broken spring

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

I posted aboout a week ago about some free play up and down on the o/s of my clio - Chris H suggested that it was prob the top mount...well yesterday I was crawling out of someone's drive at about 5mph, applied the brakes and heard this massive bang sound. First thought was the brakes, so inspected nd tested them and no problem - anyway, I drove home (slowly) and everytime I went over a bump could hear a metallic rattling, like something was loose. Looked over it today with her in the air and it's very obvious...the spring is in 2 bits (may even be 3!).

So, obviously need a new spring - should I renew the other side too? Is it likely that a dying spring was the reason for the free play, and not the top mount? I am wondering whether to renew the dampers too...are they likely to have suffered any damage from an exploding spring?!!!

Lastly, I can't really work on it where it is parked now, need to take it to my dad's house where my garage and tools are - I know it's obviously advisable not to drive but if I have to (about a 15 min / 3mile journey) am I running massive risks?

Thanks,

Steve

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

well u have to pull the whole strut out and disassemble it to remove and replace the broken spring so you can at the same time inspect the top mount too.

id say if u can afford to replace both all well and good, but if on a budget it will be ok to just do the one.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

when i was smacking the trackrod end out of the steering arm to replace a steering rack gaiter, a bit of my spring broke off, about 180 degrees worth, from the top. Then when i swapped my front struts over for the Konis and was smacking the bolts out, a further 190 degrees or so broke off, this time from the bottom. That makes over a full coil! Now when the car is jacked up and the weight off the spring, you can move the spring about by hand between its mounting plates Shocked

Dont think ill ever actually drive the car the busted spring went on again, nor could i in good conscience sell it on like that, even though it seems ok with the car's weight on it.

Id just crawl round to the garage in it mate... very slowly and gingerly.. after all youve driven it like that already so its not going to explode or anything.

Also i think you should renew both springs, i dont even think you can buy one on its own, unless youre getting it from a scrappy that is.

Dampers will be ok

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

thanks for the advice - have had a closer look, and played with the digital cam at the same time:

the broken spring

the broken bit.

the broken bits again.

with the broken part removed, like you said Neil there's not a great deal of difference, it isnt hanging off or anything. Obviously its not safe to keep it on so will change it tomorrow but will crawl to the garage to work on it.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

exactly what happened to mine...heard a funny bang/boing one day...few days later rattling metal...bit of investigation found loose bit of broken off spring caught in the btm mount...lucky it didnt fall off actually as it wouldnt have drawn it to my attn.

u can buy em seperate from gsf, but if one bust the other is prollynot far behind so do em both if u can...

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

just going to get them now...Â£35 quid each, a nice dent on my card Sad

was considering lowering but cant be hassled with the agro of having to wait for delivery, and then waiting for the shocks to die etc. not to mention needing to do the torsion bar.

hopefully the car will feel tighter when they are renewed, it was feelign really light and drifting a lot just before this went.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

all renaults break their springs. Meganes went last week had to sort it. Normally they just break but everythings normal like neal described.

Sometimes like the megane the car drops and it digs into the tyre.

This won't generally cause a knockign noise as the cars weight is still on the broken spring so it won't jingle as such.

Strut won't be damaged from the spring but if its knackered its knackered.

replace both if you can mate.

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

all replaced and renewed, and the free play has gone too - I took step by step pics if you want a guide atrticle Chris? Not the most complex job in the world but hey it all helps to see what your car looks like in bits...

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

if ye want send em to me. I never bothered with pics of mine really but I should do an article I suppose.

Level 8 User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 263

Where can i find this guide ? Embarassed

Got two broken springs Confused

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Chris H wrote:

all renaults break their springs.

Funny you should say that, the spring on our R9 went just as I pulled away from the house to drive down the A9 to Livvy years ago! Needless to say, the trip was cancelled until the spring was sorted.

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

err...never quite got round to that! hang on i'll have a dig around see if i still have them.

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

ok still have them. theres quite a few, and i cant be arsed uploading them one by one or adding them as an attachment in hotmail one at a time...any quick methods for getting them online or emailing them?

Level 8 User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 263

MSN ?

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

I've put them in a ZIP file - if anyone wants them give me (or PM me) your email address and I'll send them to you.

Level 5 User Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 110

http://www.yourfilelink.com/get.php?fid=3031

that saves hassle!

Level 8 User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 263

Thanks mate.

Got two new springs installed tonight Cool