Whilst setting off for work this morning I reached the bottom of the hill, lightly applied the brakes, turned a little to the right and stopped at the give way just as I usually do every day. However this morning as I was slowing I heard a huge 'boing' and felt it through the car seat. It felt like a coil spring jumping out of its seat. Had a look as best I could with a torch under the car but can't see anything untoward. Car feels fine. Handles OK. No sounds or anything.

Any ideas? Should I get it checked out properly on a ramp?

Edited 3 March, 201214 yr by Golf-Fiend

Nothing under your seat? Big tin of de-icer can give quite a thump rolling forward.

Have a look for a long spring under the seat, several members have had theirs come off.

Had 1 one of those springs go on my mk 1, binned it and didnt notice any difference, other than the height adjustment was stiffer to use...

Had similar occurrence the other day but can't see anything wrong. I've convinced myself that I had driven over a bit of "detritus" in the road (not spotted 'cos in a long stream of traffic on A5) which was flicked up by the rear n/s wheel and clouted the underside of the car. Went with quite a thump though!!!

Drove another 60 miles after the incident without a problem.

Guess I'll never know what it was.

Dave

I had a coil spring go on my mk1 too, it snapped right at the top, you wouldn't notice it unless you look hard as the broken bit must have flown out.

Well, had another good look tonight with a torch. All springs seem fine (as far as I can see without removing wheels). Car brakes in a straight line from speed. I've rapidly turned steering L-R-L-R-L-R rapidly and car seems fine. Gone over speed bumps rapidly and slowly. No noises apart from usual groans and creaks. Sat in boot and bounced up and down. Nothing evident. Looked under all seats. Nothing. Moved seats up/down/forwards/backwards etc. Nothing.

Complete mystery.

Could be road detritus thrown up and hitting spring. I was only doing about 15mph at the time though. It was almost like the rear spring was not sitting in its holder properly and suddenly is reseated itself. But not had the car jacked up recently apart from service about 4 weeks ago and if this was the case it would have settled long before today.

Stumped. :wonder:

Edited 20 February, 201214 yr by Golf-Fiend

Open the bonnet and check the gaps between the spring caps and the suspension turrets. They should be the same.

Well after 4 days of driving there are no further 'boings' or other signs of spring mis-behaviour.

Guess I'll chalk it up to 'car mysteries'

Could be a top mOunt failing as the spring going boing as the strut turns but the bearing doesn't. Or a snapped spring as above.

Keep an eye on it if it happens again!

i would get it up on a ramp mate or jack it up and check the springs, usually with broken springs they are at the bottom in the spring cup and there will probably be about 2-3inchs of the spring broken off.

i would get it up on a ramp mate or jack it up and check the springs, usually with broken springs they are at the bottom in the spring cup and there will probably be about 2-3inchs of the spring broken off.

I'll get the wheels off on Sunday (weather permitting) and have a good gander .

Wragg - your diagnosis was spot on!

Edited 26 February, 201214 yr by Golf-Fiend

Had this happen when a sizeable bit of gravel got caught between two coils of the spring - if so, it's probably cured itself.

Well, just had both rear wheels of and low and behold the bottoms of the springs have snapped on both sides :( About 4" along the circumference on both of them. Looks like a rubbish design with the lower spring holders being cup-like which fill up with crud and promote corrosion.

OK, so around £85 from ECP with the Brisky discount for a set of two. Any guides or know how on changing these beasts? Any help most welcome.

Easy to change, just pop the wheel off and undo the bottom arm bolt at the hub end with support under it such as a trolley jack if on the floor, lower bottom arm and spring falls out.

There were modified seats for the rear springs to stop corrosion at one time, remember reading something on it.

Easy to change, just pop the wheel off and undo the bottom arm bolt at the hub end with support under it such as a trolley jack if on the floor, lower bottom arm and spring falls out.

There were modified seats for the rear springs to stop corrosion at one time, remember reading something on it.

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. When you mean bottom arm bolt, do you mean the bottom of the shock absorber? Or a different bolt? I'l look for these modified seats as well. Sounds like they were fitted to later models?

The bolt is from memory the one that holds the hub into the bottom arm, it's the lowest bolt, really is a easy job to change them

That's right, no need to touch the damper.

The seats were just circular discs that went under the spring to cushion it, might have been Teflon treated or something like that, been a long time since I've seen the bulletin.

OK, great. Any values for torque setting? Special use only once bolts? Loctite? Etc.

Maybe time for Eibach springs?

Maybe time for Eibach springs?

Would love to do the lowering route again but sadly I need a very practical car for family camping holidays - hence the choice of a Octavia in the first place - massive boot. Probably what did the springs in!

Back to torque settings. I read on the Vortex site that the lower bolt is 18mm and requires a 90NM + 90degree turn - hence it is a use once bolt and requires a new one. Can anyone confirm this please?

Also, good to grease up the bottom spring mount or not?

Back to torque settings. I read on the Vortex site that the lower bolt is 18mm and requires a 90NM + 90degree turn - hence it is a use once bolt and requires a new one. Can anyone confirm this please?

Also, good to grease up the bottom spring mount or not?

[shameless] bupety bump [/shameless]

Anyone know the torque settings?

OK, so did this job this morning in the lovely weather (nice one God) for a change.

It was surprisingly simple and straightforward. All went well and without a problem (lining up the arm and the hub was a little fiddly).

Now after having both done the car does look quite a bit higher, though this was to be expected - new springs and without the bottom coil being broken. I would expect this to settle after a week or so. Is this correct?

Also the N/S is now about 5/8" higher than the Off side? Not sure how this happened as both springs seated well. Both springs were the same part numer etc. Any ideas on this one or will they settle out?

Also will I now need to get the alignment set for camber etc? It will have to settle first though wont it? Should I get some fat mates to sit in the back for a week too?

Had similar occurrence the other day but can't see anything wrong. I've convinced myself that I had driven over a bit of "detritus" in the road (not spotted 'cos in a long stream of traffic on A5) which was flicked up by the rear n/s wheel and clouted the underside of the car. Went with quite a thump though!!!

Drove another 60 miles after the incident without a problem.

Guess I'll never know what it was.

Dave

I now know what it was! ..... Broken nsr spring. Booked in to DSB Autocare for repair - I've asked Dave to replace both rear springs 'cos car has done 100k miles so osr must also be tired.

I've looked at the front springs and both seem to be OK so far.

Thanks to previous posters, particularly Wraggvrs, for guiding me in the right direction.

Dave

Edited 5 March, 201214 yr by drefaldwyn

I now know what it was! ..... Broken nsr spring. Booked in to DSB Autocare for repair - I've asked Dave to replace both rear springs 'cos car has done 100k miles so osr must also be tired.

I've looked at the front springs and both seem to be OK so far.

Thanks to previous posters, particularly Wraggvrs, for guiding me in the right direction.

Dave

Update:-

Took car into Dave at DSB Autocare this am and left it with him. - I'd asked him to replace both rear springs anyway so wasn't surprised when I returned at lunchtime to find that BOTH rear springs had broken (all the bits and pieces lying on the counter!).

Dave confirms that this is a common problem with Golf V platforms - front springs no problem!

DSB charges very reasonable & service exceptional.

(No connection - other than being a VERY satisfied customer)

Best regards,

Dave F.