Lowering the Prius: problems?

Most importantly we need offset!

 

Taking turns too fast.
Wearing out the center of your seat and not the sides due to less roll.
Screaming tires(if your stock)
Less mileage because the car is more fun.
Man way to many dont do it! lol

 

That's good to know. Mine is an alternative to our Sienna. I had wondered if the wife, 2 kids and a couple of bags would be too much for a Prius on TRD's or Eibachs. Do you have any problems with shocks bottoming on bumpy roads? Like any car, when it fill up with people It sinks a little. Do lowering springs react the same or does their stiffness in general prevent that? I suppose Toyota wouldn't market the Plus if there were issues but a dealer isn't always as informative as an owner/enthusiast.

 

If you lower your car on springs and do not change the shocks the shocks WILL prematurely wear out. I have lowered over 10 of my own cars. I have only had one car where the shocks blew and I had to replace them. This is another reason Coilovers are better. The shock that comes with it is designed to handle a lowered ride. Plus it gives you the option to change the ride height to what you want. THe way I see it.. you either pay for it now or later. Pay now and do it the right way.

 

I recently made a 400 mile trip with 3 adults and a full hatch. I had no issues with the car being lowered and that was with 205/50/17s which are taller than OE and be the most likely to cause clearance issues.

 

I'm not sure about Priusenvious1, but you guys twisted my arm;-).. Low it is!

 

Nice... Post some pics after the drop. Keep your factory springs just in case you need to swap them back. Good Luck!

 

anyone notice, after they install the Prius TRd lowering springs, that there's a creeking sound when braking or when letting go of the parking break on a decline hill, it sounds like the suspension and where it's like metal rubbing against each other.

I've started to notice this when the weather is colder

Anyone notice this ? never had this problem with the stock springs is this normal for all lowering springs or just the TRD in particular ? is it still breaking in ? had it for almost half year now

 

Nope...dont have that problem.

 

i'm starting to doubt if the springs have been installed properly, or if the springs are defective ><

 

Who did ur install uc? I have a creaking sound with my car after installing my coilovers.. I know it is the top strut mounts that needed to be tightened..

 

got it installed at a local shop. Hmm, I guess, I'll have to get it re-installed ? anyway I can just tightened that myself ?

 

Yah.. As long as you feel comfortable removing the windshield wiper assembly and tray.. It's not too hard.. Then tighten the 3 nuts at the top of all the strut towers..

 

isn't that just for the front 2 springs ?

what about the rear 2 springs ?

thanks !!!

 

Are they making noise? The rears are super easy.. But if the rear is making noise I assume it has to do with the rubber top or bottom of the springs..

 

I can't figure out if the sound is coming from the front or the back, loll, I'll have to listen more carefully. The creeks usually happy when the car is cold, cause I park it outside. Sometimes when the cars been driving for a while or warmed up, the creaking sounds go away. Braking squeaks, I assume that has to do with my rotors and brake pads ?

thanks !!

 

My driveway is a short hill and I've always had a creaking sound on the Prius and my last 2 Corollas as i parked and left. I attributed it to the load that the car places onto the e-brake shoes and springs as it starts to move. The car isn't sitting flat so gravity is always pulling on it just enough to keep pressure on the brakes and springs. I also get the same thing when I would jack up the car with the ebrake on, all on factory springs. The cold weather always seems to create more noises on the metallic parts as well.

 

So it sounds to me like ur brakes as well.. Since the sounds go away when the car gets warm .. I thought I saw a thing about squeaky Prius breaks.. And that there is a tsb about it..

 

I had a sound I would describe more as a mild popping after lowering my Three. Sean has the same noise with his Four on H&Rs. If you have this sound then I'd say it is normal. I generally only hear it when pulling the car out of the garage in the morning but it occurs at other times as well.

 

hm, I see, ok, I get paranoid with all these noises etc.. BTW, I set all 4 tires on 38 psi, and during winter condition I still hear that rattling sound from the front ? sounds like coming from my windows somewhere from the front dash ><