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how to improve the handling of a prius c? need some advice!

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by col127, May 8, 2014.

  1. col127

    col127 Member

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    hi folks!

    wanting to know what else i can do to improve the handling of my prius C 3... i've added a rear sway bar and a mid-chasis brace (both of which have helped) but i still feel the car doesn't feel 'stable' enough for my liking when i push corners hard or take corners on a ramp.

    i used to drive a MINI cooper S and my other driver is a BMW 325xit. i'm not expecting my prius to handle like those, but certainly wouldn't mind getting it closer :) is that even possible? getting a good handling prius c? :)

    any thoughts on what else would help? appreciate it :)
     
  2. JPTuck

    JPTuck Member

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    I too am looking for similar upgrades. Which sway bar did you get and do you plan to upgrade the front one also? I've seen a lot of other kinds of suspension mods offered but am not familiar with what they are and what they do. I can say that my 2013 Prius C handles much better than the 2005 Rav4 that it replaced esp on corners and ramps.
     
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Lowering springs will lower the center of gravity as well as firm up the ride a bit. Larger diameter rims with lower profile tires will improve handling and steering response as well, but you will lose some mpg.

    SCH-I535
     
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  4. JPTuck

    JPTuck Member

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    I'm probably just going to stick with augmenting/improving the sway bars for now - as much as I would love larger rims and low profile tires I value the mpg and turning radius more atm. My 2002 Firebird drove like it was glued to rails with such a setup but I don't pretend my Prius C will ever be like that:).
     
  5. garm

    garm mpg + cool = win

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    I use the Whiteline sway bar. It's 22mm with two settings. I also have the Tanabe front sway bar. Then there is springs and/or coilovers if you want to get really stiff and flat.
     
  6. B2FiNiTY

    B2FiNiTY Active Member

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    Since you already have a mid brace and rear sway, next step would definitely be coilovers and wheels/tires. Night and day once you add those on.
     
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  7. KimGT

    KimGT Junior Member

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    best bang for the buck would be better tires.
     
  8. col127

    col127 Member

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    Really - tires make that much of a difference? Surprising! Well, I want to keep my MPG up so probably would look at other options...

    So you guys are thinking coil overs are the next best option? What about a front sway bar or strut tower bar? I really have no idea what all these do - I've just heard/read about them here and there. Lol :) Looking for best bang for the buck!

    My rear sway bar is the whiteline one that Garm mentioned (I bought it from him!)
     
  9. B2FiNiTY

    B2FiNiTY Active Member

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    My end setup on the C was coil overs + whiteline rear sway + midbrace + 15x7 +41 wheels on the stock tires + a good alignment. Without affecting MPG, the car handled very well compared to stock. Night and day difference.
     
  10. JPTuck

    JPTuck Member

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    As mpg is a high priority will probably go with front and rear sways along with a strut tower brace. Added one of those to my 2002 Firebird Formula which was already pretty flat riding and was surprised how much it did add just by itself to handling. To its credit I think the Prius C already handles fairly well for what it is - better than the 2005 Rav4 it replaced.
     
  11. KimGT

    KimGT Junior Member

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    Think about it this way, what is the one thing connecting your car to the road?

    Lets say you have a super stiff chassis, sway bar that neutralizes any understeer and coilovers that really keep the car composed in hard cornering, whats all that worth if your tires don't give you the traction you need or are so soft they roll over and your car still has body roll?

    Coilovers = $1,500-2000
    Sway Bar = $200?
    strut tower bar = $150? (little or no gains)

    Good tires = $450-500; better steering response, more traction, better handling
     
  12. JPTuck

    JPTuck Member

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    I plan to change for better tires but either on the stock steel rims or a 15" set of alloys - losing turning radius by adding either 16's or 17's to me is more of a trade off as I'm not looking to drive/make the Prius C handle like my Firebird did - just make it feel more secure in corners etc.
     
  13. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    You don't mention air pressure, simply airing up to 44-42 will make a night and day difference as you've got the mid brace and sway bar already.
     
  14. JGriffin

    JGriffin Junior Member

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    Unless I'm mistaken, going to 16 or 17 inch wheels will not change your turning radius appreciably. Toyota increased the turn radius of the cars equipped with with 16s, but that has something to do with an altered steering rack or bumpstops (I'm not sure about the proper term here). I haven't heard any reports of changing from 15" to larger affecting the turn radius.
     
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  15. JPTuck

    JPTuck Member

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    Some of the online reviews mention the difference in the turning radius between the 15" rims and the 16" as being due to the wider tires on the 16 having to be kept from rubbing by making some changes to the steering mechanism resulting in the 36' turning radius for the larger rims vs the 31.4' radius with the 15's.
     
  16. JGriffin

    JGriffin Junior Member

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    Again, Toyota made those changes to the vehicle though, the wider wheel itself doesn't prevent the turning. Plenty of people have put on wider tires than the ones that come stock on the 16s and I don't think I have ever once heard a report of rubbing - Toyota seems to be a bit determined to have plenty of extra (read as 'unnecessary') clearance for the wheels.
     
  17. mertechperformance

    mertechperformance Active Member

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    Biggest difference is rear sway and then ditching the 175 tires.

    Right now I've got;
    TRD rear sway
    Ultra Racing Front strut bar
    Ultra Racing Rear chassis brace
    Ultra Racing Front subframe brace
    No name mid chassis brace

    Rear sway and tire pressure help the most. Just waiting to decide on 16's or 17's...
     
  18. col127

    col127 Member

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    Interesting... I've been airing them up to 40/38! Why does air pressure improve that? Sorry for the newb question... :) Wouldn't that make the ride quality pretty harsh?
     
  19. garm

    garm mpg + cool = win

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    That doesn't affect turning radius. I run 17" wheels with a 205 width tire and my turning radius is unchanged.
     
  20. JPTuck

    JPTuck Member

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    For me just changing out the front and rear sways along with a better set of tires on the 15" stock size rims will probably be enough-maybe a strut tower brace to finish it all off. I remember changing my Firebird from the stock 16" rims to 17's with low profile tires-40's I believe. The change in handling was not worth the trade-off in ride quality for me so I don't see an advantage in lower profile tires for my C since its the car I take everywhere and have no desire to continue to exacerbate an already bad lower back.
     
  21. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Exactly, the higher air pressure gives a harsher ride which equates to performance.