2007 rides rough after new struts

I just found this old thread about Gen 2 strut replacement. I lost my drivers side front strut on the way home from a trip. My 2008 Prius had 99,000 miles on it a year ago last October. I did the usual internet search and found a set of Chinese complete assembly's that I got from I believe Amazon. With no brand name but a warranty I decided to buy them. I was surprised when I looked on line and Advance Auto didn't even stock them with the Prius being such a popular car. From what I read they were fairly bullet proof. I do all my own work and found some instructions on how to change them including removing all the stuff above the strut tower, windshield wipers, motor assembly. That was going to be the worst part of the job. The reason you have to remove all that stuff is to get to the three bolts that sit on top of the strut tower. I thought if I could remove those three bolts, three on each side I could skip all the other things directly above them . I was successful and if I ever had to do it again I would do it the same way. It is an easy job and buying the whole assembly with the strut, spring etc. assembled sped the job up. I didn't do an alignment either and saw no reason to. The drivers side had blown all the oil out of the strut and it was obviously bad. I did read where a Toyota tech said they just don't fail.
The sign that something went wrong was when you hit a bump in the road and you could hear the suspension bottoming out.

 

The op's car is very rusted underneath.

 

Yea, we had a white Christmas and New Year here too, everything is white with salt.

 

Some really bad corrosion under there. I bet the lower control arms are banging really loud over every bump.

 

The front suspension is a fairly basic setup and anyone could do it. By installing the complete shock, spring strut assembly it cuts the time to do the job in half. I would let a local shop do mine if I couldn't. Take it to them and ask for an estimate, have them inspect the front end and then you will be working with some facts. Choosing OEM or aftermarket seems to be the big decision. I chose aftermarket and don't regret it and after about 13 months ended up trading for a new Prius anyway.

 

Yes good advice. have them check the whole suspension. they can see if there's any play in the Lower control arms.They look pretty rotted to me.

New LCA's would be very expensive at the dealer that includes lower ball joints. Its somewhat labor intensive as everything has to come off.
At $140 an hour it makes me shiver.

But if your banging during articulation thats usually the lca bushings are gone. They make quite a racket.

 

When my strut failed it lost all the fluid and it kept bottoming out on bumps, in other words it was banging.

Replacing the whole strut assembly in my opinion is the way to go because everything is new. Without looking at it, it is just a quess.

Mine was obvious, the wheel well was soaked with oil.