BT Stiffening Plate Review

I agree wholeheartedly. I also noticed the ride improvment at low speed. The suspension just feels like it is working better with the BT plate. It's the best mod I've added to my Prius yet.

 

Thanks for posting your in depth review of our BT Tech stiffening plate and for supporting this site with your purchase!!



Brian
BT Tech
305-652-3115

 

Thanks for the review, mine is coming soon. You should get a rebate for the testimonial

 

My plate made it here yesterday. Hopefully I'll have time after work today to install it. If it works half as good as it looks then I'll be a happy camper

Ken

 

Thanks OU!!

That did it for me I've been debating whether it was necessary on a 2006. Great comments and evaluation. And this is coming from a "HUSKER" fan.

joe

 

One thing i want to know is whether or not installing this plate can lead to warranty voiding issues. It will be obvious to any Toyota tecnician who needs to get under the car that one has added this modification. Obviously they won't deny warranty service if the radio stops working, for example, but I just wonder if some other warranty issue might come up.

 

I second the question and in addition am curious about the apparent stiffening of the plate on the 2006 models. I just read that Toyota attempted to address the issue sometime in 2005, at least in Europe. Are the 2006 cars for the US market fitted with a stiffer plate from the factory?

 

Sure, they'll immediately determine that installing the plate
led to reduced chassis flex that is otherwise essential for
keeping the HV battery electrodes "conditioned" by virtue of
moving slightly past each other when the car goes over bumps.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... what kind of answer were you looking for?
.
_H*

 

Installing our plate in place of the factory original is equivelent to installing a larger stabilizer bar on the car or different sized tires and wheels. In other words our stiffening plate only helps the car. There is nothing that would be directly related to the plate that would cause any dealer to deny warranty repairs.

If one was really concerned for whatever reason, the factory original plate could always be put back on the car in less than 10 minutes but i feel this would be totally unnecessary.


Thanks!!

Brian
BT Tech
305-652-3115

 

For instance, do you have to take the thing off when getting an oil change at the dealer, so that some over-eager mechanic doesn't make a log in their system that you have an after-market structural part bolted on? Then when you go in and complain that the moulding on your pillar came off they'll read the log and tell you it's not covered....

 

You sound like one paranoid person! I never even gave it a thought. Truth be told, I don't even think a tech would notice it.

 

Never giving a thought when effecting structural changes to your vehicle is never a great idea Although I think BT's answer would probably suffice.

Also, if the tech doesn't notice a big, black (and great looking) plate when he is under your car, I am not sure you'd want him touching anything there: who knows what else he might miss (like, a wheel....) h34r:

 

It isn't exactly a Big Black Plate. It's the same size as the Toyota part and once covered with the usual road dirt, I doubt anyone will notice it unless they know where to look. It's well back from the engine in any case.
I'll be taking ours in for the obligatory, gazillion dollar, 15K checkup in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know if anyone says a thing. I seriously doubt it.

 

Thanks. I am definitely interested in the plate (and how it really performs on the 2006 vs placebo effect,) since mine is supposed to delivered this week.

Has anyone replaced the tires of a 2006 with something like Michelins for a better ride and stability?

 

Google the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act . Basically, it states that a manufacture ( of cars, roller skates whatever) cannot condition their 'limited' warranty upon the use of factory parts and service unless they either provide these parts and services at no charge or get the Federal trade Commission to provide and exemption ( prob quite rare).

So as long as your part does not directly cause a failure, they cannot void your warranty.

If they threaten this, remind them of the ACT and have them provide their decision IN WRITING. Since this opens them to legal action, they will usually back right off at that point.

Scott

 

Thanks for the review OU.

I've been thinking about getting one of these myself, but I do have a question or two. First, without really know exactly what it takes to install this, how difficult is the install? I recall reading about using a torque wrench (which I don't have--I have a basic set of tools)--is this needed? Does the car need to be jacked up? With normal (and abnormal) vibration I don't want the thing flying off one day.