New struts are sitting higher than (Original)

Maybe the original springs were so warn it made the care sit lower???
And the new ones brought it back where it should be.

If the new ones "settle down", then the springs aren't very good. They should NOT settle...

 

3~4” higher seems extreme.

 

What are you saying sagging springs is not a thing oh please I've had springs wound in California right up the street from the old TRD building in springs very much do sag I don't mean leaf springs I mean coil springs that go around your struts in the front they most certainly will sag I don't know about 3 in worth. But I saw a Prius the other day and I could not look in the back of it a Gen 2 where the tops of the body wheels wells we're down over part of the side wall of the tires on factory tires on 15s so either the coils were extremely squashed and shot or it had about 1900 lb in the back of it while I was looking at it I could not get out and look through the glass it looked absolutely horrible Cheech Marin wouldn't even be riding in this thing it looked unsafe. Coil springs will flatten out sag droop whatever you want to call it Best believe it I don't know about 3 in worth That's a stretch. But your car could have been sagging that much but 3 in is an awful lot let's see pics of your car now sitting on the Monroe's I'm assuming these are the gold series complete struts?

 

Had somebody previously lowered your car? Are you sure they sent the right parts? That's really not right.

 

Yes, they do wear. And they will get shorter. I've changed them and put the new
ones next to the old ones and the are shorter by 1 or more inches.
Mercedes OEM.....

 

?
The coil on the new strut assembly, is not the same as the coil on the old strut assembly.
Therefore, the new strut assemble is not the correct strut assembly for the vehicle.
It's that simple.
Just because it fits, that doesn't mean it's the correct part.


Those aren't even close to each other.
The springs are very different.
Starting at bottom tail, count the number of coils straight up, including any percentage left over at the top.
Also, measure the width/diameter of each coil.
Often, coils are made of similar metal. And, for a load rating, just the coil diameter, or the number of coils changes.


Springs, struts assemblies, can "sag" over time.
However, most of the time, it's the rubber that compresses, or deteriorates.
Or, a coil breaks.

However, with cheaper metals, lighter cars, thinner coils, having a spring itself sag, is possible.

Good luck!

 

Link to the parts that you got?

Fwiw, unless I need something now, and Amazon has it locally, I typically get my stuff from RockAuto.com.
Or, from a specialty supplier.
Such as Camelback-Toyota. Or, Bosch-Toyota for me in New England.

 

One looks to be a variable rate spring in the other not just my observation.

 

It should be obvious, but you cannot get OEM-quality assemblies that cost just a fraction more than one OEM-quality part in the assembly (Toyota & KYB front struts cost ~$130 each from online discount retailers, so how can they sell complete assemblies withstruts, springs, upper mounts, boots, isolators, etc for $100 each??). Same goes for complete control arms that cost less than OEM-quality bushings alone...

As for ride height, if you install new gas-charged struts your ride height will be higher than on old worn out struts because the pressure acts like a helper spring. It won't be 3 or 4 inches higher, but maybe 1...

 

I don't think that either spring is a progressive rate spring. They both look like linear rate coils to me.
In "general", progressive rate spring lessen the distance between coils by ~~~50% near the end.
That results in "coil bind", which shortens the coil, and changes the rate.
See:

Code:

https://www.cjponyparts.com/media/images/resource-center/articles/body/linear-vs-progressive-spring.jpg
https://www.cjponyparts.com/resources/mustang-linear-vs-progressive-springs

Wow, this looks like a rat hole of issues.
First, the pictures of products shown on web pages are not always 100% accurate.
Many times, it's a generic picture.

A few things,
An ebay search shows struts that look like your original.
So do videos.

From the RockAuto webpage, it seems like two different springs are used, depending who makes the strut.
NOTE: Incorrect aftermarket suspension springs are Very Common! For MANY vehicles, it's "impossible" to get a correct general aftermarket OEM replacement front coil spring.
Arg!!

Code:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2013,prius,1.8l+l4+electric/gas,1505373,suspension,strut+/+coil+spring+/+mount+assembly,15174

2013 TOYOTA PRIUS 1.8L L4 ELECTRIC/GAS Strut / Coil Spring / Mount Assembly | RockAuto


It "seems" like the Gabriel strut assemblies have the correct springs.
But again.... the pictures of products shown on web pages are not always 100% accurate.

It seems like 1AAuto sells correct strut assemblies for a Gen3 Prius.
Note in the video at the 11:44 mark, how the new strut assembly looks exactly like the original.

Code:

https://youtu.be/tjtaUbhDyfI?t=704
How to Replace Front Strut Spring Assemblies 10-13 Toyota Prius
Apr 12, 2018
1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know

Product Web page:
https://www.1aauto.com/*/i/1ASSP01190

Toyota Prius Prius Plug-In Front Driver & Passenger Side 2 Piece Strut & Spring Assembly Set TRQ SCA57239
$ 249.95
READ 15 REVIEWS

If you look at a Toyota parts web page for the coil spring, it shows a picture (again, ?correct?) of a spring that looks like your original.
48131-47120 Genuine Toyota Spring, Coil, Front

Code:

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~spring~coil~fr~48131-47120.html

From Amazon, the web page for the Gabriel strut assembly, again "shows a picture" that looks like your original. Is that picture correct???
Also, from Amazon, someone shows a picture of a car with the Monroe assemblies on their car. Imho, the car looks maybe to high??

Code:

Amazon web page Gabriel strut assembly.
https://www.amazon.com/Gabriel-G57738-ReadyMount-Loaded-2010-2015/dp/B08VNQ42V5

Amazon Monroe assembly with the picture of a car:
https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-Shocks-Struts-172689-Assembly/dp/B06WVDSJ3L/


Amazon web page, showing the same TRQ assemblies as 1AAuto:
https://www.amazon.com/TRQ-Complete-Loaded-Assembly-2010-2015/dp/B07V47PFV7
TRQ Front & Rear Quick Complete Loaded Strut Spring Assembly Shock Kit Set 4pc New for 2010-2015 Toyota Prius
$299.31
Note the number of good ratings.

Imho, your call.
Good Luck.

 

This looks like a Monroe issue. I used the KYB Strut Plus on a Gen 3 without any ride height issues afterwards.

 

I wouldn't seriously worry about it unless it was an inch or higher a solid inch I imagine it'll settle real quick like most suspensions That's the way they go down not up so I might be happy for a couple weeks just drive the PP out of the car and it'll probably settle real quick like that would be my guess. The next time I go through all this I'm going to try the Monroe gold's complete struts top of the line business like I used on my 2000 Camry which is a relatively kind of weighty car it sat up for a few minutes higher if you will but that lasted maybe two weeks and then it was normal and still is today no struts have my goodness 70,000 plus miles on them