Snow getting stuck in frame/tires - Toyota Yaris Forums

3DoorYaris · 03-04-2009, 01:14 PM

Hey Yaris friends!!

This is my first topic here and I just want to say that I’m loving the site and I'm learning so much about my Yaris!!

(You guys have awesome smilies here too!!!!

)

I've had my '08, 3 Door, 1.5L Yaris since November '08 and I'm absolutely loving it! The only issue I'm running into is during the last snow storm (We got over 1'!!) there was a whole bunch of snow wedged up either in the frame or behind the wheels and at any speeds over 45mph the whole car shook violently!! I ran into the same problem when I.... backed into a snow banking back in December and had to get towed out

. I fixed it last time by going to the car wash and getting the underside power washed. I guess my question is, is getting snow stuck under there unavoidable (Besides avoiding snow!) or is there something I can do/modify?

Minne_Yaris · 03-04-2009, 07:05 PM

this happens to me all the time too living in Minnesota... i pretty much have to poke it out each time i get into a parking lot... i really think it's unavoidable but hopefully someone else has a better method.

silver_echo · 03-04-2009, 07:57 PM

pretty much snow will cake into wherever it can... where i live, we got 5 feet in december(what is worse, that was all within about 1 week) my car was clogged with snow forever... finally got it cleared out mid january

MUSKOKA800 · 03-05-2009, 10:29 AM

If you car is shaking it is likely caused by snow packed inside one or more of your wheels which causes an imbalance that becomes evident once your speed increases. This is not uncommon and happens to all vehicles which are driven through snow drifts and snow banks.
Snow packed in the wheel wells and underbody should cause vibrations but can limit suspension travel so keep those wheelwells cleaned out while it's mushy and before it freezes hard like rock.

CASTREX · 03-05-2009, 11:30 AM

..... Wrong forum section!!

3DoorYaris · 03-05-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUSKOKA800

If you car is shaking it is likely caused by snow packed inside one or more of your wheels which causes an imbalance that becomes evident once your speed increases.

Thats what I kind of though! I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a Yaris thing I was unnaware of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CASTREX

..... Wrong forum section!!

I thought it might be. Sorry!!

RedRide · 08-17-2009, 12:05 PM

It's another reason to ge rid of the stock hub caps as it's just one more place snow and ice can acumulate behind.

This is one reasone why I installed trim rings and center caps. They look nice also.

mrbond · 08-17-2009, 12:30 PM

Like others have said, it's pretty much unavoidable. Any time I had a huge ass collection of frozen snow in my wheel wells, I took the tire iron, wedged it in between the car and the snow (if I could, otherwise I'd just hit the snow a bunch of times with the pointed end) and broke everything apart. I had to do this weekly to keep from getting all that crap stuck in there.

auxmike · 08-17-2009, 12:30 PM

SNOW! It's freakin' August!

JBougie · 08-17-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxmike

SNOW! It's freakin' August!

LOL Hell, being in Minnesota I was almost thinking someone just started this thread and lives up by the North Shore - it wouldn't surprise me if they already have snow

03-04-2009, 01:14 PM	#1
3DoorYaris The Yaris in the woods! Drives: 2008 3 door Hatchback Yaris Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ashby, MA Posts: 5	Snow getting stuck in frame/tires Hey Yaris friends!! This is my first topic here and I just want to say that I’m loving the site and I'm learning so much about my Yaris!! (You guys have awesome smilies here too!!!!) I've had my '08, 3 Door, 1.5L Yaris since November '08 and I'm absolutely loving it! The only issue I'm running into is during the last snow storm (We got over 1'!!) there was a whole bunch of snow wedged up either in the frame or behind the wheels and at any speeds over 45mph the whole car shook violently!! I ran into the same problem when I.... backed into a snow banking back in December and had to get towed out . I fixed it last time by going to the car wash and getting the underside power washed. I guess my question is, is getting snow stuck under there unavoidable (Besides avoiding snow!) or is there something I can do/modify? __________________ 2008 3 Door Hatchback 1.5l Blazing Blue Pearl

03-04-2009, 07:05 PM	#2
Minne_Yaris View User's Garage Drives: 08 Polar White Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 59	this happens to me all the time too living in Minnesota... i pretty much have to poke it out each time i get into a parking lot... i really think it's unavoidable but hopefully someone else has a better method. __________________ Yaris Sedan

03-05-2009, 10:29 AM	#4
MUSKOKA800 Drives: '08 Yaris Sedan, Aero Package Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,720	If you car is shaking it is likely caused by snow packed inside one or more of your wheels which causes an imbalance that becomes evident once your speed increases. This is not uncommon and happens to all vehicles which are driven through snow drifts and snow banks. Snow packed in the wheel wells and underbody should cause vibrations but can limit suspension travel so keep those wheelwells cleaned out while it's mushy and before it freezes hard like rock. __________________ TRD Upgrades: 18" Wheels wrapped in 215/35/18 PZero's, Sportivo Shocks/Struts, Lowering Springs, Swaybar, Axle-Back Exhaust, Oil Cap, Rad Cap, Signage. Aftermarket Goodies: Piggies SS, K&N Drop-In, Blitz S/C, DC Header, NST Pulley) Toyota Options/Accessories: Sport Pedal Covers, Sport Shift Knob, Ipod Interface, Summer Mats, Winter Mats, Cruise Control, Auto-Dim Mirror, Echo steelies with winter boots.

08-17-2009, 12:30 PM	#8
mrbond View User's Garage Drives: 2008 meteorite hatchback Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 960	Like others have said, it's pretty much unavoidable. Any time I had a huge ass collection of frozen snow in my wheel wells, I took the tire iron, wedged it in between the car and the snow (if I could, otherwise I'd just hit the snow a bunch of times with the pointed end) and broke everything apart. I had to do this weekly to keep from getting all that crap stuck in there. __________________ - HOOOEY! That's one tahny little cawr! What the heck kinda toy is that? - A Toyota Yaris - A whut Yaris?

08-17-2009, 12:30 PM	#9
auxmike Drives: 2008 HB, A/T, Power W/L/M Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LI, New Yawk Posts: 2,063	SNOW! It's freakin' August! __________________ Never take eyes off opponent - Bruce Lee

03-04-2009, 07:57 PM	#3
silver_echo ekodrvr View User's Garage Drives: 2002 white subaru impreza wrx Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 776	pretty much snow will cake into wherever it can... where i live, we got 5 feet in december(what is worse, that was all within about 1 week) my car was clogged with snow forever... finally got it cleared out mid january

03-05-2009, 11:30 AM	#5
CASTREX Who said Yaris was slow? View User's Garage Drives: Yaris T-Sport 2008 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 1,287	..... Wrong forum section!!

08-17-2009, 12:05 PM	#7
RedRide Drives: '09 Yaris carmine red 2d HB Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 1,501	It's another reason to ge rid of the stock hub caps as it's just one more place snow and ice can acumulate behind. This is one reasone why I installed trim rings and center caps. They look nice also.

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