Technical Springs

[potter99]

I have an 06 1.9D Dynamic, owned since 10000 miles and now with 67000 miles on the clock.

I have not yet had any spring failure , but am almost waiting now for it to happen. Driving at about 30 mph round a left hand bend yesterday there was an almighty bang from under the car - this must be a spring failure I thought - stopped the car checked everything, crawled underneath could not see anything wrong - car still drives fine

My question is - can they fail and the car still drive ok ? (for a while at least..)

 

[tDR]

Doubt you'd get a bang. One of my fronts failed in the winter snow - car had been laid up for a couple of weeks, dug it out it's space in the street and moved it - had a horrible grinding noise. Thought it was just the brakes binding so carried on driving trying to free them off after it being stood still for a while, did around 10 miles before returning home with the most awful grinding noises getting louder with speed the whole time. Thought I'd need to put it into the garage as the brakes will be well knackered when suddenly I realised it was lop sided - the nearside tyre was practically touching the arch and the offside had a normal looking gap.

It was then I knew I'd suffered the legendary spring failure - I think the really cold weather played its part causing metal fatigue or whatever. Got a front set from the local motor factors at trade price and had a local independent garage fit them for about £120 all in IIRC but then had to pay another £70 ish for a new Falken FK912 tyre ordered through Camskill and fitted by the garage, to match the other front as had only had them 1,000 miles or so, as the broken spring had mangled the inside sidewall. Been fine since and noticed my steering was lighter after their replacement.

Cheers,

Brian.

 

[bobbyblue]

Sorry to hear about your spring problem Potter99. I have had both fronts break and one rear on my !.9 Dynamic. The fronts did not make a noise but the rear did go with a loud bang. My suspicion began when on bumpy surfaces I could hear a metallic rattle. The fronts normally break off at the end, mine both went where they sit inside the cup on the damper leg. Turn your steering on full lock i.e if it's the left side turn on full left lock, put your fingers into the spring seat cup on the damper (be careful in case there is a sharp edge on the broken spring) and you will feel the broken part by being able to move it, it might not be obvious at first as they break inside the anti noise plastic sleeve. I replaced mine with a set of Kilens from my local motor factor at about £41 each. I did the job myself but I reckon about an hour labour from a garage per side.

 

[keithglos]

Mine (LH front) went with a loud bang standing still, but did not collapse until I drove forward turning right, then it collapsed. Having got the local garage to fit a pair, the following day showed a small oil leak which turned out to be LH front shock. I think the collapse must have blown the oil seal. It could be better to fit shocks at the same time. The spring broke at the top, the danger being that it can slice through the tyre.

 

[potter99]

Many thanks for your replies, will check out - fingers crossed !!

 

[notorious]

It breaks with a loud bang, grinding noise depends on how/where it falls. If it falls inside less noisy but you will still hear it over bumps.

 

[dave]

could lack of cleaning be the cause to all these springs breaking. had my fronts off today and noticed on both sides a drain hole was totally blocked, only sign of rust was on bottom of springs, this bit of spring is also wrapped in black plastic, if this drain hole is blocked water is going to run into this plastic cover and just sit there.








Is this supposed to fall this low because the disc is so big n heavy, or are my wishbone runners fecked?

 

[Doofer]

I like your theory about the drain hole. Next time I'm washing mine I'll fill it up and see what happens to the water. What a rubbish design though - I bet the back's the same too.

I don't know about how far it falls though.

 

[dave]

back just sits on a rubber that sits on a dome, i forgot to look for holes i was in a rush ive only done one side though so i'll investigate other side tomorrow.
there was no rust atall on the spring i removed though.

getting rear springs out is easy though, just jack car up, put on axle stands, remove wheels, fit 2 spring compressors one at front of spring updide down, one at back of spring right way up compress them and pull out.