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Rough/stiff ride after new struts/shocks

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by markjosh51, Nov 14, 2019.

  1. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    I have a 2014 Prius two and last week I replaced the struts and shocks with KYB and at the same time I replaced my tires with Bridgestone Ecopias 422 plus. Although the steering and stopping have improved the ride seems rough especially when I go over speed bumps. Do the struts and shocks need to be broken in?
     
  2. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    There is breakin period.

    Also, since you got new tires, the place probably set your tire pressure to 40 psi.

    Higher tire pressure = more bounce, coupled with new shocks.


    iPhone ?
     
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  3. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    40 psi? Isn’t that going to wear out the tires quickly?
     
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I’m running 44psi and all 4s since they were new. The wearing is on schedule to meet the 80,000 mi spec., even les schwab tires says the same when I physically let them do the rotation, said tire wear is on schedule. But I don’t drive like a maniac to be the first one at the next stop light, I drive like my avatar :p
     
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  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I wish. Tire places are not to over inflate tires pass the driver door jab manufacture specs.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    non oem shocks and new tires, tough to compare to worn oems.

    how many miles on her?
     
  7. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    166,500 mi. I thought the KYB struts were the oem part.
     
  8. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    What would be the break in period? 1000 miles?
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you may be right, i didn't realize that
     
  10. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    when I went to my mechanic I told him if I can put on Monroe but he advised me to put on KYB. I assumed that these are the OEM.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    okay, i am not sure. call a toyota parts dept and ask
     
  12. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Mind the tire specs. While the door jamb may say 35 psi, the tires may suggest something else. I bought 4 recommended tires from Discount Tire, for my Gen 2 Prius. The PSI rating on them is '30 to 52'. The car is sluggish at door jamb, but normal at 40. I'm not sure why these are a 'recommended product' for my Prius, but the wear is even all around, and mileage is typical at the higher psi.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the door jamb is the factory rec.

    the tires have minimum and maximum parameters.

    but these two can conflict as ford and its tire supplier found out with the explorer
     
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  14. tonynap

    tonynap Member

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    I had the same experience and think it's the jump from 89H to 91H tires.

    I used Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max and Bridgestone Ecopia EP20 which both had max sidewall pressure of 44 psi, and that's what I ran them at. I never had any issues with ride or wear.

    I replaced rear shocks, front struts, and tires simultaneously. The new tires have a max sidewall of 51 PSI but running them at 51 PSI is out of the question. It's like riding in a covered wagon. You feel everything.

    This is what I did and is my advice to you. I ran them at 35/33 (the door) for a tank and checked the MPG against the last tank. It was not as low as I thought it would be, and the ride was as pretty mushy as you would expect. I went to 40/38 for a tank and got very close to the MPG I previously got. The ride stiffened noticeably.

    At some point I got to 44/42, got the same MPG as pre-change, and no noticeable change to the ride.
     
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  15. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    About 1 week.




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  16. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    so 40/38 psi? Are the tires wearing out evenly?
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    There's a pressure embossed on every tire sidewall, indicated as max pressure at max load, something like that. As far as I know the tire manufacturers recommend you follow what the car maker says. What is that 35/33 (front/rear)? The main "jimmying" I'd do with that is to just set all four to 35
     
  18. markjosh51

    markjosh51 Junior Member

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    I don’t like using the manufacturer tire pressure because it makes my car sluggish. I currently use 36 psi all around.
     
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  19. Bojar

    Bojar New Member

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    I have a 2013 Prius V 3, and recently put KYB struts and shocks on my vehicle. The ride is now terrible. Worse than before the change. I am feeling everything on the road. The supplier is refunding me the cost. I brought the parts to my mechanic to install. Has anyone have a good experience with a different manufacture's products? I want a good ride.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Plus one pound, that'd get lost in the noise, lol.
     
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