Hello, i Installed a new pair of front & back Monroe strut on my 135k miles Prius 2013. The front pair struct so stiff on bumpy road. As you can see the coil spring differently. Should i swap the old coil spring to a new strut?? Please see picture & advice. Thanks
The strut was not REALLY designed for a direct replacement. It fits, butttttt...... As you know... It won't be the same. Depending on where you got it from, you can return it for a refund and just get the strut from Toyota. Don't forget the bumper and dust cover. Yes, the spring itself will be a little weaker than when new, but still better than aftermarket. In theory, the oem spring "should" fit in the new strut cartridge.... But who knows.... All it will take is time and effort to find out.
The original is a very rate spring you see by the winding at the top being not the same as the bottom the replacements many times are Not vari rate speings. The vari rate will squeeze right in. No issues . You can put the strut tube in a vise and use a wheel to compress vari rate and apply nut if no spring compressor . Many folks have long taken the wall mounted spring compressor down and thrown it away.
Two different types of springs they will both interchange on either strut doesn't matter wal mart tools can make it happen no shop needed .
The stiffness on the bumpy road part won't be affected by the spring. That's in the dampening effect in the other parts. Unless it's bottoming out, or topping out, the real change is in the dampening. If your old struts were worn out, the increased dampening is what you paid for when you changed your struts, and the biggest change I noticed when I changed mine.
Don't understand of how to put the strut tube in a vise and use a wheel to compress vari rate and apply nut if no spring compressor. If you can explain in more detail or video a demonstration can be help. Thanks
If you don't understand how to do it, then don't. You can be seriously injured! You don't have to use a vise. It does make it easier. You must use 2 spring compressors to compress the spring, slowly, then remove the nut and remove the spring and upper bearing. Install them on the new strut, tighten the nut, and slowly and evenly release the spring compressors. There are hundreds of youtube videos of how to do it.
Getting ready to install Detroit Axle springs and struts from Amazon. Also got a lift kit. You do have to compress the springs for the lift kit. No doubt, you can get seriously hurt if you're careless. I guess I'll find out how much I like the ride in another couple of weeks. Just had the cowl off and put PB blaster on the bolts of the struts. Hoping for an easier install. My shocks and struts are shot.
No you don't compress the springs to put on a lift kit they go on top of the strut tops your lifting the colored part of your car the chassis . You won't do squat to your strut you'll put this red spacer on and long azz splined threaded bolts as it may . Getting the ones out of your strut is a real pain in the patootie be careful . Maybe have extra set of top plates if ya fek up. Look at the instructions that go with the big red spacers that you're ordering off eBay has nothing to do with suspension components they just drop on
I promise I'll look at the instructions , I thought I was reading one of these lift kits that you have to remove the strut springs and reinstall. I'll be tickled silly if all I have to do is drop them in. I bought these :1.6" 40 mm Car Spacers Leveling Lift Kit for Toyota Prius, Prius A, V, Alpha | eBay From AI : Installing a leveling or lift kit on a Toyota Prius involves removing the strut assemblies (front) and springs (rear) to install spacers or new springs. For front struts, you must use a coil spring compressor to safely remove the spring from the strut assembly. Rear springs are removed by lowering the rear axle. I ain't doing nothing until I get all the parts here .
Struts are off hopefully new and these go.on at install. Drop on strut tops in front shove assemblies up in the hole add nuts. Put back whatever ya undud to get the stuff out . Go do other side . Now the rear is problematic you gonna need longer bolts probably not supplied 8 had 50 mm spacers so 50 mm bolts I believe twas in rear. So 4 long bolts . This is all very similar in most Toyoda models with struts and FWD. No spring nonsense at all
Nothing is as simple as it seems going in. I'll be sure to have all the parts BEFORE I start. However, alignment will be a concern. Will having the lift kit complicate that? I'm sure I'll get the parts in ok, but wondering if the lift kit will cause anything else to need adjusting? I've seen online kits for setting alignment, but all disclaim it, saying it's "temporary" due to the lack of precision.
