Anybody recognise this part that has fallen off my Ford Focus?

spp

I have a 2000 ford focus and today while i was driving around town i could hear this loud clanking noise when turning left/right or going over bumps in the road. Eventually the part fell off my car with a loud clanking noise. I pulled over to the side of the road and walked back to find this black horseshoe shaped object at the side of the road. Take a look at the file attached. Does anybody know what this is?

corktina

coil spring by the looks

Supergurrier

corktina wrote: »

coil spring by the looks

Yup

spp

ok. Thanks for that info. Would I need to bring it to a garage straight away or would it be ok to drive for a few days?

Mister Man

spp wrote: »

ok. Thanks for that info. Would I need to bring it to a garage straight away or would it be ok to drive for a few days?

If a part of my car fell out/off while driving it around, I'd have it over with the mechanic by the end of the day

Avns1s

I wouldn't go too far on it. However, if you're talking about going 2 miles to the shops and back on Monday and Tuesday, and you take it handy, I'd say you'll be ok.

nd

It'd depend for me. If the car is a cheap runabout I wouldn't be all that worried about it. A tiny amount of the spring has broke off. So the spring is a tiny amount less compressed than it used to be.

keithsfleet

nd wrote: »

It'd depend for me. If the car is a cheap runabout I wouldn't be all that worried about it. A tiny amount of the spring has broke off. So the spring is a tiny amount less compressed than it used to be.

Doesn't look like the "pig tail" end to me.
Looks more like you've already lost the end of one side to the coil and that's a hoop of the spring.
OP I wouldn't dawdle around with that size of a part of a spring missing.

I take it one corner of the car is sitting considerably lower than the opposite side.

nd

The left side looks like a break but the right looks to me like it is probably the end.

Supergurrier

I wouldn't be so much worried about the bit that fell off.

More the underlying issue that caused it

Avns1s

Supergurrier wrote: »

I wouldn't be so much worried about the bit that fell off.

More the underlying issue that caused it

Its off a 2000 focus, it's a fair bet it's age that caused it.

Worth checking for ineffective shocks too.

George Dalton

Broken springs are a very common issue on certain cars.

You should definitely get it repaired as soon as possible. When the spring breaks it can come out of its place and stick in the tyre, which will leave you walking.

We had a Saab come in on the back of a truck this week where a broken spring punctured the tyre and also cut the brake hose for good measure. You don't want that happening some Monday morning in the pi$$ing rain!

Supergurrier

Ouch