Broken road springs.

stratos

I was just wondering has anyone had a road spring (coil) break. Seems to happen a lot to mercs 3 series BMW and Astras over on some English motoring forums. I have never heard of it happening over here. Seems to happen when the car is stationary. I wondered would it be because they salt their roads.

Tropheus

You can add the Audi A2 to that list. I've replaced both fronts on my wife's A2. There are several theories mentioned for the A2 from the quality of the metal to the shape of the spring that isn't flat at either end. I haven't heard salt on the road mentioned and would doubt that it's a factor as the metal would be galvanised.

Slidey

Vw Transporters are well known for breaking the rear coil springs.

stratos

okay so it's not just a U.K. thing then. It's odd though all the stories go " I heard a bang, and my car alarm went off, when I went outside I found one corner of the car collapsed. The spring must be under far more stress when the car is in motion. Odd

macnab

Happened my Merc E Class, stress fracture by the looks of it.

Ferris

Happened to the rear springs of a mates e46 3 series. Common problem for them afaik.

voxpop

Dont think they use salt on the roads over there anyway, or havnt for quite a while

rebel.ranter

One of mine broke on my 3 series (e36 conv) recently, here's some pics of the broken pieces:

peasant

stratos wrote: »

okay so it's not just a U.K. thing then. It's odd though all the stories go " I heard a bang, and my car alarm went off, when I went outside I found one corner of the car collapsed. The spring must be under far more stress when the car is in motion. Odd

It is the nature of the biest that a spring is under stress all the time ...otherwise it wouldn't be springy

stratos

Thank you to all who contributed. seems it not just a uk problem.

L1011

voxpop wrote: »

Dont think they use salt on the roads over there anyway, or havnt for quite a while

They certainly do use salt in the UK; right down to even having containers of it inside some housing estates for people to get for their drives on cold mornings...

We, however, don't use it - chemical deicers and molasses instead.

Nforce

I've just replaced both of the rear springs on my E46 after it was discovered that they were broken. I never even knew until the car was lifted and the top coil on each spring fell to the floor!

stantheman8

Just come across this thread now as I've come up against this problem myself - 2 rear springs gone in my E46 coupe.
Have been doing some rooting around and it seems there was a class action settlement against BMW in the US: http://www.e46subframeclassactionsettlement.com/

What's have people paid to have springs replaced?
I'm particularly interested in hearing about BMW & E46 sports suspension if possible.

MYOB

MYOB wrote: »

They certainly do use salt in the UK; right down to even having containers of it inside some housing estates for people to get for their drives on cold mornings...

We, however, don't use it - chemical deicers and molasses instead.

Yeah, right According the NRA we use on average 60 million kilos or rock salt a winter:

"This winter almost 75,000 tonnes of salt have been used and a total of some 15,000 tonnes of salt is available (average national total winter usage is 60,000 tonnes)."

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,17699,en.html

Nissan doctor

It tends to happen more often in winter, the cold can make the springs more brittle.

After the cold snap this year we had numerous cars is with broken springs.

E36/46 BMW's are famous for it though. Its funny that most of the people who own the 'ultimate driving machine' haven't a clue that their handling is shot!:P

L1011

samih wrote: »

Yeah, right According the NRA we use on average 60 million kilos or rock salt a winter:

"This winter almost 75,000 tonnes of salt have been used and a total of some 15,000 tonnes of salt is available (average national total winter usage is 60,000 tonnes)."

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,17699,en.html

We used not to, notice you're replying to a two year old post, from before we had the three serious spells of cold weather.

MYOB

MYOB wrote: »

We used not to, notice you're replying to a two year old post, from before we had the three serious spells of cold weather.

Imagine that, I replied to a two year old post without noticing it's a zombie.

Thatnastyboy

Happened me in a:

04 2.2dci Almera van, while me & a buddy were parked outside a shop eating lunch

02 1.9d Berlingo driving across a site..

99 1.4 Astra that was lying up out the back of my house..


*edit* damn it, just noticed the zombie

Plug

The leaf springs on Transit chassis cabs can snap but only right in the centre do its no real danger.

_Conrad_

Coil springs for cars are not hugely expensive anyway so should be replaced fairly regularly, along with shocks. So many people think it's fine to drive on the terrible roads we have and leave the same shocks and springs in a car for 10 years plus. A rusty, worn, tired old spring is not a great thing to rely on when driving.

kippy

Had a front driverside spring break in my 2000 Diesel focus about three years ago, while the car was stationary (parked for the day), middle of summer. Replaced both front ones.
Have been told since its a known issue with the model.