Sigh: rear strut stuck in its sleeve. How to release/remove?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by MrPete, Jun 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM.

  1. MrPete

    MrPete Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
    464
    182
    20
    Location:
    Colorado, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    OEM rear strut stuck in the metal sleeve at the top.

    Any good way to un-stick?

    In my photo, the strut on the left is stuck in the metal sleeve that's part of the protective cylinder. (The one on the right is just a strut) I've played with this for half an hour so far and not found a way to release the strut. (I *need* those parts for the new strut!)
    20250624_210829.jpg
     
    #1 MrPete, Jun 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
  2. tweedle99

    tweedle99 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    112
    65
    0
    Location:
    Round Rock, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Visegrip?

    What are the condition of the rubber pieces? Might be worthwhile to just get new ones.
    KYB SM5840
     
    #2 tweedle99, Jun 25, 2025 at 2:51 AM
    MrPete likes this.
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    7,162
    3,744
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's the metal sleeve that is keeping it on.
    Try wd40, then vice grips, not TOO tight, to try to rotate it and pull at the same time.
    And a lot of patience.....


     
    #3 ASRDogman, Jun 25, 2025 at 6:58 AM
    MrPete likes this.
  4. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,344
    2,339
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    A three jaw gear puller like the Posilock brand would be ideally suited for this issue.
     
    #4 Georgina Rudkus, Jun 25, 2025 at 7:37 AM
    MrPete likes this.
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    12,092
    2,134
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Man what are you guys buying just the raw strut w no spring etc daum . Raw dogging it that's how we did in 80's. Y shape metal in vice push the shaft in the V and yank down .
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jun 25, 2025 at 8:09 AM
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    26,297
    17,225
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Gen 3 has plain shocks in the rear, with separate coil springs nearby. (Gen 1 and 2 had rear coilovers.)

    Pedantically, 'strut' is generally used for designs where a shock absorber lives right inside a coil spring, as in the MacPherson strut. Even more pedantically, the ones in front that are also steering pivots are proper MacPherson struts; a plain shock that's tucked inside a coil spring, like the gen 1 and 2 rears, can just be called a coilover.
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Jun 25, 2025 at 10:07 AM
    Danno5060 and MrPete like this.
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    12,092
    2,134
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Yes we didn't get a chance to change our three series. Shocks . The 2 so far about 22 sets or so all different brands . If components.. in the 3 you may e a few more options from my band others as many cars have that setup a long time now so they got ya covered.
     
    #7 Tombukt2, Jun 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,995
    4,875
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Lol, seems like you've been under your car working on stuff for months!

    My recommendation is to buy lowest price full assembled spring and strut... It's a waste of time and dangerous to DIY that part of the job with disassembly and re-use of old parts.
     
    #8 PriusCamper, Jun 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
  9. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    12,092
    2,134
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    These are kind of like the rear shocks German cars have . The spring is on separate perch located wer ever designer likes it like rt next to shox.
     
    #9 Tombukt2, Jun 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
  10. MrPete

    MrPete Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
    464
    182
    20
    Location:
    Colorado, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Umm... @PriusCamper I guess you've never looked at the back end shocks? There's no such thing as a fully assembled spring and strut for the rear wheels on a Gen 3 ;)

    I did get KYB complete units for the front end. As you noted, it can be dangerous to mess around with compressed springs if you don't have the right tools. And I didn't want to waste my time on cheapest junk that will fail soon.

    I gave up on the old parts. Thanks to @tweedle99 for the needed P/N. $32 on Amazon arriving tomorrow. Replacing both sides just in case to avoid any ride imbalance. Over $60 each for OEM.

    Yep, I've been giving this ol' car quite a bit of love. Good bones, needs some work to keep it going for several more years, and make it a LOT nicer for our big road trips. Well worth the relatively small investment (compared to buying a newer car.) It only has 250k miles on it after all, and a 2015 engine with only 30k miles.
    Some of the following I've talked about. Some, not yet (waiting until the story is complete.)
    • Permanently fixed the front undercovers
    • First time shocks have been replaced
    • While doing the shocks I'm also adding effective relatively low cost sound deadening (Under $200 total to do wheel wells outside, doors, trunk and more.) Hoping we can hear each other and our audio books on our next trip!
    • I've replaced the head unit with a VERY nice new one (BIG screen showing maps, cameras, etc, and wireless carplay/android auto) and installed all-around 360 degree cameras making parking a breeze, and ultimately providing a nice PVR to record any situation w/ other cars. When we eventually sell this car, I can pull the costly part and install on any other car. Beta testing the HU...it's not quite ready for prime time ;)
    • I have a new method for testing battery modules and will eventually settle down to finish setting it up and writing the code for fun. Looking forward to that. (As a HW/FW/SW engineer, that's fun stuff for me ;) ) I'll be able to clear out my cache of spare modules, and hopefully increase gas mileage beyond our current 45 mpg.
    And I'm not even retired yet LOL.
     
    #10 MrPete, Jun 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
    Mendel Leisk and ColoradoCrow like this.
  11. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,995
    4,875
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    wow... I've only worked on Gen2 rear shocks... Super easy to swap out whole assemblies... I'll add this to my very long list of things Toyota ruined when they introduced the 2010 Gen3 Prius.
     
    #11 PriusCamper, Jun 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    58,842
    40,509
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Dont roll right up to any more concrete wheel stops. :LOL:
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Jun 26, 2025 at 4:22 PM
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    26,297
    17,225
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I'm not sure being simpler is ruined. If a shock needs changed, you can change the shock. If a spring needs changed, you can change the spring. You don't need special compressors as you would for getting a spring off of or onto a strut, or a preassembled alternative to those.
     
    #13 ChapmanF, Jun 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)