I've just had an independent garage replace both front coil springs and on the off side the top mount was replaced as well. Reason being the off side coil spring broke and damaged the top mount.

This was yesterday, immediately after picking the car up I noticed that it would pull left quite severely. Letting go of the steering wheel resulted in the wheel turning through approx 40 Degrees and dart towards the kerb. So, I U-turned and took it straight back to the garage. It was late and I reckon they just wanted to get home, they did check the wheel alignment and adjust the tracking by 10mm. The pull is not as bad, but there is still a slight pull.

My questions are:

Why would replacing the springs cause such a pull ?

Will the springs settle and the car will run dead straight again ?

Should I go back to this garage if it continues or try skoda dealer ?

It seemed pretty expensive to me, but as I have had various jobs done on various cars and at great prices by these guys, I didn't question it.

Coil spring £80 x2

Top mount £52

+ VAT £31

= £243

Cheers

Chew

Edited 17 February, 200917 yr by Chew Barker
typo

the springs shouldn't make a difference at all! but to change them they'd have to take the strut out which would knock the tracking out!

like you said it was late so prob put the strut back in and didn't align it at all!! i'd take it somewhere else though to get it tracked make sure all is well though!

£160+vat for standard springs:eek:

Eibachs would've cost less!

surely taking a strut out shudnt alter the tracking? steering rack ajusters havent moved

Hi

yes the tracking has to be done when replacing the front suspension

Check the tyre pressure and take it back , that is what I would reccomend

Sarah

They should have replaced both top mounts - alot of places will only sell you them in pairs. Now you’ve got one worn top mount and one fresh one.

Wouldn’t have expected it to have such a sever effect as that though!

Camber angle will be out. Take it back and get them to do it right.

Camber angle will be out. Take it back and get them to do it right.

Do the have adjustable camber as standard then? :confused:

Do the have adjustable camber as standard then? :confused:

Camber is set by the position of the strut in relation to the hub carrier assembly, and the bottom ball joint. Even if marked before removal, the camber and other suspension geometry needs to be checked and adjusted after re-assembly.

Pulling to one side is worse on low profile tyres, as there is less sidewall to flex to allow compensation for small geometry errors. Hence everything needs to be spot on to avoid uneven tyre wear and possibly dangerous handling.

Camber is set by the position of the strut in relation to the hub carrier assembly, and the bottom ball joint. Even if marked before removal, the camber and other suspension geometry needs to be checked and adjusted after re-assembly.

Pulling to one side is worse on low profile tyres, as there is less sidewall to flex to allow compensation for small geometry errors. Hence everything needs to be spot on to avoid uneven tyre wear and possibly dangerous handling.

I understand that but if there is no adjustment then there is only one postion for the camber to be. The only adjustment that is possible is tracking and according to the OP they have already checked it.

I understand that but if there is no adjustment then there is only one postion for the camber to be. The only adjustment that is possible is tracking and according to the OP they have already checked it.

The camber angle is adjustable, as the mounting holes that take the various bolts are elongated to allow angles to be set.

The camber angle is adjustable, as the mounting holes that take the various bolts are elongated to allow angles to be set.

Exactly, remember even the top mounting holes are clearance holes. Why not take this oportunity to change the TCA voided bushes before getting the four wheel alignment done, I take it that this garage does not have a four wheel alignment bench.

On 17/02/2009 at 09:03, Chew Barker said:

I've just had an independent garage replace both front coil springs and on the off side the top mount was replaced as well. Reason being the off side coil spring broke and damaged the top mount.

This was yesterday, immediately after picking the car up I noticed that it would pull left quite severely. Letting go of the steering wheel resulted in the wheel turning through approx 40 Degrees and dart towards the kerb. So, I U-turned and took it straight back to the garage. It was late and I reckon they just wanted to get home, they did check the wheel alignment and adjust the tracking by 10mm. The pull is not as bad, but there is still a slight pull.

My questions are:

Why would replacing the springs cause such a pull ?

Will the springs settle and the car will run dead straight again ?

Should I go back to this garage if it continues or try skoda dealer ?

It seemed pretty expensive to me, but as I have had various jobs done on various cars and at great prices by these guys, I didn't question it.

Coil spring £80 x2

Top mount £52

+ VAT £31

= £243

Cheers

Chew

Hi yes does seem expensive I bought springs from ebay new ones the pair £37 and £70 to fit at my local breakers car runs fine now ? 

^ You know this thread is from 2009 right?

9 hours ago, TMB said:

^ You know this thread is from 2009 right?

Yes. Just info for others if searching similar problems that they don't have to pay so much .