Any idea what could be wrong with the car?

Norman_Castle

1234catlady wrote: »

You guys were right, both front springs are broken. We took it to the local Kwik Fit and they are calling us back with a quote tomorrow on how much it should be to repair. Here's hoping its not too much but we'll see.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Now you know what the problem is phone a few local garages for a quote.

peter12345678910

I kept driving my car with a broken spring till the week end, as I needed it for work.

But I was very careful, no sharp turns, and I was using both sides of the road to turn.

Speed bumbs!

arcon5

takman wrote: »

I get my springs replaced in pairs they are only cheap and don't take long to replace so it's definitely worth it to have the same both sides.

And you're probably part of that fraction of a percentage of people that do.

takman

arcon5 wrote: »

And you're probably part of that fraction of a percentage of people that do.

But it's just common sense to change both springs at once. Every spring will be slightly different especially from different manufacturers and they are most likely to be the same if you buy two at once. Also if one is broken and they were fitted the same time the other is more likely to break.

I bet you also change your headlight bulbs one at a time? Lol

peter12345678910

arcon5 wrote: »

And you're probably part of that fraction of a percentage of people that do.

I did change both springs.

But both springs were broken.

I believe the reason to change both springs is to align the steering, so the car does not lean left or right when you are driving straight.

1234catlady

Go the quote, £199. Is that reasonable?

welfayre

1234catlady wrote: »

Go the quote, £199. Is that reasonable?

Could be cheaper. Using just Euro Car parts you can get a spring for £32.59 and you get 1.2 hours to do both so:

£32.59 * 2 = £65.18 inc Vat

1.2hours @ £40 (Hourly indy rate round here) = £48 + vat = £57.6

Total = £122.78.

Obviously I don't know the going rate where you live so if it's £60 you can adjust the price accordingly. Also I've used Euro Car Parts online price to Joe Public.

facade

Try phoning around as suggested, but the springs are about £110 retail, so they are charging £90 labour- probably 2 hours worth, so provided you don't listen to any advice that you need new brakes/tyres/exhausts now or you will die in a huge fireball on the way home it doesn't seem too bad.

droopsnoot

takman wrote: »

I get my springs replaced in pairs they are only cheap and don't take long to replace so it's definitely worth it to have the same both sides.

I started out replacing mine in pairs for all sorts of reasons, all of them good. But it starts to get a bit tiresome the third time they need replacing, so I started doing just the one that broke. I guess it varies from car to car, it's a common failing on mine.

EcoR1

1234catlady wrote: »

Go the quote, £199. Is that reasonable?

Even if it was a fiver you're still opening up a world of pain by taking it to KwikFit, try somewhere, anywhere, else.