without taking off the inverter or brake lines and stuff. They simply took off the 12mm bracket bolts and SAWED around the inverter, cut the brake-lines going into the actuator and made room towards the firewall and frame. I can't figure out how they got it out? I mean there is a counterweight to stabilize the brake-actuator on the bottom of the bracket as well. nothing else is touched. its like they pulled it upwards & out somehow but there doesn't seem to be enough space but somehow they did it....engine looked like this BUT the windshield-wiper cowel was removed as well. ONLY the area behind the inverter was touched. HOW DID HE DO THAT!? should have taken a pic but I was pretty amazed he turned at least a 1-2 hour job into 10minutes. Also if the brake-fluid holder is full and no parts are pulled in an engine does that mean that the brake-actuator isn't damaged/dried out? Basically what to look for other than that. Also looking at cars that were clearly in an accident thus possibly preserving the engine components.
What'd they do to cut the brake lines? Toyota's own instructions in TSBs for handling an actuator (no fabric gloves even, lest they shed tiny fibers into the fluid ports) would give me a high index of suspicion over any actuator pulled out by a salvage-yard crew, and the possibility of saw chips might push me into "thanks, maybe I'll shop someplace else" territory.
they must've used a sawzall/reciprocating-saw. all the fat orange wires and brake-lines are also roughly cut as well. I was thinking about trying it myself just for answering my own question. my guess is he pulled it upwards and kept manipulating until it came through that small gap between teh inverter and frame of the windshield.
I just use my Dykes side cutters cut line it holds the line closed nicely. Sawzall no belong here . That's for cutting frames etc .
just for clarification. I was speculating on how he pulled the actuator out not if/what? there isn't (doesn't seem to be at least) enough room not to mention the weight and awkward form of the actuator/bracket. I was impressed. I'll be going back soon. I'll take a picture of the engine if my question wasn't clear enough to be understood.
I'm glad your question was motivated by curiosity and not by need for an actuator. If you had been there because you needed an actuator and had seen them do that, it would have been like the time years ago when I went to a Mazda dealership trying to replace a little spark-plug wire clip that had broken off in my car, and the guy said "they're no longer available in the catalog, but wait, I think we have one of those cars out back", so we looked and there was the exact part I needed, only he didn't get how to release the claw holding it on, so he grabbed a big screwdriver and before I could stop him he broke it off for me.
So you're saying he took a Diablo blade and poked a hole from the engine bay side of the acuator . How'd they lift it out ?
yes. unless he did an absolutely meticulous job of putting everything back together (with accumulated dust) he took the actuator out from behind the inverter without messing with anything except cutting out direct obstructions (brake lines, orange wires, etc.)
@rjparker - thought you might have a theory @Tombukt2 @ChapmanF OK. Went back to the salvage yard today. If you look at the area of the pic where the actuator used to be ...nothing around it is touched. He also cut the brake lines which you can see in the 2nd pic. HOW did he pull the actuator out? Again, the entire inverter area/brackets are untouched. I strongly doubt he did a meticulous job of putting it back together after cutting everything else as well. There was another Prius there with the actuator removed. The inverter and everything was moved to accomodate for removal.
He cut the orange high voltage lines at minimum. I would buy a new one for your car. About $1200 for the part.
How in the name of everything HOLY did he remove it though? its driving me nuts. I guess its basically "how to unscrew cap: the sequel". An aside, also there are two part numbers for this actuator...47050 (original) and 47051 (the recalled and replaced OEM version). Having a very tough time finding a a 47051 brake actuator. do you think it matters which? the cost is also factored...to remove one myself is about 20-40 bucks for the 47050 but it might not last/work. I presume the 47051 part will not bring such issues if I can find one. I just figured if I am going to have to replace anyways I might as well find a recalled replacement. However the odds of finding 1) previous owner got recall notice 2) took action and replaced 3) got in accident but not destroying front end 4) at local salvage yard has turned out to be very low (actually below low...its at ZERO so far after visiting several yards...LOL). Have found several 47050s that I can remove but have my heart set on 47051....thoughts appreciated! coincidentally, many sellers on ebay use the 47051 serial in their listing title...but when you actually look at the pics...its the old actuator 47050.
Is this for your 2008 Prius? I see 44500-47141 or the lower cost tsb kit 04003-44647 Often you can't go by the number on the housing
Here is a link to that correct part number, ➡44500-47141⬅, where in one of the photos you can see there is a different number on the housing, not the part number, and that different number ends in -47051. Many people mistake those numbers on the housing for part numbers. (eBay and salvage sellers often list the parts by those numbers, because they see them on the housing and they don't know better.)
Not sure if those fit. From what I've read online the original 44510-47050 (aka the one in my car) was recalled for defects in the seals. The 47051 was the improved recalled replacement. I know the one in my car is going bad but figure I might as well try to find the improved version if possible. Every single junked prius I've seen has the 47050 serial on the brake actuator. also dealing with employees at junkyards makes those at Autozone seem like master ASE certified mechanics. Saw a couple of cool old cars today at the yard though, an old Dodge van ala VW-looking bus from the 1960s and an 70s El Camino (both beyond restorability).
Buy new from an online Toyota dealer. You add your vin and the dealer will verify. Prices and shipping vary widely. Paypal often allows 4 equal payments interest free
