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Considering a cheap ebay lift kit... Help!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Kaptainkid1, Jun 18, 2021.

  1. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2019
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    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Has anyone used these cheap lift kits from ebay?
    My issue is my springs are fine and height of Prius scrapes my drive way (my driveway is sloped at a angle) when driving out and it's seem if my front end was a little higher that problem would go away.
    Second complaint is I have people in the Prius and parking by house which have average size curbs. My door won't open because the car sits too low and get hung up on the grass.
    If my Prius is 2 inch higher that problem would go away too.
    Questions:
    1. Has anyone added a lift to your Prius?
    2. Do you have any mechanical problems because of the lift? Such as drive noises, New squeaks, etc.
    3. Did your gas mileage go down? I know the efficiency in mpg comes with aerodynamic and less drag. Also my roof rack affected my mpg and that was lesson learned only after installing them.
    4. Has anyone used these cheap brand from ebay?
    Anyone experience on the subject matter would be highly appreciated. Screenshot_20210618-082435_eBay.jpg

    SM-A526U ?
     
    #1 Kaptainkid1, Jun 18, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2021
  2. DutchPrius

    DutchPrius Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Leiderdorp NL
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No experience with the lifts, but also not with the car scraping the ground... Are you sure the springs are okay?? How old are the springs?

    Best regards, Nick

    Black 2007 Prius
     
  3. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Let me explain my drive is sloped so from 20° angle to flat street. Where the two point meet it scrapes at that junction. My spring are fine it just all Prius are considered very low to ground to prevent air dragging underneath the car.
    My springs are not collapsed and the car is riding at normal ride height for a Prius. I read about other Prius having the same height issue. So anyone with experience on lift please chim in.

    SM-A526U ?
     
  4. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    There are a few threads that cover this, try the advanced search feature.

    Vaguely remember one member who had an issue with the 'plastic' riser cracking/breaking, think it was a bad batch or something.

    Here is better option, though it likely costs more : Priusoffroad - Prius Lift Kits

    If you have access to a 3d printer, someone posted the files to print your own. Though that could've been for the gen3, can't remember.
     
    John Dadmun likes this.
  5. John Dadmun

    John Dadmun Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2021
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    Location:
    New Hampshire, USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Received this Priusoffroad lift kit for Gen 2 Prius yesterday, these are of high quality manufacture - and you get stickers as well. It is a 1.5" lift. Holding off on the install until I receive the 3 way coolant valve that generates the 1121 error code, gonna try replacing it from the side when the bumper's already pulled back. Maybe better not to skimp, on this primary suspension connection part. Biggest concern is hose/electrical pathway possibly needing extension/rerouting to accommodate the lift, haven't seen any complaints about that in reading up on it.
     
  6. priusdude101

    priusdude101 New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I'd go for the prius offroad kit, if you must buy the cheaper kit, look for one made out of aluminum. Seen too many people have the rubber break apart on them. Also read the tema rising lift thread for more opinions.
     
  7. Riparious

    Riparious Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I have had the Prius Off Road kit on my car for about 10 months, and its awesome. No more scraping on steep driveways or speedbumps. The manufacturing quality is excellent, and have had no ill-effects. Fuel consumption stayed the same with stock tires, lost a few mpg when I added larger tires, but worth it to me.
     
    John Dadmun likes this.
  8. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Location:
    Naples, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    What else would you change on suspension with kit at same time? Not sure if some other components that are old should be changed?
     
  9. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
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    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
  10. Teefortom

    Teefortom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2022
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    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have a problem
    With snow drifts on the road I drive most,
    Often we get snow with winds , the road edge barriers are steel bands and this makes snow drifts across the road,
    I installed a 2” life kit from Prius overland ,
    Had to do the install myself, dealers will not install any non OEM parts,
    I was wearing a full leg brace ( awaiting a new knee). Bought NAPA replacement struts to minimize spring removals ,
    It went easy ,
    I do not plow through snow drifts , more like clear over , snow flows better now under my Prius ,
    The lift is 2 inches,
    It makes getting in and out of the seat easier,
    I now have two new knees , 2 hips
    And the two inches really counts ? Ask any lady, lol
    I also “ call it my Prius Truck! The back seat is always flat,

    I do a lot of hauling of building materials ,
    Leaving the mouldings store , I followed a guy with his 10ft moulding out of the store, and he was trying to fight mouldings into his short box pickup truck,
    Where as I simply lifted the hatch and slid my mouldings into my Prius Truck and drove out of the parking lot,
    It s 10ft 3 inches from the hatch to the front floor of the passenger seat, No I cannot load 2x4 wood, mouldings flex ,
    So the lift kit is great. Anymore than 2inches and velocity joints will wear fast,
    My 2008 Prius has 325,000 Km,
    I am now burning oil at a crazy rate , 1 litre in
    300 Km. If I change to 20-50W castrol the oil consumption does not get better!
    I am assuming I had carbon in the piston rings ,
    I drive about 200 K a day at 120 Km per hr, mostly on cruise control. Then some city driving and back home .
    Is there a best way to remove the carbon in the rings so the oil is not left on the cyclinder walls? I see no smoke or oil in the exhaust pipe,
    Tom
     
    #10 Teefortom, Dec 31, 2023
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 31, 2023
  11. Teefortom

    Teefortom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2022
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    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If use the 2inch lift you can
    Upgrade your tire size, more rubber on the road, I use studded Nokia snow tires, warning- studs help on black ice and reduce braking effectiveness as the steel slides easy on dry pavement
     
  12. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
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    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced