Front windows rocking when moving upward

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by J Conner, Feb 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM.

  1. J Conner

    J Conner Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2018
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    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    There is a similar thread on this issue here but without resolution...
    - Drivers window misaligning | PriusChat

    The front windows on my Gen 2 rock slightly, toward the front, when moving upward. The downward operation is smooth and straight down without rocking. I am suspecting this reflects more resistance on the front, narrower edge of the glass than on the wider rear edge in its track. However, cleaning and lubing the tracks with silicone has not diminished the rocking.
    Prior to replacing the regulator, greasing up the slide tracks of the old regulator did not help either.
    Replacing the regulator with a new one has not helped either.

    Looking at the motor gears, they appear to maybe have some play with the regulator gears, but I can't imagine this translating to the rocking motion of the glass...so having looked at all the moving parts, I'm now at a loss.

    I first noticed the passenger side window appeared to be shifted forward by at least 1/4", then noticed the rocking movement when operating upward. Following the thread posted 6 years ago (link above), I replaced the window regulator. Both old and new regulators though seem to have the same amount of play - which is none at the scissor joint, other than very slight play across the arms (not in any way within the 2D of the glass, but very slightly in the 3rd dimension - across the plane of the glass...if you use a pair of scissors this would be the same as some play in the opposing directions of the "pin" or "axle" of the pivot point...open your scissors so the legs are crossing like an "X", then press the handles in opposing directions across the pivot point).
    The passenger side seems to have more of this effect than the driver's side, but both definitely have some rocking. The rear doors seem to move straight up & down.

    This is a pic of the original front passenger side regulator.
    When the motor gears rotate, the upper left of the scissor moves up/down, while the upper right is fixed in elevation, but will slide laterally. The first thing to move with the gears is the lower right corner, which in this case is the taller, rear edge of the window glass. Any play in the center pivot point will delay the lower left corner from engaging the front edge of the glass. Any resistance in the sliding track at the LL or UR points will have the same effect. The bottom rear edge of the window glass would move prior to the front edge.
    PXL_20250226_192916691.jpg
     
    #1 J Conner, Feb 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
  2. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I am having some difficulty with my front windows as well. If the regulator is new and all the hardware is properly secured, then what I am suspecting is wear in the channel liners that the glass rides in.
    It originally has synthetic "whiskers" to guide the edges of the window glass. As those wear, it rides against the rubber - which has more drag. Differences in leverage (front to rear) causes the glass to tilt (& drag more).

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.