1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Alignment fixed poor cruise stability

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by sydgurley, Sep 10, 2006.

  1. sydgurley

    sydgurley New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2006
    5
    0
    0
    I finally took my 2005 (8600 miles) for an alignment check after complaining about poor road handling ,particularly in crosswinds. The front and back tires were out of toe-in alignment and the front tires realigned to proper tolerances. The correction has definitely improved tracking above 50 miles per hour and no longer darts right and left in crosswinds. Here are the numbers:

    Left front 0.27, corrected to -0.03 (tolrerance -0.10 to +.10)
    Right Front -0.36 corrected to -.01

    This looks like the front tires were toed out-- definitely an unstable setting.

    The left rear tire was 0.31 (tolerance 0.03 to 0.28) I'm taking the car back to find out why the rear tire was not corrected??

    If you have handling problems--( it has been noted by others)-- I highly recommend an alignment check.
     
    #1 sydgurley, Sep 10, 2006
  2. benighted

    benighted New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    530
    1
    0
    Location:
    Westport, WA
    Thats why its a good idea to have the alignment checked about every year, the bumps and vibration of normal driving can eventually knock things out of alignment.
     
    #2 benighted, Sep 10, 2006
  3. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    465
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    rear tires don't have alignment adjusters, most places won't adjust them unless extremely out... and apparently to avoid having to handmake a shim some places are willing to replace the whole rear axle instead :huh:
     
    #3 galaxee, Sep 10, 2006
  4. Claudia

    Claudia New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    104
    0
    0
    Location:
    Martinsville VA
    I'm going to talk to the dealer about an alignment this week. I know it should end up with a slight toe-in - can anybody tell me exactly what to ask for, for front and rear?

    I'm one of those folks with the "it wanders all over the road" complaint.
    As soon as I can get it aligned, I'm getting new tires.

    Then, we'll see. :)
     
    #4 Claudia, Sep 10, 2006
  5. benighted

    benighted New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    530
    1
    0
    Location:
    Westport, WA
    I had them put 1/8th of an inch of toe-in on each wheel, it worked for me.
     
    #5 benighted, Sep 10, 2006
  6. mcbrunnhilde

    mcbrunnhilde Opera singin' Prius nut!

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2004
    612
    23
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Claudia @ Sep 10 2006, 02:42 PM) [snapback]317459[/snapback]</div>
    I thought I had been told that you get an alignment AFTER you get new tires, not before.
     
    #6 mcbrunnhilde, Sep 10, 2006
  7. Claudia

    Claudia New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    104
    0
    0
    Location:
    Martinsville VA
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Sep 10 2006, 10:57 PM) [snapback]317570[/snapback]</div>
    I'm surely no expert, but what I've heard is to get it aligned either before you get new tires or right after so as not to damage the tires with a bad alignment, and then when you do get the new tires all you need is to have them balanced.

    Uh, right?
     
    #7 Claudia, Sep 11, 2006
  8. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    4,089
    468
    0
    Location:
    Bahstahn
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Despite the fact that some have managed to convince dealer techs
    to install shims, the rear wheels *shouldn't* be out of alignment,
    period. If they are, that means you've got something just plain
    bent under there, either frame or suspension, and they should tear
    in and figure out what the *real* problem is.
    .
    _H*
     
    #8 hobbit, Sep 11, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)