Thank goodness for MOTs

Shelly

Shelly

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Points
201
Location
Norfolk
Model of Z
Z4 2.0 20i M Sport sDrive
I took Alans merc in for its MOT yesterday :p
Sitting down fingers crossed it would pass :)
But no it didn't :(
Because the front coil had snapped off ..........
How dangerous was that :whistle:
So it's now being replaced and I can pick it up today ;)
So thank goodness for MOTs ;)

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A lot are driving around with broken springs without having the slightest clue something is wrong - I've just replaced one on a Vauhall Vectra I own - the front spring broke and the razor sharp end of what remained of the spring, slashed the inner wall of the tyre - fortunatley the car was only going at walking pace. My MOT man reckons it's down to speed humps!
 
Yes ...... :p
Speed bumps are the main cause , I should think :(
Mine had a sharp end as you can see in the photo :)
The mechanic said it was dangerous as it could of pierced the tyre :(
The car was left at the garage :)
It will be ready today with a new 12 months MOT :)
 
Another Z4 joins the list of snapped/broken springs. Annoyingly one of the most common problems on the Z4, caused by poor coating on them when they were produced. That said yours may have been on there a long time, and everything has a lifespan. I had one break on a Welsh cruise, but it at least waited until we'd parked up before it went twang.

Completely agree that there are most likely a lot of cars driving round oblivious of broken springs. I probably wouldn't have known on mine if I hadn't heard it go.
 
Lol it was on Alans merc @GazHyde :p
We didn't know it was broken until the mechanic gave it to me yesterday :)
Which I then replied........ ;)
I guess it's failed then =))
My friend had 2 broken coils on her car last year :(
At least when I pick the merc up later it will be safe :)
 
Yea, some of them break cleanly and will re-seat themselves in the suspension leg support cup that they sit in - difficult to spot. You will also find that if one side has gone the opposite side will not be far behind it as the broken one puts a bit more pressure on the other. Should really be replaced in matched pairs.
 
Yes I suppose it should really :p
It's does make sense ;)
As if you have one tyre replaced you always get the opposite side done as well :)
 
Yes we're all done that @GazHyde :p
Especially in the morning when your getting ready for work :)
 
Worst car I had for broken rear springs was a Merc A class, used to go pop nearly as often as I filled the tank (Diesel)
 
Lots of expense then HT :p
 
hard top said:
Worst car I had for broken rear springs was a Merc A class, used to go pop nearly as often as I filled the tank (Diesel)
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You admit to owning an a class! :D. Mind you mate I've got a K series rover engine at home with a car wrapped around it so I can't say much lol!!!
 
Shelly said:
I took Alans merc in for its MOT yesterday :p
Sitting down fingers crossed it would pass :)
But no it didn't :(
Because the front coil had snapped off ..........
How dangerous was that :whistle:
So it's now being replaced and I can pick it up today ;)
So thank goodness for MOTs ;)

View attachment 41180
Click to expand...
I have to say I have experienced this. Many years ago 2002 Maxine owned a new Citroen C3. She never drove it and the kids learnt to drive in it. I was supervising my daughter who was driving very steadily on a smooth road when BANG and the car lurched to the left. She controlled it very well. The RAC took the car to the main dealers and a pair of new springs were fitted under the warranty. We had to pay for a new tyre because it was damaged by the spring. Shortly after we had a recall on the car to fit cones in the centre of the springs to in the 'unlikely' event of a spring breaking to prevent it damaging the tyre. This work was done. Some years later I took the car for an MOT and it failed on a broken spring. The mot station replaced them with Russian springs saying the Citroen ones are always breaking and are c--p. I felt aggrieved at the time and sold the car.
 
After market coil springs are fairly crap quality to be honest, we must change at least a dozen broken springs each week. Talk about a money maker, scares the hell out of me when I hear a quote of £108 pounds for a rear spring on a Vauxhall Insignia. I'm in the wrong job .......................................... ;)

Tony.
 
Yip on my E46 the spring snapped but on them it has a habit of going through the tire and the car goes so low the body of the car sits on the ground, after the first time ( yes it happened twice ) i knew how to get it up enough to get it on the low loader, by putting a corner of a wooden pallet in the strut to give it height .

the car car

DSC00016.jpg



The spring

DSC00017.jpg


and what the spring does to the tire

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Looks the same as my coil @stevie_a :p
Your tyre don't look too good ;)
Glad I left the car at the garage :)
 
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