Hi people,

 

Have looked around this forum for years but now finally joined.

 

Interesting issue - hopefully. This week 3rd coil spring on same car snapped within last 2 years. The first one gone was rear NS. 2nd front OS and now front NS. Is this normal? It's not high mileage car - only 107k. No, I don't drive fast over speed bumps. Not overloading the car or anything unusual either. All springs had some surface rust but less than on my other car which I regularly overload. Scratching my head here...

Edited 4 January, 20188 yr by Pookytech

It is normal when you fit Mickey Mouse / non genuine /one size fits all springs....

7 minutes ago, Lyminton said:

It is normal when you fit Mickey Mouse / non genuine /one size fits all springs....

Makes sense but they all looked like they have been there since the car was new.

What year's the car? Just had the first one go on our 2005; OSF. 154k miles approx.

Fronts on the diesel will be a tad more stressed, but should be a tad stronger springs to cope.

It does happen, they do snap. Most of the times you will find it during MOT test. I had two rear and N/S/R spring replaced on my previous OctyMkI when she failed MOT...

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

What year's the car? Just had the first one go on our 2005; OSF. 154k miles approx.

Fronts on the diesel will be a tad more stressed, but should be a tad stronger springs to cope.

2000. 

I don't think 17/18 years service is bad for a spring, to be honest.

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

I don't think 17/18 years service is bad for a spring, to be honest.

Agreed. Just won't understand why only this car and not any other I owned which were all even older and with higher mileage.

Thinner, lighter, cheaper springs...

 

and Mickey Mouse factory springs,  tho they don't owe you much  --- springs best fitted in pairs 

VAG group springs have been pants since the 90's, I've had loads break, I always fit Eibachs now as a matter of course whenever I change cars.

 

Edit: Also British roads are getting worse, much worse.

Edited 4 January, 20188 yr by sepulchrave

2 hours ago, cheshire_cat said:

and Mickey Mouse factory springs,  tho they don't owe you much  --- springs best fitted in pairs 

 

I'd agree with the above, especially the "springs best changed in pairs" - if for no other reason than once the first side has gone, it is only a matter of time before the other side goes, okay so one side normally gets more crap than the other, but I always replace the "other" side ASAP as I know I'm only going to be let down at a bad time in the future.

 

My first VW Group front spring at half height when that Polo was only just over 4 or 5 years old, probably fitted VW replacements that time as ECP had not started listing springs for that age of car, next was a rear one, as said at MOT time at about 7 or 8 years old. Daughter's late 2009 Ibiza let me down at MOT time with a rear spring at about 7 years old, then a front spring 6 months later, so as said, you have been lucky or live in area where road salt is not loaded onto the roads often and/or your roads are in good condition.

The combination of modern springs and speed bumps makes them a consumable item.

I have two of these cars, one went through all 4 springs between 95k and 100k and the other broke both front springs within a year at around 105k.

IMHO replace in pairs and change the strut top bearing when you do the fronts.

Was going to suggest changing the tops too. Top mounts and front top-mount bearing all wear out leading to more noise in the car.