Recurring wheel alignments needed

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by bumgarb, Mar 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM.

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  1. bumgarb

    bumgarb New Member

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    I am the original owner of a 2010 Prius II.
    Over the last 4 to 6 months I seem to be having an issue with my wheel alignment.

    I took my Prius in for 110K mile service in September 2024.
    Before going into the shop, my Prius seemed to be handling/steering well - I only thought it needed the 110K service.

    In addition to the 110K service, the service tech informed me that I had shocks and struts that needed replacement. They also showed me the automated scan that indicated I needed a wheel alignment adjustment. The alignment may have been recommended as part of the strut and shock work.

    The service center completed the repairs and informed me that the wheel alignment came with a 12-month warranty. This first image is the before and after for September 2024.

    20240923_Prius_alignment_01.png

    The week of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, I started to notice the Prius was pulling to the right. I thought about that 12-month warranty immediately. Due to factors like the holiday, weather, work, life, etc, I did not have a good opportunity to take the car in until two weeks ago on February 21, 2025. ( I actually made an appointment in January but had to reschedule because of an ice storm ).

    So two weeks ago I took the Prius in for a wheel alignment. The service center was great about honoring the warranty. They verified the alignment did need an adjustment, did the repair, and gave me this second image of the alignment before and after the February 21, 2025 alignment.

    20250221_Prius_alignment_02.png

    The Prius felt fine as I left the service center. I did a quick loop on the main road by the service center and then took the highway home.

    As I said, two weeks ago I got the alignment done - I can already feel it pulling to the right again.

    This service center has been good to me and from previous experience, they haven't suggested an unnecessary repair simply because I asked for something to be checked - so I'm not worried about asking them to check other things.

    So my questions are,
    What related to the alignment could cause it to go out this quickly?
    Is there anything beyond the alignment that could cause this and I should ask them to check?

    Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.
    Thank you!
     
    #1 bumgarb, Mar 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Well if you look at your second scan done you see in the red is the toe on the right side of the car in the front It's in the red It's zero and it needs to be what seven on each side or something like that so that adjustment is done by the tie rods from the steering rack that pushed the wheel in or out on the side kind of the opposite of camber half opposite I don't know anyway there's really no way for that to physically move because that's a threaded rod that's turned to make that adjustment and then it's locked with a nut even if it was left unlocked all that could do would be wiggle back and forth just a tiny bit It might make a noise but not go really out of adjustment You went from what it was set to last time I can't see it right this second but I'm going to guess close to 7° on the first original scan back to zero in two weeks or however long it was so unless the ball joint the outer tie rod end which is a ball joint is some kind of sloppy in its fitting loose which should allow you to jack up a wheel and then try to move that wheel side to side quickly but not a lot of distance and you should hear it rattle or make a noise clunk clunk etc The inner rack end could be damaged too that's usually the one that gets the clunking and so then that little bit of slop in that rack end or that outer tie rod end I guess it's possible that could be 7° worth but I would think you're alignment guy would have seen that very quickly but I can't think of anything else that would cause your toe in the front to go out from 7° back to zero without something being a little bit sloppy worn out etc struts and all everything should be tight or the strut mounts to the hub and where they tie in at the top of the strut tower underneath the wiper tray maybe somebody needs to verify that everything is in fact tight.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Mar 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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  3. bumgarb

    bumgarb New Member

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    Thank you for the response.

    My thinking was that they did not lock it down - thank you for letting me know that it being unlocked would not necessarily allow it to go back out of alignment. Having brought it back in a short time and the scan showing the alignment off, I would expect as you mentioned that they'd have looked for some damage.

    I'll take it back in and be sure to point out how this is the 3rd time in 6 months and specifically ask if there is damage or wear that could be causing this.

    Thanks again for the info!
     
    #3 bumgarb, Mar 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Just have them pay close attention to your inner and outer tie rod and rack ends If there's any slop etc
     
    #4 Tombukt2, Mar 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
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