Tom's Prius Rear Suspension Member Strengthening Brace for a 2007 Toyota Prius.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(UNWIRED @ Jun 12 2007, 08:38 PM) [snapback]460647[/snapback]</div>

No. Only the floor-strengthening brace has issues.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Jun 13 2007, 09:01 AM) [snapback]460897[/snapback]</div>

However, one PC member posted about clearance problems with the fuel tank and the rear suspension brace.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jun 13 2007, 08:46 AM) [snapback]460935[/snapback]</div>

It replaces the rear chassis brace. I don't remember any conflict with the rear suspension brace especially since there isn't one, unless you're talking about the roll-bar which is nowhere near any of this.

There's only one piece that goes near the fuel tank, if you looked SaeGai's pictures, and if you have clearance problems there, you got other problems.

 

We're still waiting to hear, I believe, how his shop tweaked the installation (somthing about interference with the gas tank and 1/2" shims if I remember correctly)...

If you get the TOM'S exhaust, let us know how it sounds!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 13 2007, 01:00 PM) [snapback]461057[/snapback]</div>

Yes, still waiting to learn the outcome. And, whether this was something that other PC members had encountered, or possibly was a one-off experience.

 

The rear brace was installed with the "spacers". I only needed about one-half of an inch spacer and the shop used something closer to an inch. I like the ride...car feels more balanced to me now.

I really would feel better with a proper spacer and I'm also noticing a clanking sound occassionally. I do like the ride though. I do plan to follow-up on this, just not sure on timing.

I thought the car was really balanced with just the TRD shocks/springs and the BT brace. Although I enjoyed the effect of the front upper and lower bars I installed later, I really felt that I lost the balance with the back end not sitffened up.

 

I installed the triangular piece of the rear brace tonight. It presses right up against the fuel tank when installed. I'm gonna leave it like that, unless someone can give me a good reason, otherwise. I haven't installed the crossbar piece, but the handling has noticeably improved over the BT plate. The tail-end is rock solid. The suspension seems to be doing more work now as I'm not skipping tires as much while turning hard. I'll try to have some pictures up after tomorrow.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jun 19 2007, 01:02 AM) [snapback]464530[/snapback]</div>

This is a great post! Out of curiosity, is there a chance of abrasion of the fuel tank from the triangular brace? Such as could occur from the fuel tank shifting and rubbing against the brace. (I don't know how the fuel tank is mounted to the chassis.) If there is a chance for fuel tank abrasion, then I can see the need for some sort of spacer arrangement. Again, thanks for the info; it looks like an order for a TOM'S Rear Suspension Brace is in my near future.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jun 19 2007, 03:02 AM) [snapback]464530[/snapback]</div>

Cool!

I was wondering if you've experienced any clunking or harmonic resonance due to the brace? I'm totally rattle/creak/crash and bang phobic if it's a steet car, and do have concerns about noise coming from the parts (see post, above).

Thank you!

 

^^
So far, nothing in terms of new creaks or rattles. The brace is in there solid. As long as I get the spacers in properly for the crossbar, it should stay quiet. I have too find some time to take pictures. It's been too busy this week. My arms are still sore from the brace installation haha.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jun 19 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]464735[/snapback]</div>

I do not know about abrasion, but the tank isn't going anywhere. I'm curious as to SaeGai's install. It looks like the brace is touching the tank, as well. I'll do an assessment after the weekend, as I'm going for another trip through the windy Cascades

 

I went back and got shorter, more stable braces installed. The back end is definately more solid now. I still hear a clunking sound that I need to get resolved. The shop took everything apart down to the shocks and I still can't get rid of the noise. I believe the noise is related to the single bar i the back. I'll post if I find a solution.

Anyway since my Prius is an '05 and at least the gas tank is lower, the rest of you probably wont' have the same problems. I can take pics of the spacers if anyone is interested....let me know.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jun 19 2007, 01:02 AM) [snapback]464530[/snapback]</div>

I've been to enough movies to know for sure, this will cause the car to blow up in a fireball within range of a camera crew.

With all the flicks you shoot in Vancouver, I'd be worried. :lol:

Seriously though, if you're racing around skipping your rear tires on all that TRD & Tom's gear, I'd expect some kind of abrasion. Sounds like you see the underside often enough to keep an eye on it though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bobdavisnpf @ Jul 9 2007, 07:43 AM) [snapback]475490[/snapback]</div>

Thought I'd add another note on spacers required for clearance of the triangular rear brace from the gas tank. I've got an '07 and I needed a 1" spacer to lower the rear part of the brace to provide about a 1/4" of clearance (I didn't want an interference fit) between the brace and the tank. The handling still felt much improved over the original set up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bogus Bill @ Jul 28 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]486923[/snapback]</div>

What did you use for a spacer? (I have the TOM'S Rear Suspension Brace kit arriving ~August 3rd and plan on having it installed shortly thereafter.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jul 28 2007, 10:01 PM) [snapback]486955[/snapback]</div>

What I've got in there right now are a bunch of stacked up washers (1" O.D. washers x qty10). I'm planning on replacing those with some solid spacers made out of some 1" aluminum bar stock. The one inch spacers also required me to purchase some longer 8mm bolts that didn't come with the kit.

One comment on the washers, they were actually kind of handy in the first fit up excercise since I could keep adding them one or two at a time to get the clearance I wanted. Now that I know exactly how long they need to be it should be easy to fabricate the solid spacers. Given that some folks don't need spacers, others need 1/2" some need 1" makes it nice to have the adjustablility for determining the desired length.

I really appreciate this forum for pre-educating me that I might need spacers by the way, otherwise I would have been ticked off when I went to do the brace install and had so much interference. So thanks to all those folks who traveled the road before and decided to share their knowledge.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bogus Bill @ Jul 29 2007, 07:55 AM) [snapback]487055[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the info. I was thinking along the same lines (stacked up washers). As you point out, washers are a great prototyping tool.

 

Re: Tom's Prius Rear Suspension Member Strengthening Brace for a 2007 Toyota Prius.

I installed Tom's Rear Brace kit, both the A-frame and the single bar on my '09 touring. The A-frame piece is tight against the fuel tank and when I go over certain bumps in the road I get a loud metallic slap from the rear of the car. I was wondering if you had diagnosed the source of the noise on your car?

 

Re: Tom's Prius Rear Suspension Member Strengthening Brace for a 2007 Toyota Prius.

Hi rhythmtime,

This thread is pretty old. So if you don't get an answer, I suggest that you send a PM (Private Message) with your questions to apriusfan who, if I recall correctly, has a Touring Edition and put on all of Tom's braces.

 

Re: Tom's Prius Rear Suspension Member Strengthening Brace for a 2007 Toyota Prius.

I would also be interested, so a public post here would be helpful.