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Cusco Rear Chassis Brace, 952492REN.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by BigPete, Mar 17, 2013.

  1. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    Seeing as most of us have upgraded our centre brace and front brace as they are great bang for your buck upgrades, this one is also a rather cheap upgrade and seems logical to also stiffen the rear chassis, as could be the weak spot.

    So wondering if anyone has fitted it and has experienced the benefit, also as it seems to fit right at the back of the underside does the plastic aerodynamic under tray still fit over the top ok?
     

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  2. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    For one thing, this is so far aft of the rear suspension attach points could there be any way to measure or feel any difference?
    The twist beam rear suspension is designed with flex to allow camber/caster changes under side loads.

    Save your dollars on this flashy bit of anodized aluminum.
    Buy an American-made steel trailer hitch kit and have something useful ( bike rack, small trailer, small camper, etc.) and it will stiffen that end of the Prius also,,, although you're never going to feel either of these...
     
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  3. Jay J

    Jay J Active Member

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    I installed this yesterday, car feels more confident (turn in/turn out). Car feels less creaky when cornering or flexing its suspension.
    There's a reason often time hatch backs have rear lower bracing similar to this or even cars with soft unibody suspensions (Integra Type R), Evo 8/9 RS(not a rigid unibody), EM Racing bars.....
     
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  4. Jay J

    Jay J Active Member

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    It was a a little bit of a PITA to take the lower under-tray out, and since I have the plus kit it was a bit harder to remove the under tray since the lower tabs were re-re in-forced lol.... but it all came out and was a simple bolt on/bolt off (be sure to have someone help you when removing the bracket holding the muffler (just to pull it while you unbolt).

    Bill N - you do know the Cusco rear sway bar goes ontop of the rear spring mount pods vs the TRD one just mounting to a lower position of the OEM rear struts and going across the rear of the beam.
     
  5. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    I don't know that it is even anodized. It is probably "powder coated." A lot of fabricators are going to powder coating, because it is cheap and thick. It hides a lot of poorly finished welds, scratches and flaws like grinding marks. Anodizing, if used, is basically for appearance and almost never a hard wearing hard coat anodizing. For myself, I've found that a direct-to-metal epoxy "flow on" oven heat cured finish is most durable and best.


    I'm in complete agreement with you. The trailer hitch fastens to four strong "welded in" captive M12x1.25 nuts. This is where the single left owing hook is replaced by the left mount on the trailer hitch.

    I'd go for the trailer hitch.
     
  6. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    JJ,

    I do know about the TRD sway bar compared to the Brand C.
    The TRD uses proper sealed ball ends in the link rods allowing the twist beam to flex as designed.
    With Brand C is bolted right on the spring pad. It is stiffening the twist beam not allowing it to flex as it should in caster and camber.

    However I have not installed mine yet, so this is all academic discussion.
    Rude person's, I read all your posts and yet I still don't know how to contact you about purchasing your braces.....
     
  7. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    What is the rest if yr aftermarket setup, sway bar an brace upgrades?
     
  8. Jay J

    Jay J Active Member

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    H&R Springs, Tanabe front upper strut tower bar, Cusco midbrace (4 point ladder), Cusco rear bar, Cusco Transmission/transaxle brace), TRD Rear Sway bar (debating on the front), possibly some coilovers in the near future since the stock struts cannot do anything past 50 mph =/
     
  9. Jay J

    Jay J Active Member

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    I have the cusco center 4 point on order at the moment.
     
  10. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    Can you replace the under tray over the top of the brace so it hides it, as had a look on my car at it looks like the tray bolts to the underside of the spare wheel.

    Any photos?
     
  11. BreitrthnU

    BreitrthnU Can you smell the premix?

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    I have a rear hitch that mounts to the same points..I wonder if it provides the same stiffness characteristics.
     
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  12. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    No way... It's way stiffer than that showy piece of aluminum.
    It's made to handle "2000 lbs trailer weight, 200 lbs. tongue weight" after all.
    Plus what about crash worthiness?
     
  13. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    It's funny regarding tow hitches, as in Europe Toyota are 100% against fitting them to a Prius. My local dealer told me when I bought it that trailers are a big no no. They mentioned the chassis has not been designed to be strong enough for towing, and can also cause excessive gearbox overheat.

    I also remember it being on Toyota UK website blog.
     
  14. Jay J

    Jay J Active Member

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    Just a small notch needs to be made in the plastic but it fits right inbetween (I put some dynamat ontop of the bar incase it does decide to flex )(so there's no metal to metal contact possible) there's about a 1/2 mm between the bar and chassis...
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    As said before, what if you use it just for a bike rack?
    And how is towing a couch or a refrigerator on a 3oo lb. trailer any different to the car's parts than hauling 4 of your fattest friends up the Rocky Mountains going 70 mph on I-70?
    Plus the weight is not on the car's wheels.
    But, if your car is under warranty, I guess you should forget about it if it is true that it is clearly stated somewhere.
    Having the guys in the shop say so is not the final word.
    You know how to tell if a car sales man is lying, right?
     
  16. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    JJ, I'm sorry but that looks like such a waste of money.
    How much "chassis flex" could possibly be happening that far aft of the rear suspension.
    I think a lot of Cusco parts are for the racer boys to show off.
    All show, No go....

    Sorry,,, IMHO....
     
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  17. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    I know what you mean about filling the car with people but just found it, this is off the Toyota UK blog

    "Sorry that there’s been such a delay in getting back to you. I spoke to a technical specialist and Prius brand specialists from both Toyota GB and Toyota Motor Europe, and so am now in a position to give what I hope will be a full and definitive answer to the towing question.
    Page 277 of the Prius owners’ manual states that the car is “not designed” to tow. As this statement appears in official Toyota documentation, then, I can state that Toyota does not recommend that you tow with a Prius.
    The technical specialist I spoke to told me that a capacity to tow was not part of the first generation’s design specification, and each generation since then has been based upon the one before it. Each redesign was approached in the characteristic Toyota way of refining each element, making components lighter and more efficient. That is to say, the capacity to tow has never been ‘built in’. In order to make the Prius suitable for towing, the chassis would need to be specially reinforced and the transmission completely redesigned to prevent overheating (what I meant when I said that the Prius has a ‘lightweight drivetrain’ previously) – i.e. it would become a completely different car. Thus, it does not matter what weight your trailer is: the Prius is simply not designed to tow and in doing so you would risk damaging your car.
    Of course, Toyota cannot comment on and certainly cannot endorse any independent aftermarket accessories. What I can say is that if you were to damage your car as a direct result of fitting an unauthorised accessory, you would potentially void your warranty."
     
  18. Jay J

    Jay J Active Member

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  19. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    Ok and it connects with 1 bolt either side or 2? Any extra hardware included or just the bar itself?
     
  20. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    BigPete,

    The engine/transaxle does not know if it is propelling 5 Fattys or a couch on a 300 lb. trailer as it accelerates.
    The 'Chassis' question is different. The tow hook attach point is right there, no? The crash absorbers for the bumper are right there. Can this really be a weak area?
    If so the trailer hitch manufacturer has some splainin to do......

    I will continue to haul my chit on a trailer and load bikes on a rack behind my Prius.. but it is out of warranty....