1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Rusted out cross brace

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by vand8, Aug 15, 2024.

  1. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Dangit .... rust has taken out my passenger side brake cable, and now my rear cross brace, and my car is only 9 years old. I believe it's part number 53605-47021. Over $200 for a simple steel tube. Fortunately my rusted out passenger side parking brake passed the year inspection since the driver side still holds strong, but this piece failed me instead.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,038
    1,110
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Second such we’ve seen here. Odd failure. Lots of road salt and anti-icing chemical exposure?
     
  3. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    I live in upstate NY and bought car used from Vermont, so yes lots of road salt. I tried to car wash after snow, but looks like it didnt help in the end. My experience is Toyota has bad at rust protection in my time up here.

    Is there a thread for the other failure? I want to make sure I get the right part.
     
    #3 vand8, Aug 15, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2024
  4. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    I found the thread. I blasted the bolts with penetrating oil and then tested them after dinner. All 4 bolts broke loose real easy, so I'll just need the overpriced bar and looks like it should take only 15 minutes.

    I believe I need 53605-47021, correct?
     
    Air_Boss likes this.
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,038
    1,110
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Description: BRACE SUB-ASSY, REAR SUSPENSION. Part Number: 53605-47021. Usage: ZVW41
     
  6. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Thanks. I may preemptively get fuel tank straps too. The bolt end on the right strap looked very rusted. I'll look again today before I order parts, but definitely don't want a fuel tank strap to snap for me or future owner.
     
    Air_Boss likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The rear jacking point looks pretty bad too. Hard to judge from pic, but be careful with it.
     
  8. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    It is pretty bad actually. I looked that part up but it's not worth replacing. It'll be cheaper to get pinch weld adapters for the floor jack.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Not sure we're on the same page. This is the rear jacking point:

    upload_2024-8-16_8-15-1.png

    It's part of the main body, not a bolt-on component. Maybe be more solid than it looks, but worth caution.

    Boiled linseed oil, applied with brushes, has worked well for me. Even once rust has started.

    In attached Repair Manual excerpt, page 2 has the your rusted-out cross brace torque value.
     

    Attached Files:

    Air_Boss likes this.
  10. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    We're on the same page Mendel. You're right it's not bolt on, though you can buy the parts for about $400, plus labor to weld it all up. Hence why I said it's not worth replacing.

    I'm debating whether to do the fuel tank straps, The rear mounting points look OK, but the front ones are pretty rusted, though seem to have some decent meat on them.
     

    Attached Files:

    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    IIRC they don't use road salt in Japan. Pretty sorry state.

    About 4 years in with our '10 I noticed an absurd amount of rust on ours, particularly the rear suspension. Never had it happen so bad with Previous Hondas. I've heard too, of late certain coatings/paints/treatments have been banned, the more effective ones.

    Again, I just brushed off the loose stuff and coated everything I could reach with boiled linseed oil. It's been quite effective and held up good. I'll remove some plastic "protection" panels too, for access. And oil-soak the bolts that held them on.
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  13. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    It's a bummer because I try to keep my cars for 10 years, but they seem to be rotting out earlier and earlier. Hopefully out '16 Sienna holds up. I'll have to try the boiled linseed. How much does it usually take? I do have some leftover from finishing a musket stock, but not enough for sure.

    Sadly, the local dealers were charging way more than other dealers. It cost me 20-30% less ordering from a dealer in MA and having it shipped to NY. Local dealers wouldn't even budge. Oh well. Next week the new brace should be on.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Price for me, including shipping, through Amayama, is around $170 CDN, converts to around $125 USD, all-in.

    upload_2024-8-16_11-54-44.png
    I've used them maybe 1/2 dozen times, never any issues, or extra charges, say duty, tax, shipping COD nonsense.
     
  15. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Mendel!!! Why didn't you tell me earlier! I could have saved 75 bucks. Oh well. I'll remember them for next time :)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah always good to plug-in part no's there. Their vehicle id process just got a little more complicated; they're asking for "frame numbers" and such. I've found if you take a stab at it, they'll show you various model year options, and you eventually get there.
     
  17. vand8

    vand8 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    28
    13
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Got my new brace. Felt very light so I used my micrometer to measure the thickness. Appears to be about 16 gauge metal. Thin enough that I could fold it in half by hand if desired ... definitely not designed for compressive forces lol.

    And some better pictures of the original thay literally was barely holding together.
     

    Attached Files:

    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Astounding fail from Toyota. They need to apply a little more of their “continuous improvement” to the underbody/suspension rust resistance.