Hello all, Back again, so thinking it may be time to replace the car, even though I still haven't seen the Toyota of my dreams. I took the car in for oil change and inspection, and the dealer said that the 'left rear suspension coil spring is cracked'. The guy said that it looks like it rusted and chipped. They want $700 + alignment to replace it. A few questions here: Is driving around getting a second estimate worth the trouble (looks like they have to take the whole back end of the Prius apart in order to replace it - so not something I'd like to leave to novices)? Should both rear springs be replaced (I'm guessing the bulk of this cost is labor, given how difficult it is to get at them)? I planned on getting a new Prius Prime this year, but getting stuck in the snow, and watching a person snag and crack his front bumper on the curb while making a right turn, made me think about the incredibly low ground clearance on this year's model - should have purchased previous year before they remodeled it. Anyway, now ground clearance has become a thing. The RAV4 looks too big for a little old lady like me, so that leaves the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but the Corolla used to have a kind of cheap feel to it. Still, maybe it's time not to be putting $1000 dollars at a pop to keep the current car running? Any recommendations for a reliable, smaller Hybrid/Plug-in (must be hybrid) that has good ground clearance (8 inches or more)? Any recommendations appreciated.
never, never trust a dealership (that's why they're called stealerships) Service reps earn by commission, the bigger the repairs they bring the more money for them. Trivial things like this could be exaggerated by them racking up lots of unnecessary repairs. That's why it necessary to have some independent shop that you could trust for repairs. Ordinary shops can do the replacement cheaply and who knows it might not even be necessary.
A new KYB Rear strut is $130 SR4514 is the Part number.Drivers rear. Passenger will be similar. I would replace both rears at the same time. It is not difficult. With today's prices. I would keep the car. Replace all 4 of your shocks and struts ($600) and add a Prius Off road lift kit. ($350) Labor will cost more but a local shop should be able to help you. I have done this for both of my Prii. The ride quality is so much better. The dealership's job is to get as much money out of you as they can. An older person and being a woman makes them jack up the price even more which is robbery. Everything is negotiable. Call around to other shops and see if they will install parts that you buy and give them. A new car would solve your problem but will cost a lot more. Corolla cross might be a good option. Test drive one and ask questions.
I'm not sure it's a 'simple repair'. Looking at the videos, you have to take apart a good deal of the rear of the car, and then put it back together again. Having a mechanic take apart that much of the car that is hidden from me after it's all put together again makes me cringe. Also, if the 'break' is due to rust, that doesn't bode well for other parts of the car. Already seeing indications that the rubber and plastic is starting to break down. All of this is why I'm leaning more towards getting the new car (I've had the money in the budget for several years -- never expected that I would get this many years of repair-free service out of the car). Still, it makes sense that I should check to see if it truly needs fixing as stipulated. Wish I had the ability to inspect it myself, but it's pretty well hidden from view. It'll take a week just to get an appointment somewhere else to have it looked at; then another week to schedule a time to fix (the good ones around here are booked solid all the time). ColoradoCrow, thanks for the price check. The videos indicate that it should take about a half hour of labor, and with the parts, I'd expect a price closer to $500. That'll help.
Your welcome. Yes that second video is the exact one I used to replace mine. The rears are super easy. Not too bad of a job. Best of luck.
Well, I test drove the Lexus UX Hybrid, and the Corolla Cross (gas; no hybrid available) and have decided to hang on to my Prius for another year. That means finding a good mechanic (which I think I've done) and getting the rear shocks and the A/C repaired for about $2K altogether. Maybe next year's models will have changed a bit, or my new digs will have a parking spot to accommodate a larger car. Many thanks to everyone in this forum. I'm sure I'll be asking more questions in the year ahead. To strawbrad: Not looking to sell at this time.
