Bent rear axle... can't be fixed, only replaced.

shims. send a copy of your alignment numbers (all of em) to blueblewaway at yahoo dot com and we'll see if there's anything we can do for ya.

if it's *drastically* bad, you're gonna need that axle.

 

Any idea how the damage occurred, newkbomb? Sounds like something we ought to be avoiding.

 

Hi newkbomb

The shop that told you the bent axle was not repairable or alignable... Was that a Certified Toyota Prius shop? Many generic body/tire/battery/alignment shops aren't familiar with the peculiarities of the Prius. This sounds a lot like answers you'd get from NTB. You may need to have a chat with a Prius qualified repair facility.

The posted comment regarding 'shims' is quite legitimate. Get a well-qualified inspection and opinion.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Jan 26 2007, 01:07 PM) [snapback]381323[/snapback]</div>

The OP answered that question in the original post.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(newkbomb @ Jan 26 2007, 08:28 AM) [snapback]381123[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Jan 26 2007, 01:43 PM) [snapback]381346[/snapback]</div>

newkbomb did relay in his original post what he was told by Toyota.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(newkbomb @ Jan 26 2007, 08:28 AM) [snapback]381123[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(newkbomb @ Jan 26 2007, 11:28 AM) [snapback]381123[/snapback]</div>

I didn't think the Prius even had a rear axle. After all, it is a FWD car with independent suspension - right? Where's the "rear axle" this dealer/$tealer is talking about?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ari @ Jan 28 2007, 07:53 AM) [snapback]381924[/snapback]</div>

Of course there is a rear axle. It is just not connected to the drive train. In the simplest terms, think of it as a long rod, holding both rear wheels in place. The rod is attached to the car.

If he hit the rear wheel hard enough, he could have bent the long rod or shifted it so that the rear wheels are no longer "aligned" with the rest of the car.

 

Been there. Although in my case I was rear ended so the insurance picked up the tab. Anyways, besides the usual sheet metal damage, the shop informed me the axle was bent, which was pretty obvious from the way the wheel sat all askew. They said it was't fixeable and since I wasn't paying for it I preferred the replacement anyway.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John in LB @ Jan 28 2007, 10:59 AM) [snapback]381929[/snapback]</div>

Have you looked under your Prius lately? (I had not looked before my last post, but I did just now.) There is actually no rear axle as one would see on an F150 truck or something. There's no "double wishbone" setup either, so I guess it's not a real independent suspension. But there is a long stamped piece of steel that's been folded into a "U" shape and inside it there's a stiffener bar. If we want to call that the "axle", fine, but it's not an axle in the traditional sense. It's more like a part of the vehicle frame.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ari @ Jan 28 2007, 08:34 AM) [snapback]381941[/snapback]</div>

I was simplifying for his sake... thank you for elaborating.

 

Yes, it's a torsion beam semi-independant rear axle. Compared to fully independant setups, the ride quality is poorer. It doesn't appear that strong, clearly if you smacked a curb right it would bend. Normal driving it should last.

 

The Prius rear suspension system is almost exactly the same as the current Corolla's. Nothing special.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(newkbomb @ Jan 26 2007, 11:28 AM) [snapback]381123[/snapback]</div>

same thing happened to my wife's car. She told toyota she hit NOTHING. One mechanic (At a local non dealer shop) mentioned that it could have been tied down to tight during transport. (Via truck, or boat) Have not yet discussed repair/warranty w/ dealer. Our Pri is an 04 w/ 30K miles. We do have the platinum warranty. We live in AZ where pot holes aren't a problem. Good roads with a couple of RR tracks.
Our first set of tires (OEM) wore down on th inside rear very quickly....at 25K. We drove to Chicago and back, and made the AZ dealer aware of the situation. Apparently, we're not the only ones this has happened to. I've seen other reports, but not many on this forum. Has this happened to anyone else? Please let others know if you've had this problem. Thanks. Tom

 

You say you've only had the car 6 months.

Is it possible the damage was caused by the previous owner and not disclosed when you bought it? Maybe why they sold it in the first place.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tmv123 @ Feb 13 2007, 10:53 PM) [snapback]389975[/snapback]</div>

our OEMs are toast at 26600 too, actually they've been toast for a while now and we just can't afford new tires that are worth putting on it. we've kept a meticulous eye on alignment since day one. ok my husband has kept a meticulous eye.

so that's normal.

is your alignment out too? when was your last alignment check? what pressures do you keep your tires at?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 13 2007, 08:25 PM) [snapback]389992[/snapback]</div>

A new set of Yokohama AVID H4S would be cheaper than the usual ComforTred or HydroEdges recommendations, if that helps. Just as good traction-wise in wet/dry too.

Hope things get better for you two. Hey, how about a group buy-in for all of the free help you've given us?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 13 2007, 11:25 PM) [snapback]389992[/snapback]</div>

Yes, we had it aligned on 12/16/06 and the Toyota tech said "Aligned to specs, rear beam is slightly twisted." Four days later we were in Chicago. The Service guy didn't read the receipt, and I didn't realize it was out of alignment (Though he said it was, to specs on the receipt) He, the service guy did appologize for not seeing the bent beam written on the receipt before we left. We just purchased the Michelin rain tires before we left, too. The car ran flawlessly. But the Chicago temps were NOT very kind!! I'll follow up on what happens next. Hopefully the Platinum warranty will be for this costly repair. Tires were at 42/40

 

nushrike, that's so nice, but we're just not good at accepting gifts and nice things like that anyway- much better at just handing out free help. we're still waiting but things should improve soon. well on at least one front!

we're moving in a few weeks, that will help.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tmv123 @ Feb 13 2007, 11:43 PM) [snapback]390007[/snapback]</div>

ok, tire pressures are good.

when they say "aligned to specs" they mean that what they can adjust has been put to specification. got the numbers handy at all?

just wondering if this is something that happened between alignments or if it's been this way all along. how could they have missed a twisted rear axle in all that time... suppose that if they know the rear is non-adjustable and they're in a hurry they won't even glance at those numbers.

do let us know if it's covered by the platinum, and good luck!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 13 2007, 11:51 PM) [snapback]390009[/snapback]</div>

No, sorry, I didn't get a copy. But I will. WOW, my grammar was pathetic in my last comment. Must be the hour. Thank you for your help. As soon as I get to the dealer, get all my records together, I will return with a full report.