Car problem - something has fallen off mine :(

EcoR1

If it's not part of the suspension spring I'll eat my hat.

patman99

Suspension springs do tend to shear-off just where the bottom ring starts to spiral upwards. Had two go on my Espace (one year apart) and one front d/s and one rear o/s on my Astra. Springs are cheap £30 - £50 each, but the stripping and refitting is the costly bit. Budget £150 per broken spring, (then budget to get the opposite sides done next year when they break)

asbokid

Do the semi-circular pieces of steel resemble these...

If so, your lump has dropped its big end shells. Not usual for a Ford.

vaio

asbokid wrote: »

Do the semi-circular pieces of steel resemble these...

If so, your lump has dropped its big end shells. Not usual for a Ford.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

chunder

Rochdale_Guy wrote: »

Hi.

This IS a serious post, and please also excuse the lack of pictures.

About a month ago, I reversed my Ford Fiesta out of the garage and there was a right clanging noise. I jumped out and saw a 4 inch black metal "half-circle" shaped tube/rod and assumed some loutish kids on this estate had just thrown it and it hit the car (it was a right clanging noise) and legged it.

Thought nothing more, but put the metal tubing piece in the garage.

Putting the car away last night I noticed another almost identical black, rusty ended metal tube on the garage floor underneath near the front left of the car. The previous one that I assumed someone threw was under the back right of the car......

I really don't know what they are, but they are worrying me as to what they are and how come they have now apparently snapped off.....

Imagine a black metal hoop, then cut in in two, and thats what each piece is, a 1cm thick 'C' shaped curve 'tube' of metal, but now there's two of 'em...

Anyone any idea? Will try and post a photo when my g/friend returns with her digital camera but it's terrifying me!

We just came back from the Lake District and went over lots of really bad, deep potholes (hidden under 2-3 inches of surface water) on country lanes. Don't see how a pothole could make something snap off underneath the car though..... and previously some really bad high speed bumps (slowly) when in Liverpool. Come to think of it, the dashboard really rattles/vibrates when driving.....

Sorry my lack of car knowledge is so embarrassingly non-existant!



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Oh, I can't attach images on this forum, sorry no pictures then

hi rochdale, this will be 100% a broken suspension coil spring, these can snap at any time quite often after a cold spell, as for cost expect to pay £80/90 per spring if on the front of your fiesta, alot of people will say you have to get both sides done at same time this is not strictly the case!

although this may seem a minor problem with no handling/ride issues be weary that the coils are smaller at the bottom which then can leave the middle coils to fall over the suspension leg and (DONT PANIC) foul on your tyres or heaven forbid your brake hose, best to get it looked at pretty soon hope this helps........:)

Rochdale_Guy

Hi all. Now you lot are really scaring me, esp. with the costs involved

My g/friend took the following 6 photo's, sorry if they are too big?!

What's the verdict please?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/imperialdrag96/car1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/imperialdrag96/car2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/imperialdrag96/car3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/imperialdrag96/car4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/imperialdrag96/car5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/imperialdrag96/car6.jpg

Oh, the exhaust seems quite firmly in place, but what do I know?!

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asbokid

They are broken-off bits of coil spring from the suspension struts. the giveaway is the black powder coating. Exhaust brackets never have that.

Is it the front or back suspension? New springs all round, by the look of it.

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Incyder

best get that £200 ready.

Keith

asbokid wrote: »

Is it the front or back suspension? New springs all round, by the look of it.

Why all round? Surely new spring on the opposite side of the axle.

Ah, it's a fiesta, they use the same spring as the Ka. I paid £40 for one last year irc, then an hours labour or so. As above, if you are paying labour I'd not expect change out of £200.

asbokid

front springs for a 2004 Mk6 (exc.2.0l) are £17+vat each from http://www.buypartsby.co.uk and rears are £30+vat each.

It's probably 2.5 hours work changing all four.

An opportunity to lower the car, methinks, when a set of 4 Spax SSX lowering springs (-30mm) is only £70 delivered.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?Subtype=Lower%2520Kits%2520%2526%2520Parts&rt=nc&Model%252F%2520Series=Fiesta%2520MK6&_nkw=ford%20fiesta%20springs&_dmpt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_fln=1&_sop=15&_ssov=1

The shock absorbers may well be worn out too.


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