotation? It just messed up my car. I guess you get what you pay for.

    (Starship16 is my new username. All those Hybrid sounds remind me of a spaceship. I'm still a big kid. :ROFLMAO: Thank you TidelandPrius. Thank you RCO. ("Coast Cruiser"' has officially been sent out to pasture. Or maybe he jumped off the pier?)
     
    #106 Starship16, Jun 14, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
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  7. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Great News! I mostly use Longo Toyota as a "price competitor" when I buy my Toyotas closer to home - they are very competitive...
     
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  8. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Hi Kevin, the alignment I just had is the first one. And I lost count of how many rotations and balancing. :ROFLMAO:
    I am never touching it again! :cool:
     
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  9. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Did they give you a "before" and "after" printout of the alignment specifications?
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    glad you added the disclaimer, i was wondering who starship was. just the same space cadet.:p
     
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  11. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Please keep me in line, bisco. The Chairman of Priuschat!!:D God help me if I screw up again. I will blame it on the Ambien... sleepwalking and typing? :confused: You guys keep up the good job.

    I'm off to another galaxy..........
     
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  12. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    No, I didn't even think of it. The service advisor just said it checked ok, right at spec. Suspension was ok. But the damn tire balance was off. Again. :mad: I put the psi back to factory specs, I'm done. The car rides much better.
     
    #112 Starship16, Jun 14, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
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  13. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Glad you got it sorted (y)
     
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  14. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Kevin, I called the advisor back. I misunderstood at first. He clarified that the car was slightly out of alignment, and now checks ok and now is within spec. He also said the tires were "moderately" out of balance. The dealer's balancing machine must be much better than the tire shops I went to.
     
    #114 Starship16, Jun 14, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
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  15. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    The "before" and "after" computer reports are great to have. Some of the four-wheel specifications are NOT adjustable with a simple alignment. Camber, caster, and toe-in. readings should have been documented for all four wheels even if the shop could not bring them into OEM specifications. This information would tell a whole other level of data.
    But, since the issue was mostly resolve then it's probably best to leave that sleeping dog alone...
     
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  16. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Interesting. Thanks. So what would have to be done if they can't get a car back into OEM specs? I wonder if a dealer would even be honest enough, and admit "they can't fix it."
     
    #116 Starship16, Jun 14, 2018
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  17. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Sometimes they can "shim" or even bend certain parts to bring them into spec, but will not do that as part of a general alignment. Most shops are satisfied getting the car as close as possible using the easily adjustable standard alignment methods.
    If it ain't broke, don't fix it...
     
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  18. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Agreed. Thanks. Just turn up the radio. :cool:
     
  19. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I went to Tire Rack in South Bend Indiana and had my new tires mounted on my new aftermarket wheels and they don't care if you hang around while the do the mounting and balancing.

    The one guy put one of the new wheels on the balancing machine without a tire on it and I was curious and asked what he was doing. He said he was checking it for runout, I was surprised.
     
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  20. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I saw something unusual at the tire shop. On the car next to mine, the guy was using what appeared to be a rotating wire brush attached to a drill, and he was running it all over the surface of the brake rotors. They don't do brake work there, what could that be? The lady was there just for a tire rotation. If he did it to hers, then he probably did it to mine.
     
    #120 Starship16, Jun 14, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018