Suspension

If you go over RR tracks, so that both rear wheels hit the track at the same time, you will not notice any difference between IRS and beam axle. In both cases both wheels are driven upward at the same time.

The difference you feel is in the greater compliance of the Camry springs (and there ARE spring struts in the rear of the Prius), coupled with the greater mass of the Camry. You amy also have higher tire pressure, as many recommend here, causing an increased bounce of the tire and greater transmission of the bump through the tire. IRS would buy you nothing in this case.

IRS is beneficial when each rear wheel is driven over unequal surfaces, such that each rear wheel can give or take without affecting the opposite wheel.

 

your going the wrong speed, any kid from a farm will tell you that there are 2 speeds to cross a cattle guard. 1MPH and 60MPH nothing in between. Rail tracks same as a cattle guard.

 

I want Prius to have adjustable suspension in the next model. I'd trade in for it like tomorrow!

The Prius springs are too stiff, and must be due to the efficiency of the car which requires a low ground clearance. With an adjustable suspension Citroen style, we could have nice soft ride, and low efficient ground clearance on highway, but higher on bumpy roads.

 

actually the springs are quite compliant, then the dampner bottoms out and there is no more travel. Maybe some ureathane dampners are in order for the Prius. Some thing along the lines of the front dampner inside the spring on top of the shock that is progressive in compression.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"99372)</div>

Time for a little suspension info:
First, the term Macpherson strut only refers to a front suspension that uses no upper suspension arms and uses the shock absorber (damper) to locate the upper portion of the suspension. It is what is used in the Prius. The term for what you are speaking of is Chapman strut. (yes named after Colin Chapman of Lotus fame.) Now, as I look at the rear suspension under my Prius what I see is a Chapman strut/trailing arm suspension with a connecting beam / anti sway bar linking the trailing arms. More of a semi-independent suspension setup. Very similar to most VW products until this year, and in fact similar to what was in my FWD Audi A4.

I think "Tideland Prius" last comment has it right. The Prius has really low ground clearance; lower than my Miata, MR2, or Audi. Cars with low ground clearance need to have limited suspension travel and that may contribute to the harsh ride. I'm assuming the low clearance improves aerodynamic efficiency

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"100280)</div>

Just someone who has spent a few years trying to tune suspensions on my own cars. I have a few random pockets of information here and there.

 

I will agree that the Prius has a rock hard ride. On the very short list of complaints I have about my Prius, that one alone is near the top of the list.

If you want ride quality, go for a ride in a new or fairly new Lincoln Town Car with air suspension. Or a 2004 or newer Lincoln Navigator (Based on the Ford Expedition), which has four wheel independent suspension and four wheel air ride.

I went on a fishing expedition this weekend with a coworker from the office. It didn't go too well, nasty storms and we got rained out, so we were stuck playing poker and BS'ng in the cabin. I'm kinda glad I insisted on bringing along a lot of steaks, or we would have starved.

The drive included some fairly rough gravel roads and steep hills to the camp, so we went along in his 2004 Lincoln Navigator.

I still marvel how you can be purring along severely washboarded gravel roads, with potholes too, and the coffee in your cup will barely ripple. I also marvel that we split the fuel and my share still came to almost $60 for the trip.

But if you want to experience what amazing ride quality really is, the newer Lincoln Navigator is hard to beat.

Doesn't the Lexus ES car, based on the Camry/Avalon, also have adjustible ride quality? I thought the shocks could be dialed from Firm to Soft from the dash switch.

I put Rancho 9000 shocks on my 1984 Ford F-150, and with the shocks set at "1" the ride is nice and soft, very absorbant.

 

I must be getting old. I'm really starting to appreciate a soft riding car with a very compliant suspension. The awful road quality around here might have something to do with it.

If Lincoln could package something like a Navigator with a tiny 4-5 cylinder turbodiesel motor, that might be the way to go. The Land Cruiser in Australia has a 6 cylinder turbodiesel, and with the automatic and full time 4WD it's rated 11 litres per 100km, combined. Thats 25 MPG Imperial gallon.

In contrast, the 4.7 litre V8 (Same as the Tundra motor here) is rated 16 litre per 100km, combined. Thats 17 MPG.

 

Me too! (Owned a Citroen GSA for a few years, and *loved* the suspension! It was a very aerodynamic, quirky car and the Prius reminds me a little of it.)

Toyota says the Prius has 4.9 inches of ground clearance, but Consumer Reports measured only 3.5 inches.

Is anyone aware of aftermarket load-levelling or adjustable air shocks for maintaining or temporarily increasing the ground clearance for a 2004-6 Prius?