I was driving home from work this morning and suddenly, from the front nearside wheel came a loud Bang.

I checked to see if I'd hit anything in the road, but no. So I took it steady until I got home and examined the car.

This photo shows a cap indicated by the yellow arrow which has been forced off the top of the housing. there was also a slight gap between the cap and the bulge in the engine bay on which it sits. this gap has dissappeared and the whole thing is now flush with the bulge. there is also something leaking on the bottom of this area, although I'm not sure if this might be condensation from the air con.

What's happened? has my suspension broke? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Only you will be able to tell. Those caps on the housings I believe are just covers, because I used to have them in my car, and they disappeared.

Look at your car and see if it's leaning more to the left (driver's view) as usually. Take it for a spin and try and notice if there are any differences in the quality/comfort of the ride.

I don't know what else to suggest except take it to a dealer's.

The noise could have been the spring moving. There should be a gap between the top hat section and the body. The top hat is just there for when the weight is off the car, it stops the strut from dropping down. Under the body is the damper top mount and bearing for the strut.

Get it checked out by someone soon, there isnt a great deal that can go wrong with them so try not to panic.

Thanks chaps, I suppose a trip to the garage is in order. (after i've been bragging to my mate who owns a Vauxhall astra convertible which is always in't garage that he should buy a Skoda, nothing goes wrong with Skodas)

It's not at all uncommon for a spring to move in the strut. Small stones and bits of road grit get lodged in the cup that holds the spring and restrict it's movement until it breaks free and you sh!t yourself :P

I would get it jacked up and have the wheel off just to make sure if you are concerned. Have you got non standard suspension?

No it's all standard. If it is broke I might consider some Eibachery.

No it's all standard. If it is broke I might consider some Eibachery.

and a steam clean of your engine bay by the looks of it!!!

Yes, that's been discussed before thankyou.

I took the car for a run today after getting up after nights. there was much banging and boinging and a-rattling coming from the FNS wheel. In the words of Turkish, I fear that it's "Proper F****d"

it sounds like someone playing a Jews harp in the engine bay.

:thumbdwn: :( :thumbdwn:

Its cleaner than my engine bay. Hope it gets sorted soon.

Sounds like you'll need to whip a wheel off and try to see if you've broken as spring then. Is the car laying over to one side at all? What about if you try the old used car buyers suspension bounce on that corner??

There have been a few postings of broken rear Octy springs but I don't recall a front. I'm sure Lummox will help you out with some answers.

It does sound like a broken spring, but not heard of a front one going.

Be interested to find out what it is thats for sure.

It's probably from all the chuffing pot holes in the roads round Sheffield. they truly are terrible. I'm taking it in on Monday, so I'll update you when I know what the major malfunction is. Still drives OK though.

Hmm This sounds very familiar to Si's little problem with his octy on standard suspension. It was a spring that broke, but at the end of the spring so it was still help in the "cup" bit.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24797

Hmm This sounds very familiar to Si's little problem with his octy on standard suspension. It was a spring that broke' date=' but at the end of the spring so it was still help in the "cup" bit.

[url']http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24797[/url]

Yep, sounds very similar to mine.

I'd get it to the garage asap and make sure you avoid every single pothole on the way as if it has broken you don't want it coming free from the cup it sits in!

Dealer agreed to meet half the cost of the part on mine as it was out of warranty but, agreed that it shouldn't have failed at this stage of it's life (60k).