What did you do to ur Gen III Prius today????

This problem has been discussed in the past when various other steering wheels (piano black wood, etc) have been installed.

Minor adjustments can, and have been made, to the steering wheel angle by using the method I described.

Edit: I see that you are a retired mechanical engineer. You should be able to appreciate the mechanical approach to so called "skin this cat" of a problem. To send the steering wheel back would be a solution, but unnecessary, when there is another way around the problem.


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Have you worked at an Alignment Shop?
That is exactly how Centering the Steering Wheel works.

When new front end parts are installed, one of the first things the tech does is center the steering wheel and lock it into place with a tool.
THEN, they adjust the tie rod ends (and camber/caster adjustments if available) to put the front wheels at the specs needed.

 

Thanks @Bill Norton.

@Bryan1954, here's the procedure described in a Toyota Technical Service Bulletin:

View attachment 182990_T-ST003-01_1.pdf

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I interpreted bysaul's post to meam that when he installed the new leather steering wheel onto the external splined shaft, that the internal spline on the steering wheel did not engage properly and the steering wheel was cocked on the shaft, and did not seat properly. I now understand what he was properly saying, and adjustment of the tie rods like you described would be the solution. Sorry for questioning your solution.

Everyone, please disregard my earlier posts in this thread.

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Please see my post #19164. I interpreted bysaul's post incorrectly, me bad. Sorry.

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Where did you get your steering wheel and switch covers at ?

 

More braces for the race prius. The front member brace compliments the ultra racing rear strut bar making the front stiff like the rear. Stripped out the door latch screw and replaced it at the pick n pull. Tom’s member brace and TRD JDMdoor stabilizers.

 

But no way to tell, other than 'Feelings',
"wo wo wo Feelings, all I get are feelings..."
Strip out all that extra weight from the Do Dads, (150 lbs?), put on the next level of 'sticky Tires' and your lap times will improve.
That is measurable!

 

Gave the 15 ZVW30 black eyes and smoked DRLs

 

twins

 

I wash it.

 

Nice! What’s up twin!

 

Rear wiper delete and front lip wrap

 

WOT, 27mpg av overall in daily use. If the throttle isn't open it's because it's parked

 

Things I wanna do to my 2013 is get TRD lowering spring, rear wiper delete, sound system and improve handling with Cisco braces. As of right know, I’ve only done the rolls Royce headliner, HIDs lights and replaced my taillights with JDM ones from Japan.

 

Replaced tail lights w/ black bezel ones yesterday. Vinyl wrapped the window pillar trims and put on window visors.

 

I had the tires rotated and inspected. The front tires are wearing a little more on the insides as I suspected before though I don't recall being noted, as a few observations I witnessed during the "COVID Lockdown" period.

Well, at least the inspections aren't so sick seems now-a-days.

Guessing will need to replace the struts shocks on the front next?

Anyone ever find a Gen3 spring swap, like the Gen2's can use the AWD Matrix and Vibe springs?

 

Why not just adjust the toe "in" a little, evenly each side?
Replacing the struts won't fix that problem.

 

Installed Samco Intake Tube

 

I was thinking Camber was the cause for the inner tire wear due to shocks in the struts being wore, albeit I don't think correctly at all days. Though everyone that's looked at when I mentioned didn't notice anything in particular however to me they are finally after ~276K miles feeling a little less stiff when you do the push down on the body on each corner and only spring back up test.

Glad you mentioned, as this Jim Folk Motors Google image search gave me better insight into the Toe being the cause.



The only other issue related I've had is the inner tie rod going bad on the drivers side, which caused cupping on that one tire. When I balanced the tires after the inner tie rod change at Discount Tire, since they thought the cupping wasn't really bad and might level out since was on the inner and the tread was still good, I had a four wheel alignment performed at Bell Tire as I noted that I'd have performed. When I mentioned to Bell tire the inner wear observed results still with the not cupped tire during the later rotations, the front end guy acted like I might have hit a bump or something where I'm guessing (will pull out the data if I have or contact for a copy) they didn't align properly.

I just had Discount Tire perform a rotation with this interim salvage yard two pair set and was noted both side on the front had inner wear. I admit, I didn't inspect in detail this time and will plan to with the tire depth gauge since he mentioned were at 5's with the one at a 4 where I don't recall the last time I measure them being that wore.

I do see from the new set prior to the above noted changed in 2016 from the dealership in Madison that I did have a front 0.0 toe that was failing. That should have been corrected by Bell and for some reason I'm not finding that document and will contact Bell if I don't find going through the docs in the file again.

On another note, oddly, with my 2006 I notice a situation in one of the documents with the dealership service tech not being able to adjust the front drivers side due to tie rod being seized and unable to move even when using a torch. Will see what the set of 185's on stock rims look like after the next rotation. Also, plan accordingly to swap out if needed and go through the whole routine again.

Man, I tell you, I definitely like working on my own vehicles for that triple check peace of mind. Though hard to pass up on the free services provided and the need to use a few like the tire related services where I'm not confident enough to perform as of yet and especially with aluminum rims. Balancing and alignment seems intimidating. Makes me feel dumb and corrupting my other projects just thinking about, though the more I read into doesn't seem that bad with simple tools other than the measurements being reliable concern and that I'll have to study more up on doing the most cost effectively.