Left Rear Suspension Chirping

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Sasquach, Dec 28, 2023.

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  1. Sasquach

    Sasquach Junior Member

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    My left rear suspension is creating a chirping sound each time the wheel, shock strut and associated sprung components like wheel and brake, are propelled up and down with every bump in the road. The timing of the chirping is very consistent with the undulations in the surface of the roadway. This condition has gradually gotten worse with time. It started about two weeks ago with and occasional chirp, about once every second or two to now five to ten chirps a second with respect to the road surface irregularity. My first thought was that I may have picked up a rock which could have wedged itself between a suspension component and it's support structure. I have inspected those areas without success. Any guesses are appreciated!
     
    #1 Sasquach, Dec 28, 2023
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her? you posted in the plug in prius forum
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 28, 2023
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's likely more than wheel revolutions, strange. What's the miles? Maybe wheel bearing?
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Dec 28, 2023
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    leaky strut?
     
    #4 bisco, Dec 28, 2023
  5. Sasquach

    Sasquach Junior Member

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    ODO says 232,000 miles.

    The shocks were just changed.
     
    #5 Sasquach, Dec 28, 2023
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 29, 2023
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    was it chirping before the shocks were changed?
     
    #6 bisco, Dec 28, 2023
  7. Sasquach

    Sasquach Junior Member

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    Yes, the chirping was evident before to the shocks were changed.
     
    #7 Sasquach, Dec 28, 2023
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    What else did they look at when changing the shocks?
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 29, 2023
  9. Sasquach

    Sasquach Junior Member

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    I changed the shocks myself. I looked at the spring perches looking for debris and found none. One thing I did not look at, which is now on my list for the next inspection, is the forward left pivot attach point of the rear suspension cross beam. On the left because that's where the chirping is coming from.
     
    #9 Sasquach, Dec 29, 2023
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Moved to Gen 3 section
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2023
  11. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I was just going to say you need to be looking at that rear trailing arm cross beam whatever you want to call it and look at the sway bar back there while you're at it I don't know what part of the country you're in if you're in the rust belt or what but those sections in the rear known to fail when they get rusty or bashed against something or what have you stressed enough.
     
    #11 Tombukt2, Dec 29, 2023
  12. Sasquach

    Sasquach Junior Member

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    I bought the car when it was new, and I have not installed a sway bar so I don't think I will find the chirping noise coming from a sway bar.
     
    #12 Sasquach, Dec 31, 2023
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Then something may be broke on that beam axle assembly I thought the car had a factory sway bar If not then look at the beam axle assembly there are known weak item in a lot of the cars that have them including Yaris I've replaced one in a Yaris and it made a chirping weird noise when the suspension undulated up and down etc and not wildly just you know going over something slow right there in the shop parking lot.
     
    #13 Tombukt2, Dec 31, 2023
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