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Mods: Which should I do?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by dipper, Jan 3, 2008.

  1. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    I want to make the Prius a lot more freeway stable since I will be doing a lot of Freeway driving in the future.

    Should I do the TRD front/rear braces first or should I just go all out and do a suspension swap with the Sportivo suspension?

    I know some folks have done the front/rear braces... wondering if that is good enough for freeway stability and crosswind problems.
     
    #1 dipper, Jan 3, 2008
  2. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    How much money do you have to spend? Are you doing the work yourself of having it done?
     
    #2 Godiva, Jan 3, 2008
  3. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    I can have a friend do the work with me. But still need to pay for alignment though for the suspension setup.

    I wish to do the braces if it works. Which is probably what I prefer since it is cheaper, do not lower the car anymore, and easier to setup.
     
    #3 dipper, Jan 3, 2008
  4. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

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    My present list of mods consists of 205mm tires with the TOM'S Front (upper & lower) and Rear Suspension Braces and the Touring Suspension springs and shocks. There have been some cross winds (~40-50 mph) in my neck of the woods over the weekend, and the car has tracked completely straight. There was a slight twitching of the body which told me the wind was hitting the car, but nothing like before the wider tires and suspension braces were added. Actually in cross winds, my Prius responds pretty much the way my MINI does.
     
    #4 apriusfan, Jan 3, 2008
  5. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    Have you tried with just the braces to see if that did the trick?

    I want to know from someone that had that setup first. But glad to hear that with everything changed, it worked. I am almost certain just the suspension upgrade, it probably did the trick. But does not want to lower the car though.
     
    #5 dipper, Jan 5, 2008
  6. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Shark fin antenna to make the car self steer into any cross winds. :D
     
    #6 patsparks, Jan 5, 2008
  7. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    Are you still running the original tires? Everything else is a waste of money until you attend to this first. Upgrade your tires and increase the size to 195 or 205 (if you are willing to make some sacrifices), and you will get an immediate improvement in handling.

    Then attend to the other stuff.
     
    #7 Doc Willie, Jan 5, 2008
  8. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

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    Unfortunately, no. I had pre-sold the Touring edition wheels & tires (and TPMS sensors) before I took delivery of the car. I can tell you that without the TOM'S suspension bits, the car (even with the 205mm tires) was still susceptible to cross winds. Not the lane changing experience that others have posted about, but you would notice the cross winds.

    The TOM'S suspension braces do not lower the car.
     
    #8 apriusfan, Jan 5, 2008
  9. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

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    I really think the solution is a combination of things (wider tires + suspension braces). Just yesterday I was driving around in 45 - 55 mph winds, and the car was tracking straight and true. I heard more than felt the wind.
     
    #9 apriusfan, Jan 5, 2008
  10. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

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    Actually, the shark fin antenna is something of a sail that empowers cross winds. JK; but (seriously now) if the shark fin had more surface area, it would be a real challenge for a base (un-modified) Prius.
     
    #10 apriusfan, Jan 5, 2008
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