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Wheels/Tires/Coilovers installed.....SHRILL SQUEALING!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by GoldPianoGarden, Aug 2, 2012.

  1. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Well, I finally got my tires, wheels, and coilovers installed yesterday (can u believe the wheels and coilovers have sat in my garage for 9 months??). I was there for 6 hours, unbelievably. And (I told them you guys would get a kick out of this) they came out to where I was waiting and told me it was gonna be another $500 in labor, because Mitchell, or Mitchell's, says that the rear seats have to be removed in order to do the rear coilovers. First, I was shocked at the price ($900 total if I paid that extra $500), then I was shocked that this website told them that they were going to have to remove the rear seats. I ended up going out into the work area and taking the panels out of the back of the car so they could see how easily it was for them to access it ---- WITHOUT removing any seats! And they agreed there was no need for any additional charges now... Anyhow, I was there 10 minutes after they had closed, finishing up paying. Only me and the cashier were still there, so nobody was there to provide any assistance with them, if they happened to fall off as I was pulling out of their parking lot. Well, I proceeded back home, with the accompaniment of an incredibly loud, shrill squealing sound......like metal scraping against metal. I ended up slowly creeping all the way back home, driving on the shoulder of the highway, driving a few feet, stopping, driving a few feet, stopping.... Anyway, I finally got home. When I got there yesterday, it occurred to me that the wheels had different offsets (50 front, 42 rear)....but I couldn't remember at that time which was the front and which was the rear. Well, they said that 98% of the time the larger offset goes on the rear, but that they should be able to see which way was correct after checking them out on the car. When I got home last night, I checked first thing on my computer to see which way the offsets were supposed to be mounted and saw the 50-front, 42-rear. I called back this morning and asked which way they did it, and they said they were installed the other way around... I still have to take it to be aligned, but there was no time left yesterday to do that. SO, would this constant, shrill, squealing sound that happens when I am driving the car be the result of the offsets being backward, the coilovers being too low and causing something to be scraping together, or something else? It'll be a day or so before I am able to get back to the shop with it, so that is leaving me PLENTY of time for my mind to run wild over the whole thing! lol

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

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    Yikes!

    Why don't you take out your vehicle jack and swap the wheels yourself? The tires are probably rubbing up against the fender. Either you'll damage your tire or damage your paint.
     
  3. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    If I could do that kind of thing, I would. However, (I've shared this unfortunate 'problem' before on the forum..) I have worn out my thumbs completely from years of professional piano playing, so don't have any grip to do something like that...which would obviously require a lot of grip. I'm already dreading my SLOW trek back to town to the shop to have it fixed. It sounds just like something metal is rubbing against something else metal, though.
     
  4. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

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    I see. I'd just try to avoid driving if it's making any type of noise like metal on metal grinding. After driving at highway speeds or even low speeds, I'm curious and terrified at what damage might be done to your car.

    Some other thoughts of what it might be...
    Probably the inner lip of the wheel rubbing against the coilovers?
    Maybe they bent the brake dust shield to contact the rotor?
     
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  5. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Hopefully they'll cover any damage that might be caused, but I REALLY hope nothing is damaged!
     
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Unbelievable, nobody checked clearance around the wheels/tires after installation was completed. I agree that something is rubbing, maybe the wheel against the coilovers or the wheel against the calipers.
     
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  7. fgp

    fgp Active Member

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    wow. and no test drive by the folks that installed it. even if they worked overtime. must make sure everything is secure BEFORE they turn it over to their customer showing off the professional job they did. let us know what happens. ps the car looks cool, though
     
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  8. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    That's what I was telling my family....What if I got out of the parking lot and a coilover dropped all the way and left my wheel well sitting directly on top of my tire or something. Unlikely, but u know what I mean. What is something totally serious happened as I was driving away in it. I guess they were just glad to be gone and away from this car they'd worked on all day.
     
  9. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    I would call the shop and have them pick it up at your house with a tow truck. Dont risk any further damage.
     
  10. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Well, I took my car back yesterday, and they swapped around my tires/wheels from front to back and vice versa, then did the alignment... and I am noise-free... So that took care of whatever was screaming from under the car! lol! Well, now I have a big question --- Why would the manufacturer make 50mm offset for the front, and 42mm for the rear? Why would they not be identical? or at least closer in size? My front wheels are totally flush to the outside edge now....but the rear ones are maybe 1/2" from the INSIDE edge. So, why the heck would you PURPOSEFULLY make them for the car (Fledermaus wheels to go with the Fledermaus kit) and have them not sit the same offset-wise? Carson Toyota, who I bought the stuff through, said to email a bunch of pictures to them (to Carson)and that we'd push for replacements. I'm not totally opposed to that idea, as they sent me the wrong wheels to begin with (it even says the other wheel model on my receipt that came with everything). The wheels I bought:

    [​IMG]

    the ones they sent:

    P1030229.JPG

    (the same, except they don't have the little rivets on the wheels....which I kinda liked). We have been emailing Fledermaus about it for months now....with a recent reply that they'd give me a $150 refund for the mix-up ($150? seriously?). So, doing a replacement might ultimately result in me getting the correct wheels, and hopefully ones that have the right offset. (Do you ever reach a point where you just want the whole darn thing to be OVER WITH?! lol! I swear this feels like it has been going on for 5 years! lol). Anyhow, is there some logical reason why they would have the front wheels sit flush, but the rear ones to NOT sit flush? Thanks!
     
  11. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    its not a mix up. Its your fault for not doing the research. The different offsets are done purposely in Japan for the Prius and other cars. The wheels are for lots of cars. Add a 5mm spacer ( about $30) to the rear and be done. You should have picked up a Japanese Prius magazine and see the offsets and different wheels.
     
  12. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    By the way...They look great and so does the body kit...What size wheesl did you go with ?.
     
  13. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    thanks! I got the 18". I knew I was dropping it between 3" to 3 1/2", so was afraid the 19" would DEFINITELY rub being that low.
     
  14. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    So, why do they do the different size offset on the Prius in Japan? The pictures of the kit, with those very wheels installed, are flush. What's different about their cars that they would be flush on theirs but not on ours? I bought about 8 Japanese magazines beforehand, when I was shopping, but I never noticed in the pictures that they have their front tires flush and their back tires sunk in. That makes no sense to me....why would they WANT the rear wheels/tires sunken in?
     
  15. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    when you have guys in the back seat, it wont rub.
     
  16. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    wow, I can't believe people would actually do that. All I ever hear here is "are your wheels flush?" "are your wheels flush?".....so that's the only "look" I could see a person going with. Doesn't leave your wheels looking like you have the same size on your car.
     
  17. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    I tried a 5mm spacer on my wheels with a 45 offset and it was flush....But when I put my buddies in the back to go to the store...it rubbed ... so I took the spacer off and no rubbing . ( my buddies are 6 foot plus and over 250 lbs.)
     
  18. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    I guess maybe the Prius sinks down more than I expected. Hopefully my coilovers will prevent too much of that. I do know it's like riding in a sports car again, so it's a nice feeling compared to the stock Prius ride.
     
  19. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

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    What size wheel and tires were you running?
     
  20. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    i am lowered on TRD springs and running 18 x 7.5 rims on 215/40/18 tires.