Chassis Brace is a Prius MUST HAVE!

Installed mine last week and WOW!!!!! BIG difference! No more wind issues.. Better ride... A MUST have! Bets $40.00 and 10 minutes I have ever spent! Should have been on it from day one. And the guy on EBay from Corona is great to buy from.

 

I paid my $37 (plus the $10 shipping) about 5 p.m. and got a note it shipped at midnight.

This Youtube site appears to be his (I googled his e-mail address)....

YouTube - gangpw924's Channel

 

I paid my $37 (plus the $10 shipping) about 5 p.m. and got a note it shipped at midnight.

This Youtube site appears to be his (I googled his e-mail address)....

YouTube - gangpw924's Channel

 

I just scored a $19 strut bar!! lol


COROLLA 98 99 00 01 02 S FRONT STRUT UPPER BAR CARBON: eBay Motors (item 260681727124 end time Oct-29-10 12:44:45 PDT)

 

Corolla/matrix strut bars fit prii. Not sure if I ordered the right year though. I have a feeling i need a '03 corolla bar or later. We shall see.

 

So I got the brace from ebay in the mail today. And I wonder, how can this brace be rigid and work as described, if on one side the holes are not precisely drilled? In other words, there will be play unless the bolts are welded in place. The forces against the bar with the chassis flexing will be far stronger than the 37 foot pounds of force I need to use when I tighten the bolts that are supplied.

So my question is, is this brace a joke or what? I feel like returning it. Nowhere in the auction was it mentioned that the brace was not precisely machined. It's almost as if the maker couldn't be bothered to machine a correct-fitting brace and just left some adjustment. That, my friends, is not a brace, it's a bracket!!

 

37 lb-ft of torque will give approximately 5,600 lb clamping force per bolt if the bolt threads are dry. If they are lubed the clamping force will be higher.

 

Well, that's a NEGATIVE! I decided to tackle putting this in today, and there's no way that Corolla brace would fit unless you sawed up the pan under the wiper assembly.

WARNING to others, this doesn't fit! Not even the brackets inverted and at an angle will clear. I tried everything!

 

I've only had my new to me 08 for a week but I bought this. I figured at $36 it's cheap snake oil lol. My only question is how tight to torque the mounting bolts? Concerned about the brace shifting and the fact the are no washers (yes I tried to find some but the holes are counter sunk with allen head bolts).

 

I purchased G7 rear under brace from a guy in Riverside, just east of LA. The product was delivered on time and the Brace was what I expected. I think it works well as my Freeway driving feels more secure.

My $0.02

 

So I should put a little grease on the bolts before torquing them in? I've not tried to install the brace yet.

 

Unless the instructions say otherwise, dry is implied.

 

No instructions came with the brace. only those on the auction web page.

 

I got my brace about a week ago. I haven't tried putting it on yet. I don't really cherish the idea of crawling under my wet muddy car this time of year.

But, I heard somewhere, might have been my husband, that using threadlocker (medium strength) on the fasteners would be a good idea. Once I find the tube he has hidden somewhere in the barn, I'll give it a go.

 

not sure on the ''threadlocker'' (possibly more informed members might have input here), personally I would use DYNAMOMETRIC TIGHTENING WRENCH. Plus, prior doing this job I would consult Toyota dealer or read Technical Guidance on this particular part assemly to double check what Nm (Newton Meter) torque to be aplied to these bolts.

 

I Tried using my dad's torque wrench once when I was a teen trying to fix my mountain bike -- I was doing the repair by the book.

I managed to snap off the bolt and then he had to drill it out and rethread the part. No more torque wrenches for me.

 

I agree, this is a must have along with the strut brace.

I installed both at the same time, so I can't comment on the chassis brace alone. The handling is MUCH improved.

I have a 2005 Prius #6, and these upgrades may have just saved me some money. I have been debating on buying a 2010 because they handle better, but now I am happy.

PS: Almost happy. I have one more upgrade to do, and that is install a backup camera. All the parts should be here within a week to make that happen.

 

Thanks for finding another supplier for the brace.
I ordered one through the Prius shop a few monts back and found that BT Tech either stopped making them or selling them through the store.
Got my money back but it was still frustrating.

Thanks again for the link