Sigh. A friend helped me install new rear axle bushings. Unfortunately, I goofed, aiming the marker at the wrong weld. The spec says the marker should be angled about 15 degrees forward of top-center. (See diagram below. front of vehicle to the right.) Mine has it leaning back about 30 degrees. I have searched and found zero information on the impact of getting this wrong. I don't think it can impact alignment as this is simply a bushing that mounts the solid beam axle to the vehicle. By examining the OEM bushings and my (non-OEM) replacements, I see these potential differences: OEM has a gap between edge and center at the mark. So, if angled correctly, the axle can (under great stress) wiggle along the plane angling from 15 degrees back of bottom to 15 degrees front of top. My non-OEM are pretty solid all the way around, although it is impossible to know if there is a hidden void. Mostly, these bushings are almost completely solid rubber. In practice, honestly I have been unable to wiggle the axle vs the bushings at all. Overall, my question is: is it worth the (pretty huge) hassle to remove these bushings and redo it? Likely need to purchase another set. For now, I'm going to finish assembling.
Leave it together and if it's that bothersome see what your alignment guy says when he heads up the car and gets his initial readings letting the cars for tires or at least the two rears sit on the ground for a while May straighten some of this out I think they're just mountain bushings not really alignment bushings per se
The voids in the OE bushing control how the bushing deforms under load. Less under front to back load for vehicle stability (when braking). More under up to down load for reduced road harshness. If your bushings don't appear to have voids then I don't think orientation matters. Just have full vehicle load on the rear suspension when you torque the pivot bolts. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
FWIW, I reviewed the document previously shared here, with TMI details on "twist beam" suspension design. NONE of the analyzed cases had a major amount of stress on the bushings. I'm comfortable that all is well. Wayback Machine
