Rear wheel camber adjustment on prime keeps getting off

I'm drifting off-topic though: fourth gen may well be adjustable. I don't think there's a 4th Gen Repair Manual pdf floating around. Perhaps it's impossible now: there was no paper manual produced, just hyperlinked web pages, for better or worse.

Anyway, someone would need to pony up a minimum subscription to Tech Info; see what it says. Why's everyone looking at me??

 

didn't bob wilson shim his prime after getting home from his purchase?

it may be in his prime thread.

 

found it, thread: 'prius prime plus in my hands'

page #22

starts at post #429

independent rear suspension is not adjustable, but can be shimmed.

 

I would automatically suspect this.
But if what they are telling you really is true, there is something wrong that NEEDS TO BE FIXED now before it gets worse.
The BACK wheels should almost never need to be adjusted.

If I were in your boots, I would take this up with Toyota warranty service line.
Even though the actual alignment is not covered under warranty, a constant need for adjustment like this is NOT normal and they should help you figure out why.......without making you pay for it.

 

Sometimes the manufacturer doesn't have a method of adjustment but the aftermarket does.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The shims are pushing the wheel out a bit too, not sure of the ramifications.

Yeah, it seems like our driver's side camber is a bit under spec, not "splayed out" at the bottom enough. The outcome of that is maybe in left sweeping turns the car feels a little less "planted"?

Uh oh, getting the shim bug?

 

Well.

 

I mentioned earlier about taking it to a frame and axle place that repairs wrecked cars. These people are the experts at making these type of repairs. At least they could give you their take on it, they have been down this road many times before. The Prius rear suspension is nothing exotic.

 

Thanks for that; here's a link:

Prius Prime Plus in my hands | Page 22 | PriusChat

 

can you elaborate avi? is there something available that is better than the shims bob wilson used?

 

Bob must have researched it, but what would that bolt with increments be for? And: how is the OP's dealership making the camber adjustment??

Either the dealership is running a scam, or (shudder) Bob has missed something?

 

That sure looks like a camber adjustment bolt.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Interesting thread.

If true, car camber can be and is correctly aligned and 5000 mile later it goes out of
adjustments.

If not a poor repair, perhaps the only variable would be road hazards, pot holes and
all.

If poor repair, I'd purchase the new bolt.
Perhaps the bolt just does get torqued correctly.
Perhaps other suspension mounting points are loose or damaged.

New bolt, bushing inspection, other mounting point inspections, retorque all
other suspension nuts & bolts, re-align and see what happens.

A different shop for this next alignment may not be a bad idea.

All FWIW.

Interesting situation and road hazards should not be ruled out as
the cause.

Good luck.

 

I'm still wondering though: how could @bwilson4web have missed this. He was making rear camber adjustment on his Prime, resorted to shims. See posts #23 and #29.

OTOH yeah: that bolt sure walks/quacks like a camber adjustment bolt.

Somebody with a dog in this race needs to take out a Tech Info subscription, check the alignment instructions.

 

As @padroo kindly quoted from the Repair Manual in post #7:

The manual also gives the rear camber specification, for an unloaded Prius Prime vehicle: a camber inclination of -1°07′ ± 0°45′ (-1.12° ± 0.75°), with a right-left difference of 0°45′ (0.75°) or less.

The bolts seen in the photos of post #31 are for the rear toe-in adjustment.

They are all made in Japan and share many components, but there are some differences between Prius Prime cars sold in the U.S. and Canada and left-hand drive Prius PHV cars sold in Europe. Service information for the latter is available by subscription to toyota-tech.eu.

Authentic editions of the Repair Manual all say “Rear Wheel Alignment” (or リヤホイールアライメント, or whatever) in the topic heading. Perhaps these headings were omitted from the unofficial copy of the third-generation manual that is in circulation.

 

o/p, i would go back to the dealer and demand my money back, report the to toyota, bbb, consumer affairs, and get on yelp asap.

 

you got it. another toyota blunder, and now they cannot blame it on the solid rear axle.

 

So, back to the shim kit....

 

smarty pants.