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Inspect very carfully before purchasing!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Toy08, Aug 7, 2008.

  1. Shimpy II

    Shimpy II New Member

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    I just checked mine in the garage and I got 25-3/4" on both sides, measured to the peak of the bottom the fender.

    Of the ones you've seen to be leaning, do that all lean left, or do some lean right? My first guess, as someone mentioned, would be a weaker spring on one side, but that would seem to be random. If they all lean left then it sounds like a systematic problem or design flaw.

    BTW, are you a surveyor or civil engineer? Not too many people measure in hundredths of a foot.
     
  2. Toy08

    Toy08 New Member

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    Your missing the point, I don't care about camber on the road.

    This thread is about the issue of a Prius leaning to the left, when other cars do not.

    Where ever I park the car, it leans to the left. When driving down the road, it leans to the left. The lean is not trivial to me, it is very noticeable. Although I do not “loss any sleep†over the issue, as another member mentioned, I do wonder why more people have not noticed, or care that their car leans when they find out.

    Had I not noticed it on other Prius's, I would not have started this thread.

    I searched this website and did not find any other threads that talked in length about this issue. One person did say that his car might be lower on the left because his left rearview mirror was 1/2" lower then the right side mirror :confused:. But someone quickly stopped the thread by saying that the left mirror was mounted lower then the right mirror. I have found no evidence of the left mirrors being mounted lower.
     
  3. Toy08

    Toy08 New Member

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    Everyone that I have seen leaning, leans to the left.


    No I am not a surveyor or civil engineer, I am an Electrical Engineer. I am also a part time woodworker. Look at your kitchen cabinets or wood furniture, now imagine if your woodworker had not cared about a 1/2" difference. Woodworking is not as precise as metal working. Would you care if your car door was off by 1/2”, letting air rush in when driving down the road?

    I am measuring in factions of an inch, not hundredths of a foot. Did you know that one hundredth of a foot is 120 thousands of an inch, which is less then 1/8"?
     
  4. pewd

    pewd Clarinet Dude

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  5. Toy08

    Toy08 New Member

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    You may call it "OCD" I call it poor quality control. Others have noticed the lean also. Some choose to ignore it, some do not. My purpose is to let thoughts that care know of the issue. If you do not care, that’s your decision.
     
  6. Shimpy II

    Shimpy II New Member

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    My bad, it was actually the user "abq sfr" who wrote that his fender height was 2.13 feet. Caught my eye since you rarely see decimal feet used.
     
  7. whatshisname

    whatshisname New Member

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    Re: 2008 Prius leans to the left


    I've never seen it because I've never looked, but I'm told there is a 3 liter thermos water container which keeps radiater water warm over night. It's supposed to be located on the left side in the front. I'm sure three liters of water weighs a little something extra and might pull down a bit on the left side.
     
  8. Ichiro

    Ichiro Member

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    off the top of my head 3 liters of water is 3 kg or about 6 lbs ... doesn't seem like much but who knows.
     
  9. Penelec

    Penelec New Member

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    Damn you, Toy08! I have been checking out Prius rear-ends all week long.











    I feel like a stalker.
     
  10. Toy08

    Toy08 New Member

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    What did you find? Did you see any leaner’s, or is it my imagination?
     
  11. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Cars lean to compensate for the camber on the road or that they are often driven with just the driver aboard. It is designed in. I had a Mazda which had spacers above the right strut mounts, some cars have right and left springs which are slightly different lengths.
    Forget it and enjoy the car.
     
  12. Toy08

    Toy08 New Member

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    You have a very interesting view on this issue, but I have one question. Why is it that I don't see any other cars leaning to the left?

    I will never forget it, but I do enjoy the mileage and trying to beat my highest MPG and most miles per tank.
     
  13. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    That is true, but only to compensate for asymmetrical curb weight distribution, not loaded weight. Manufacturers never use different spring rates to compensate for passenger loading, not even the driver.

    And in the case of the Prius, not all of them lean. If it was designed in, they'd all lean the same way. They don't, so you're just plain wrong. Period.
     
  14. Penelec

    Penelec New Member

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    Because of the road camber, I'm not confident to say anything about those I've followed on the highway. But I have seen two Prii parked that seemed to lean, and I was tempted to do some measuring.

    My wife, as usual, talked me out of it.
     
  15. spookyfudge

    spookyfudge Junior Member

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    Generator is on the left side. Maybe the extra weight!
     
  16. ibmindless

    ibmindless Member

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    My 2007 Touring #6 leans 1/2" to the left. The dealer verified that, while also announcing that the alignment was within specifications. The dealer will not do anything about the lean. My Prius is perfectly stock with about 9K miles. All tire pressures are even, side-to-side (40 PSI Front / 38 PSI Rear).

    Meanwhile, I always feel a tugging to the left sensation while driving on a straight and level road. I also feel an initial tug to the left when I brake, but it doesn't veer to the left. The alignment feels OK, but I think the 1/2" lean throws the entire geometry off for steering and handling.

    The worst symptom is when I turn right. The car leans/rolls dramatically to the left. If I turn left, the car handles fine with minimal lean/roll. I suspect this may have been a lame design issue to compensate for crowned roads. Regardless, it is very disconcerting and does not make me feel very confident that it can handle emergency maneuvers safely.

    I'm out of town on business, but I will attempt to pursue this further with Toyota when I get back. I think this is a SAFETY issue and I will also write to the Dept. of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    You can file a complaint online with NHTSA at:

    IVOQ - File a Complaint

    I have had my Prius into the dealer at least 7 times for alignment & handling issues, but it wasn't until this string of posts came along that I finally realized it's all related to the 1/2" lean. Whether it's designed that way or not is immaterial, it is a SAFETY issue.

    I would encourage others who are concerned about this safety defect to use the online complaint process:

    IVOQ - File a Complaint

    I will also probably contact a CA lemon law lawyer and seek remedy through that process.
     
  17. JamesWyatt

    JamesWyatt Señior Member

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    Here's an interesting question to ask your service manager. "If I were to pay you to fix the lean, how would you go about doing it?"
     
  18. Ichiro

    Ichiro Member

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    Looks like the right side of my Prius is about 1.5 mm lower than the left side.
     
  19. Toy08

    Toy08 New Member

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    HA, HA

    Not even close to our real issue of 1/4"-1/2"
     
  20. abcdefgary

    abcdefgary New Member

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    I thought this was normal... I remember people talking about it when I was viewing this thread.