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Another Bizzare Gen 3 Anomoly

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by RadioMan, Sep 22, 2009.

  1. RadioMan

    RadioMan Mod Maniac

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    OK, this is a weird one. I had about 150 lbs of music gear
    in Pearl's cargo area for a day. When I took out the gear,
    the car was no longer parallel to the ground. Yup. It was lop-sided, closer to the ground on the driver's side by 1.75 inches. It stayed that way until I drove it a good while. I measured it from the rear body to the ground and the wheel-well to the tire. I couldn't bounce it back by hand. I stopped by the dealer and they checked it...all OK of course. I'll bet that there is something in the suspension that causes this to happen. I'm sure we will see this popping up on other Gen 3's.

    Bob - Hot Springs :D
     
    #1 RadioMan, Sep 22, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Very odd. Was it cold out during that time? Are you CO?
     
    #2 spiderman, Sep 22, 2009
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    #3 TonyPSchaefer, Sep 22, 2009
  4. garygid

    garygid Senior Member - Blizzard Pearl

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    Wow, 1.75 inch lean is a LOT of lean. It does not sound proper to me.

    These other forums talk about alignment (the second link) and a small left lean (1/4 to 3/8 inch) in the Gen II vehicles.

    I believe that this large amount of lean (1.75 inch) is unique, and the first reported in the Gen III (2010) Prius. As a "Large GenIII Lean", it is proper to gather more Gen III information here.

    I will measure mine when I get a chance. I put 260 pounds of driver in the car. I have also had 240 on the passenger side along with 120 or so in the back passenger side.
     
    #4 garygid, Sep 23, 2009
  5. kfalandays

    kfalandays New Member

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    shoot, I get lopsided for a few hours if I just sit the wrong way!
     
    #5 kfalandays, Sep 23, 2009
  6. esoniat

    esoniat Junior Member

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    Maybe it is a retro thing. FJ40's and FJ60 did this. Mine leaned for over a decade before I put new springs under it.

    Maybe I'll put a new suspension on my Prius when it is 20 year old too.

     
    #6 esoniat, Sep 24, 2009
  7. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    So it was leaning to the left? Perhaps it was making a political statement.
     
    #7 cpatch, Sep 24, 2009
  8. jburns

    jburns Senior Senior Member

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    This has reminded me of smething I saw several years ago. I was sitting in the supermarket parking lot waiting for my wife to finish her grocery shopping. She has banned me from going in with her. Funny thing is my mother did the same thing 50 years ago. :confused:

    Anyway, while sitting there I noticed an old Olds 98 sitting in the parking lot with the drivers side almost down to the ground. I've never seen a car lean like that and figured both springs were broken. About that time out of the supermarket came a man that had to weigh at least 400 lbs. He got into the Olds and I swear you could hear the car go UGGHHH. So maybe it isn't the music gear at all.:evil:
     
    #8 jburns, Sep 24, 2009
  9. RadioMan

    RadioMan Mod Maniac

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    Suspension problem /defect - Anyone Else?

    OK, It has happened several times now. Whenever I put over about 50 lbs of gear in the trunk for a few hours, when I get the gear out, the car remains lop-sided. Yes, it is between 3/4ths and 1.5 inches lower to the ground on the drivers side- measured at the rear of the car. The wheel-well to top-of-tire and the car frame to ground are identical. You can't bounce the Prius like a normal car.
    Only after driving it without luggage for a while does it equalize again. As little as a half-inch is visible to the eye. 1 inch looks really bad. Has anyone looked to see if this is happening to them? Help!

    Bob in Hot Springs :D
     
    #9 RadioMan, Oct 14, 2009
  10. Tickwood

    Tickwood Active Member

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    Re: Suspension problem /defect - Anyone Else?

    I think there are a number of posts on this. It is not a bug, it is a feature.
     
    #10 Tickwood, Oct 14, 2009
  11. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    Re: Suspension problem /defect - Anyone Else?

    Hmmm.
    Mebbe a little less Mad dog, son?

     
    #11 DianneWhitmire, Oct 14, 2009
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