- #14 of 23
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Prius rear wheel alignment
by jimdemaine
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Mar 02, 2007 (4:19 pm)
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At 31,000 miles my 2005 Prius factory Goodyear tires needed replacement because they were unevenly worn, expecially on the outer portion. They have been rotated by the dealer every 5000 miles. I've had new Michelin tires installed at COSTCO and then had a wheel alignment check at reputable shop. The front wheel alignment was fine, but both rear wheels showed too much toe-in: R rear was 0.35 and the L rear 0.51 giving a total toe of 0.86 (Specified range is 0.05-0.55). As you may know, the Prius rear wheel alignment is fixed and there are no adjustments. The shop noted that they've recently had two Prius's with almost identical mal-alignment. The shop, which also does body work, can pressure-bend the wheels to comply with alignment specs. Has any one else done this?
I talked to the service manager at Toyota who's offered to check the alignment at no charge, but notes that any repair is not covered under warantee after 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Has any one else had a similar problem??
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- #15 of 23
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Re: Prius rear wheel alignment [jimdemaine]
by pathstar1
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Mar 03, 2007 (8:00 am)
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Replying to: jimdemaine (Mar 02, 2007 4:19 pm)
A Toyota dealer service manager has had shims made for just this purpose. Ask over on Priuschat.com. The "chat" over there has indicated it's common, but it's not just the Prius. I had a 4Runner with the same problem, and my Dad's Rav4 was way out of alignment off the lot new. So much I could see it! It also made a lot of tire noise on the road.
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- #16 of 23
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Re: Prius rear wheel alignment [jimdemaine]
by gzwegers
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Apr 12, 2007 (6:19 pm)
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Replying to: jimdemaine (Mar 02, 2007 4:19 pm)
I have experienced the exact issue you are describing. I own a 2004 prius and I could sense there was a problem with the car since I brought it home two years ago. The original tires were replaced at 31000 mi at my own expense because the Toyota dealer in Rochester, MI would not help me. In fact, they refused to acknowledge that there was an issue. To my utter disbelief, they told me "this is normal tire wear for a toyota". The drivers side rear wheel had scrubed the outside edge off almost to the steel reinforcements. I wish that I had kept a photo. I purchased new michelins and now at 75,000 mi the tires are badly worn again with the same scalloped wear pattern. I have had the alignment check 3 times and have been told it is within spec. I am not sure if the technicians do not know what they are doing but the tires are surely saying something is wrong. My ownership experience has been downright aweful because of the dealers reluctance to admit that any of my observations could be valid. This will probably be my first and last toyota. The basic message at toyota is if you buy a car with problems, you are on your own and please don't be foolish enough to buy the extended "bumper to bumper" warranty as I did. You will be astounded at the number of exeptions to the "total" coverage if you read the fine print. My roof liner is falling down and the interior trim is all loose and sounds like it is 10 years old, and by the way, also not covered under the extended warranty. My next hybrid will be a Honda or Chevy volt. I noticed another message on this discussion board about the existance of shims to correct the wheel alignment so I am holding out some hope for a solution.
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- #17 of 23
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Re: Prius rear wheel alignment [pathstar1]
by gzwegers
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Apr 12, 2007 (6:23 pm)
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Mar 03, 2007 8:00 am)
Do you have any information about obtaining shims or how to make them? I would like to try this solution for the rear tire wear issue. Do you have a contact at toyota customer service that will actually help? My complaints to toyota have fallen on deaf ears.
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- #18 of 23
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BTT Stiffener Plate
by stevegold
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Apr 13, 2007 (4:14 am)
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My 2004 Prius wanders a little in strong cross winds but I did not think anything was wrong. I installed a BTT stiffener plate but did not notice any difference in performance anywhere.
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- #19 of 23
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Re: Prius rear wheel alignment [gzwegers]
by pathstar1
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Apr 13, 2007 (6:33 am)
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Replying to: gzwegers (Apr 12, 2007 6:23 pm)
As I posted above, ask on Priuschat. "DH" is the fellow, and his wife is usually the one posting over there. He has offered the shims to others with the problem.
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- #20 of 23
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Re: BTT Stiffener Plate [stevegold]
by pathstar1
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Apr 13, 2007 (6:38 am)
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Replying to: stevegold (Apr 13, 2007 4:14 am)
Most owners with "wandering" problems find it's one of two issues:
1. Prius "toein" is specified at almost 0, with the range from 0 to about 0.55 as I recall (but don't quote me). Most owners with wandering problems had it set to 0.5 (still within spec but not "0") and found that makes it much better. Again, there is a lot more info. on this over on priuschat.
2. Some owners unconsciously "fight" the electric power steering. Once they realize what they are doing and stop, they are fine.
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- #21 of 23
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Re: New 2006 steering/alignment problems + airbag light always on [lynsam]
by gzwegers
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Apr 13, 2007 (4:58 pm)
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Replying to: lynsam (Sep 29, 2006 11:58 am)
A high percentage of new prius' have alignment issues. My 2004 was no different. I would insist that the dealer set the front toe at 0.1 deg total and at .05deg per side. I watched my first set of tires disintigrate within 30Kmi. The rear alignment is still a mess. I had it measured today and the right side is at .4deg toe and the left is at .08deg. The left wheel is the tire chewer. I am going to attempt a fix with shims as described by aanother owner on this chat board. My vehicle handles considerably better with the front alignment as indicated and michelin harmony tires fitted. I have noticed that the vehicle drives much better if you look farther down the road when cruising the freeways and do not over correct your direction. Just keep your eyes pointed where you want to go and the car will follow, just like a boat. This technique is one of the first items covered at many high performance driving schools. Once you start to trust the car, it will feel better. Any vehicle with relatively neutral front toe, which decreases rolling resistance for fuel mileage, will feel like this. I have driven my prius quite aggressively during fits of exuberance and am still alive to tell.
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- #22 of 23
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Squeak in drive train
by smt1
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May 18, 2007 (4:44 am)
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Has anyone had this problem? I have an 06 Prius (22,000 miles). Recently it has developed a squeak in the drive train. The easiest way to reproduce this issue is to drive the car then put it in park. Go to the front of car and rock the car back and forth (not up/down) You will be able to hear the squeak in the passenger side front. The dealership has yet to fix this issue. Also, if you let the car sit for about 5 minutes and cool off, the noise is no longer there when rocking the car. This has gotten worse to the point now that you can hear the squeak when driving the car at low speeds. 
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- #23 of 23
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Re: Squeak in drive train [smt1]
by podman1
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Jan 19, 2008 (12:27 pm)
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Replying to: smt1 (May 18, 2007 4:44 am)
I have 2005 Prius and was bothered by a similar problem. You could rock the vehicle, in park, e brake off and hear the squeak within 5-10 minutes after turning off the car.I also could hear the sound, when the engine was off and I was going into my garage up a slight incline that required a bit of accelerator. The first couple of times the dealer could find nothing wrong, probably due to the fact that the car had cooled down. I suggested to the technician that he check the flexible connector in the exhaust system, since the sound appeared to be a dry squeak. Turns out that was the problem! They ordered a new part and now I have a squeak free Prius.
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