Coil spring - replace both ?

s_b

Strider590 wrote: »

If one spring has gone, it's likely the other isn't far off..... That's logic, not scaremongery.

If a spring breaks, there's a pretty good chance it'll send bits of spring sticking out an angle, if this gets into your tyre and it'll wear through the tyre until it eventually causes a blowout.... This is not scaremongering its A FACT!!

very few cars actually have springs that will puncture the tyres but of course you know that
springs mainly break at the top or bottom and certainly with mcpherson type suspension the springs seem to corrode at the point they meet the cup and snap,what happens then is the bit usually falls out or down and the spring stays in the same place ,quite often even though its broke the ride height stays the same too and is the reason most people are not aware they are broken until the vehicle gets a mid term safety check or indeed an mot check

being knowledgeable you will also be aware that the mot for broken springs was ammended this january gone

from the vosa manual jan 2012

Where a coil spring is incomplete, cracked or
fractured at an extreme end where the spring
locates on the spring mount, it should only be
rejected if:
• the function of the spring is impaired
• following jacking, the spring ends do not
locate correctly when the vehicle is lowered
into the normal running position without
assistance
These criteria should also be applied to springs that
have been deliberately shortened or modified in
order to lower the suspension.

Weird_Nev

If you're concerned about your cars handling (i.e. you drive hard) or the car is over 10 years old (i.e. the other spring is on borrowed time too) I'd change both.

If not, I'd just do the broken one.

Things that MUST be changed in (axle - front or rear) pairs:
Brake discs
Brake pads
Shock absorbers (degrade over time and cause handling problems if one is brand new and the other is worn)

Things it's nice to change in pairs:
Springs
Other suspension components (Ball joints, bushes, droplinks)
Tyres

Strider590

Dude, seriously....... Don't believe me then, go search the web, you'll find photo's and personal accounts.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Strider590 wrote: »

Dude, seriously....... Don't believe me then, go search the web, you'll find photo's and personal accounts.

If yet look hard enough you'll find Elvis is gigging in a working men's club in Bradford tonight. Don't mean either are true.

Skint_yet_Again

I bought the corsa in 2006 when it was 2 yrs old I only do about 5,000 miles a year current mileage about 35000. I am a "careful lady driver" pootle to shops & work. Once or twice a year I do 300 mile trip to see family. There have been a lot of potholes since the snow 2 yrs ago and there are a lot of sunken metalworks in roads here, and lots of speed humps.
I will try harder to avoid them in future.

I am sure if it was a legal requirement to change both springs the garage would have done so. Opinion seems to be split here and on the corsa forums I have googled as to whether it is advisable to do both at the same time. Many are of a similar opinion that it is not necessary to do both.

Thanks for your replies

vikingaero

I would say that if it is a European car then change both, for Asian cars just do the one. Reason? Most of the Asian manufacturers bother to pigtail their springs which reduces the likelihood of it snapping.

Joe_Horner

Muscle750 wrote: »

The joys of [STRIKE]pothole britain[/STRIKE] overweight cars on modern alloy springs im afraid ...

Never used to be a problem before the manufacturers stopped using pig-iron

Yes, I KNOW springs were never made of pig-iron, but they were far more damage-tolerant before hi-tech alloys started creeping in, and all that electronics weighs a ton!

mikey72

vikingaero wrote: »

I would say that if it is a European car then change both, for Asian cars just do the one. Reason? Most of the Asian manufacturers bother to pigtail their springs which reduces the likelihood of it snapping.

Most of them come from the same factories in china and Thailand, regardless of which car they finish up on.

paddedjohn

OP, how long are you keeping the car? if for a few years then it would be advisable to replace the springs in pairs. Just replacing one can cause to uneven ride height, an increase in braking distance and make the handling less responsive.

Just to point out its the springs that are the actual shock absorbers, the others are dampers and dont actually absorb any shock at all.

red_eye

Skint_yet_Again wrote: »

Sorry am a total dunce when it comes to cars

My coil spring drivers side snapped yesterday. Corsa (04). Breakdown recovery cover to local garage which replaced one spring £97

I have since been looking on corsa forums and there seems to be mixed opinions over whether both springs should be replaced on these occasions.

Does anyone on here have experience as to whether its likely the other spring will also snap in the near future ?

I do budget for car repairs but will be a bit miffed if the other spring goes in the next few months when they could have replaced both at same time.
Thanks

it could or it could last for the reminder of the cars life