Front Coil spring

Purple_Hello_Kitty

Hi I took my car (ford fiesta mf62) to a garage today and they advised the front coil had snapped they said they would charge me £208 to fix this or if I got both done even though the other is fine just now they said that would evenrually snap as the old one would carry more pressure as its old they would charge me £310 for both. Does this sound right? Do I need both or one done? The price seems so extreme to me but I have no idea! I rang my usual garage and they said they would only charge me £90 to fix the broken coil. The original garage has now said the cheaper garage wont do a wheel alignment and the extras which I have no idea what they were talking about so it wont be a good job!

Can anyone please help me as i have no idea who to use and what I need. Thanks.

facade

The cheap garage will likely do it bodger style, by taking the nut off the strut top and letting the suspension fly apart, then use the weight of the car to get it back together.
This doesn't affect the alignment of anything.

The expensive garage is probably doing it "by the book" removing the strut and using spring compressors. This can affect the steering alignment so it needs checking and cost more.

I'd have the £90 one (ask them the price of a pair, the second one usually snaps soon after the first anyway)

Purple_Hello_Kitty

Is the first way you mentioned safe? I do long distance driving and dont want to put myself or others in danger to save a few quid. Would you reccomend getting both coils done at the same time or wait till the other one snaps? Im only asking as im getting rid of the car in October.

loskie

Way too expensive, changing two would be the best long term option. 2 hours labour at £70 hr plus 2 springs @ £50 each so £240 for both and that is being reasonably generous.

tacpot12

Just my perspective: when the front coil spring broke on my Octavia, I just had the one replaced. I couldn't detect any difference in the handling of the car, nor did the other side break, and was still going strong 30k miles later when I sold the car. My garage told me that the near side springs and wheel bearings take more of a beating from potholes, drains and kerbs, and recommended just changing the one failed spring.

The first garage is clearly overcharging as the discount offered for having the second one done is too great. The genuine FORD spring is available on eBay for £44. Even with two hours labour at £70. This is still only £184 for one spring.

facade

Purple_Hello_Kitty wrote: »

Is the first way you mentioned safe? I do long distance driving and dont want to put myself or others in danger to save a few quid. Would you reccomend getting both coils done at the same time or wait till the other one snaps? Im only asking as im getting rid of the car in October.

If you know what you are doing, yes. Maybe less safe on the drive at home with a scissorjack.

If you are getting rid, just fix the broken one and hope the other lasts 'till then.

arcon5

facade wrote: »

The cheap garage will likely do it bodger style, by taking the nut off the strut top and letting the suspension fly apart, then use the weight of the car to get it back together.
This doesn't affect the alignment of anything.

The expensive garage is probably doing it "by the book" removing the strut and using spring compressors. This can affect the steering alignment so it needs checking and cost more.

I'd have the £90 one (ask them the price of a pair, the second one usually snaps soon after the first anyway)

What a load of carp.

Spring compressors are very inexpensive and very quick. Pretty much every garage will have a hydraulic floor standing one.

Ive worked in some real deadbeat garages over the years and never seen a garage use the first method you mention.

arcon5

Op. Spring replacement is not a hard job. If the car handles differently then take it to be tracked after at £30.
Both garages will remove in exactly same way. First garage will probably put a new top mount on - ask second garage to do this and itll probably add 30 quid to the job.

Long gone are the days people replaced springs in pairs. Although theoretically its correct that you should, the reality is most people dont do it anymore. Theres literally no labour saving in it. It doesnt take less time each corner to do two than it does to do just one corner

Norman_Castle

I rang my usual garage and they said they would only charge me £90 to fix the broken coil.

Presumably they're your usual garage because of previous good service. Stick with them.

tonyh66

tell the first garage they can do one spring for £155 if they can do 2 for £310.

Sam_Fallow

My neighbour asked me if I would change the snapped spring on their Fiesta. I said I didn't fancy it so they got a mobile mechanic out to do the job and he charged them £92 in total. I thought that was a bargain for the conveniance and the short notice given.

The car now drives fine without having the wheels realigned.