Broken spring

[Modmytop]

Hi all,

I'm sure this has featured many times in the past. Got in Bingo to head off to Costa Coffee for brekkie this morn. Strange noise from front when reversing out of drive. Pulled forward. Steering working OK. Back again same noise. Got missus to listen to wheels (her fault, she wanted to eat out!). Front offside. Turned out to be broken spring.

Now thing is, she was away last week in Devon. Round trip 400+ miles. We were away yesterday and touched 70mph on A3(M). I thought to myself how well motor was going (110k+ miles 2.0 HDi). Last time I did that the crank pulley failed!! Anyway. some time ago I was trying to find the source of a clonk from the front nearside. I suspected it may be the coil spring cup, that was fitted on Citroen recall years ago. So I took it off. Clonk still there, but I didn't get round to refitting it. The cups were fitted because I believe the were a number of spring failures pre 2003. Affected many manufacturers, VW etc. Believe there was some low quality steel used by spring manufaturer. Sorted by time my Bingo was built I believe.

Anyway point of this post is to stress that if like me you have taken cup(s) off. Please refit ASAP. We were so lucky that it failed on our drive. if you look at photo, there is sharp end to the break. It may have gone on way home yesterday. Forwards would be easier than reverse, looking at break. Can you imagine result if it failed at 70mph!

As spring is now touching tyre, I can't drive her. Not in reverse anyway. Thinking of doing it myself. I have done before, long time ago. Remember it was a pain. Don't see a How to Do on the forum. is that because most people take theirs to garage for shock change etc?

Some answers please:
Should I change both sides. Pretty sure answer will be yes, but what are consequences if not (offside has cup fitted BTW).
Should I change shocks. They are originals, 110k miles).
And what about the bearing at top of strut. Should that be changed?

Thanks in advance.

Will attach pic, but posting playing up at moment...

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Actually nearside. More likely to go I suppose. Will try for that pic again...

   

(my fault original photo size tto big)

[Tomcat3]

There is an piece in car mechanics this month on coil springs and it mentions in there why manufacturers fitted cups around the bottom mount to stop the spring going into the tyre when they break.

[addo]

Yes, change both.

Easiest to remove the strut and hub if the pinch bolt can't be spread. I'd suggest considering new pattern strut kits as this will get you new dampers, new bumpstops, new gaiters. Also on the ideal list are top mount rubbers and bearings. If poverty is an issue, you can use the external type clamp pairs and recycle all bar the springs.

PSA offer a bunch of slightly different strut top mounts but you should be fine with name brand top bearings and TRW or Febi top rubbers, so long as they are spec'd for your steering (PAS or non) and 2WD vs rugged version. Replace the three/side mount nuts as they are a self locking type and it's one place you don't want stuff jiggling loose.

[Modmytop]

Yes, change both.

Easiest to remove the strut and hub if the pinch bolt can't be spread. I'd suggest considering new pattern strut kits as this will get you new dampers, new bumpstops, new gaiters. Also on the ideal list are top mount rubbers and bearings. If poverty is an issue, you can use the external type clamp pairs and recycle all bar the springs.

PSA offer a bunch of slightly different strut top mounts but you should be fine with name brand top bearings and TRW or Febi top rubbers, so long as they are spec'd for your steering (PAS or non) and 2WD vs rugged version. Replace the three/side mount nuts as they are a self locking type and it's one place you don't want stuff jiggling loose.

Thanks guys. Didn't realise there would be a difference due to PAS and not. But think multispace had/has it as standard so as long as I remember to order for the MSpace should get right one.

[addo]

It's a small tweak in camber/caster between PAS and Armstrong types, sometimes they (makers) change the top mount, sometimes the lower balljoint, sometimes both.

[Modmytop]

Took Addo's advice, got 2 new springs and shocks.

Think I will mark this as fixed. As I have repaired broken spring. However I have had problems with shocks. I will start new thread.

How do I mark it as fixed???

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Took Addo's advice, got 2 new springs and shocks.

Think I will mark this as fixed. As I have repaired broken spring. However I have had problems with shocks. I will start new thread.

How do I mark it as fixed???

OK, got it. Solved.