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massive vibration/wobble at highway speeds

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by bwalkhouse, Dec 10, 2004.

  1. bwalkhouse

    bwalkhouse New Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2004
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    Location:
    Alberta
    had a fright on the way to work today, the rear end shook violently as I got up to highway speed.

    stopped a couple times to make sure the tires weren't flat or the lug nuts weren't loose.

    after I got to work I looked underneath and there were matching large chunks of snow and ice stuck to the inside of both rear wheels. i parked in a snowstorm on wednesday, and it must have build up and lodged there. a massive unbalancing effect!!

    so check the inside of your wheels if you feel a wobble!
     
  2. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
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    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Cripes, I've had that happen quite often in winter. All you have to do is drive through slushy streets, the crap freezes overnight if you park outside.

    Want even MORE fun? Sometimes the slush will freeze overnight and the wheel is locked SOLID. It won't even turn. Ho boy, your cat or dog will learn new and comical swear words when THAT happens!

    :cussing:

    If you have an insulated garage, or heated parking, then it all melts off and you're fine. Though when you drive into the "real" winter, some of it can freeze, especially the parking brake on rear drum brakes, or the remote fuel lid release. Spray lots of WD-40 on the fuel lid release.

    The optional tire size (31 x10.5 R15) on my 1990 Toyota 4Runner was the absolute worst: those wide wheels seemed to attract snow/slush and I would have to go to a carwash and blast it off. The front wheels locked up overnight a few times, I needed a wrecker to tow me to a car wash.