Technical Front suspension spring snap

[Deckchair5]

Driving along today and clang - boiiing - clank clank clank. I thought
"I know what that is"

Thing was I wasn't driving a Stilo, it was a Peugeot! Can't escape from infernal spring breakages



Here it is. Just look at the size of it! Enormous compared to the Stilo and it still broke. Just goes to show, it's not just Stilos that suffer

Wonder if Peugeot are going to do a spring catcher mod now

 

[Big Black Stilo]

what type of pug was it?

 

[bigjohn1]

I drive a Saab 9-3 and this is also a favourite for them.

 

[Big Black Stilo]

i think car springs are made from cheese now

 

[Deckchair5]

what type of pug was it?
This was a Peugeot 307. It had broken near the top and the spring had jumped right over the top securing mount

 

[sixpotman]

It's a lot more prominent these days modern
cars have thinner springs but more coils.

Older vehicles tended to have thicker wire
and less coils, added to this you have speed
bumps all over the place and potholes through
neglect.

John

 

[Big Black Stilo]

yeah, our councils just pledged more stupid humps at residents request. I would never request them for my road

 

[Yellow Peril]

Mmmmm Eibachs...

 

[chicken_chau_mein]

About 2 weeks ago I opened my door and sat down (as usual) and i heard a loud snap! I knew it was going to be a problem but I just assumed it was something in the door that had snapped.

I took my car to Fiat for its 3 yr service today and they told me its a broken front spring and its dangerous to drive. If i had known it was that dangerous i wouldn't of made the trip to London and back in it! I never noticed any major difference in the handling but i never throw it into corners.

Anyhow they quoted £145 for the front spring supplied and fitted. I use my car on a daily basis so i just agreed with it. Then they asked if i wanted new front 'budget' tyres at £73 each! Err no thanks. My front pads are also down to 10% and they quoted £90 for those! Err no thanks again...

The 36 month service cost £386 and then £145 for the front spring. One hell of a bill!

 

[Argonought]

It's a lot less dangerous with the spring catcher fitted (which you should have as it's recall item).

Was that for both front springs as most people get them changed together?

If the car level at the front now?

 

[chicken_chau_mein]

My car's an 05 model so i don't know if it had the spring catcher fitted. Its still with Fiat at the moment but i never noticed it leaning to one side or feel any difference in the handling when i drove to london doing 'motorway' speeds. They've ordered the part and will fit it tomorrow morning so they have the car overnight as they said i'd have to fill out a disclaimer if i wanted to drive the car with a broken spring as its very dangerous.

They're only changing the one broken spring.

 

[OzMoSiS]

what type of pug was it?
This was a Peugeot 307. It had broken near the top and the spring had jumped right over the top securing mount

that goes to show you lot that the stilo is much better than others.

i quoted this before but i'll say it again, one of the many cars that suffer from these spring breakages is the renault laguna. this has smaller coils on the bottom than in the middle, hence when the spring does snap it goes straight through the hub to the ground slicing anything in its path including the brake lines.

long live the stilo and fiat's innovative wee mod

 

[Argonought]

My car's an 05 model so i don't know if it had the spring catcher fitted. Its still with Fiat at the moment but i never noticed it leaning to one side or feel any difference in the handling when i drove to london doing 'motorway' speeds. They've ordered the part and will fit it tomorrow morning so they have the car overnight as they said i'd have to fill out a disclaimer if i wanted to drive the car with a broken spring as its very dangerous.

They're only changing the one broken spring.

It should be fitted - you can always look.

I'd negotiate having both fitted if I was you as the 2nd is almost certain to go within 12 months and could, of course, go at any time which might be mighty inconvenient if say on holiday or whatever. With two new ones then you have a clear run for 3/4 years (which assumes the new ones are as bad as the old - and they may not be)

 

[JTD_Liam]

Anyhow they quoted £145 for the front spring supplied and fitted. I use my car on a daily basis so i just agreed with it. Then they asked if i wanted new front 'budget' tyres at £73 each! Err no thanks. My front pads are also down to 10% and they quoted £90 for those! Err no thanks again...

The 36 month service cost £386 and then £145 for the front spring. One hell of a bill!

Id have thought the brake pads & tyres sounded reasonable, but that service price is a p**s take. If i was paying that for a service, id be speaking to Fiat about getting both springs replaced with a 50% discount as recognition that the springs are rubbish. Like others have said, the other spring probably won't be far behind & £300 for two springs plus nearly £400 for a service is a joke i reckon.

 

[Big Black Stilo]

i paid £100 for 1 spring fitted. it was xmas a couple of years back and needed the car for work and it was the only spring i could find on the saturday before the motorfactors closed for xmas.

 

[chicken_chau_mein]

My car has now been with Fiat for over 5 hrs today just to replace the front spring. I missed a day of work yesterday because they took 6 hrs to do a service when they told me it would take 3hrs.

I was supposed to be in work for 10am this morning, the exact time Fiat said my car would be ready by.

Considering the amount they're charging, their service is shi... Poo.

 

[chicken_chau_mein]

The spring cost £52 but to have it fitted altogether was £126 so not as bad as they first quoted. Altogether with the service was £505. Report also says my exhaust is corroded but not yet blowing... Hmmm.

 

[JTD_Liam]

The spring cost £52 but to have it fitted altogether was £126 so not as bad as they first quoted. Altogether with the service was £505. Report also says my exhaust is corroded but not yet blowing... Hmmm.

With the exhaust, if it's corroded but not blowing, personally id leave it till it starts blowing, though others may have suggestions with regard to making it last longer or something?

When i wash my car i always try to hose underneath aswell as this rinses off the mud & road grit & seems to have helped prevent corrosion. Not sure if itll work on the Stilo but my 2000 W reg Mk2 Punto exhaust was still showing little sign of rust at 85,000 miles when i sold it in December so i guess this approach helps abit.

Id also phone Fiat UK and speak to them about the spring, particularly as the service provided caused more interuption to your working day than had been promised. If youre paying over 500 quid, the least they couldve done was get the car ready on time.

Fiat UK are on 00800 3428 0000. You might get a service voucher or something. Personally id have phoned them before getting the work done to negiotiate something, but it's understandable that you told the dealer to just fix it as you needed the car for work etc.

 

[kris lee]

I think my drivers side spring has broken again (only replaced in December)

 

[PNL]

I think my drivers side spring has broken again (only replaced in December)

Fiat spring or after market one..?