General Broken Front Coil spring 2003 JTD 2.2

[Pat H]

Noticed the front drivers tyre was flat this morning. (only a week old)
So came home tonight and tried to take it off.
Problem was the front coil spring had broken and speared through it!

So the question. What's the best solution to fix it?

Just replace the spring or pick up a used suspension unit and replace the assembly?
Any pointers to a salvage yard in hertfordshire?

Thanks

 

[Pat H]

Decided to replace the spring with a new (none OEM) one and replace the other side as well.

Came home today and had to cut the tyre off the impaled spring.
Prepared for a fight to get the strut off but it was actually very easy. Hardest part was working out how to undo the roll bar joint. Turns out the thread has a hex up the middle so you use an Allen key and a spanner. Neat.
Less than an hour later I have both struts off the car.
Have a local garage that has floor mounted spring compressor so will line their palm with sliver to do the actual spring swap then bolt back up.

Now think I should get in touch with Fiat and see what they say about springs failing and causing such potentially dangerous damage.
What if I'd been driving at the time!

 

[gball]

Decided to replace the spring with a new (none OEM) one and replace the other side as well.

Came home today and had to cut the tyre off the impaled spring.
Prepared for a fight to get the strut off but it was actually very easy. Hardest part was working out how to undo the roll bar joint. Turns out the thread has a hex up the middle so you use an Allen key and a spanner. Neat.
Less than an hour later I have both struts off the car.
Have a local garage that has floor mounted spring compressor so will line their palm with sliver to do the actual spring swap then bolt back up.

Now think I should get in touch with Fiat and see what they say about springs failing and causing such potentially dangerous damage.
What if I'd been driving at the time!

Why dont you try the local council? they are the ones putting in road humps which probably caused the failure.

 

[Pat H]

Why dont you try the local council? they are the ones putting in road humps which probably caused the failure.

I think if it had failed in such a hole I would but as it failed on the drive it would be a challenge to prove any particular hole caused it.

 

[gball]

I think if it had failed in such a hole I would but as it failed on the drive it would be a challenge to prove any particular hole caused it.

You are not the first to have this happen, try searching the web.

 

[Pat H]

Did a search on google but my own post was all I could find.

Spoke with Fiat today and they agreed to pay for the new springs but not the wrecked tyre.
So something at least.

 

[gball]

Did a search on google but my own post was all I could find.

Spoke with Fiat today and they agreed to pay for the new springs but not the wrecked tyre.
So something at least.

Well done! You should inform Honest John, he would be interested in this result I'm sure.
honestjohn.co.uk