Technical KYB Springs = Not happy

[widemouthfrog]

Giving my Multi a quick once over before it goes in for its MOT this afternoon, to be greeted by this:





Your eyes do not deceive you. The bottom end of the new KYB rear spring that I fitted less than 18 months ago has not only snapped its lower end off (first pic) but is also in the process of splitting the rest of it along its length (second pic). I'm pretty p***ed off about this. That looks like a manufacturing fault to me.

The steering rack that I had rebuilt by a company of supposedly good repute in Bristol (rebuilding steering racks is their sole line of business) has sprung a leak where the column goes into it and has also managed to somehow completely wreck one of its gaiters.

Not happy

 

[portland_bill]

Even at 18 months I'd ask KYB for some new ones.
Ask nicely, their actual cost of giving you new ones is trivial to them. Let then see the pics. In their mind, they'll not want you publishing the pics on Facebook or similar, so are likely to replace as goodwill.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Having chased KYB twice by phone ('Sorry, person responsible is busy' then no call back) since sending them an email and photos, I finally got a call back today, nearly 2 weeks after my initial enquiry. Their tone was unconcerned/non-conciliatory. Their only advice was to ask me to return the broken spring to the motor factor I bought it from (at my expense) and ask them for a refund. As the spring is out of warranty, there was no guarantee that the factor would offer me a refund anyway . In any event, as it's more than weeks ago that the spring was changed, the old one has now been binned. He agreed that 18 months/14k miles service before failure is a poor showing.

He did say that in the past year, they (KYB UK) have only shifted 36 pairs of Multipla rear springs. From that I'd say it's very likely that the steel used in those will be from the same batch as that used in mine. Purchase with caution. Personally, I wouldn't go there.

 

[Tricky Dickie]

I would never fit KYB springs again! Please learn from my mistake. After noticing my original 10 year old springs were rusty and being aware of the danger of a spring failing I bought a pair of KYB springs from my local motor factors. My front suspension collapsed after 8500 miles, the spring still looked brand new but had spit in half. Just by chance this happened at low speed. I still shudder when I think that the previous day I had been driving on the A1. I contacted the supplier that I had bought the springs from as I had to have the car recovered, new springs fitted and a new tyre as the broken spring had damaged the inside sidewall. The supplier arranged for me to speak to the KYB rep about my concerns. The rep offered to credit me the cost of the replacement springs only they would not pay towards my other costs.
I explained that I thought the springs were not fit for purpose and could have caused an accident. He was completely dismissive and refused any claim beyond the offer to refund my purchase price. If you fit KYB springs for a third party you better make sure you public liability insurance is up to date!
The rep didn't seem surprised about my report of the failure and this post proves I am not the only one to have suffered. Apart from the cost and inconvenience I could have been injured or worse!

 

[The Panda Nut]

I would be pretty peed off if a new spring broke after 18 months, butKYB are one of the biggest spring manufacturers in the world and suppliers of OEM springs to a big range of manufacturers. I have fitted them on my Panda 100 and our Seat Leon and they have been OK.

In our small village I used to be the village handyman and over a 6 month period picked up no fewer than 9 spring ends! Having the other end of the Seat sorted last week the garage man in Manchester who seemed pretty genuine said springs really don't last too well on anything these days.

If offered the cost of the replacement springs, I would grab it as this really is the limit of their responsibility after 18 month of use, however irksome that may be!

 

[widemouthfrog]

but had split in half

Well that's interesting, because that's exactly what happened to mine. Not only did they crack, but the springs showed obvious signs of delamination along their length. Surely a sign of poorly alloyed or drawn material? I'll never touch one of their springs again after the complete disdain they showed.

Photo reinstated that's referred to in the first post. Many thanks Photobucket

 

[Tricky Dickie]

There is clearly an issue with the manufacturing process for your spring to fail like that after such a short time it must have been down to how it was made. Mine were older than that but the results if the spring had failed on the motorway could have been fatal .
What I found shocking was the KYB reps attitude he was completely unconcerned about what could have happened and did not seem surprised at all. I think it is time to let as many people as possible know about this before someone is hurt.
I have a friend who works for Royal mail garages he is in the process of finding out what make of springs they use as replacements. RM vehicles carry a lot of weight over all sorts of terrain and most of the vans are kept for many years. They must replace a lot of springs! They may consider not using KYB if they are potentially putting their employees at risk!
Garages should also be aware as it will be them as the end supplier and fitter of the springs that is held liable. I could claim against the motor factor that supplied the springs as it is them who my "contract" is with but I have a good relationship with them and it is not their fault - they didn't make the springs!
I think if KYB get some adverse publicity and lose some sales as a consequence they may improve their quality control and their attitude towards customers when there is a problem. I think a few posts on social media may raise awareness ....
Rich.

 

[Oletimer]

When I did my documented rebuild of the back end on my Blue Mk 1, I was fool enough to go the whole hog and fit new springs, shocks, etc.
I had no problems with the springs but what I did notice was how hard the new were compared to the beautifully soft and comfortable old ones. So much so, I considered putting the old ones back on, but sold the ole girl before I got round to doing it. The new owner was delighted with the amount of weight the springs would carry and when loaded they were in fact quite comfortable, in the way a boat floats on the ocean. Haha.