Do you replace suspension springs in pairs?

percy212

Front right spring went in my suspension last year and I took it to the usual mechanic. He told me at the time he replaced both front springs kind of laughing at me for even asking if it was necessary to do both.

Today I took it in for a knocking noise which turns out to be a broken spring on the left side.

So, imho he only replaced one spring last year but charged for two.

Any thoughts or advice?

H3llR4iser

Suspension work, like tire replacements, need to always be done in pairs - you don't want to have different tires on the same axis, different shocks or even different springs (the latter will, most likely, result in the car running "leaning" on one of the two sides due to one spring having slightly less tension).

As for the broken spring, it can happen - many cars never need a replacement spring, others might break a couple in 12 months.

tonto24

percy212 wrote: »

Front right spring went in my suspension last year and I took it to the usual mechanic. He told me at the time he replaced both front springs kind of laughing at me for even asking if it was necessary to do both.

Today I took it in for a knocking noise which turns out to be a broken spring on the left side.

So, imho he only replaced one spring last year but charged for two.

Any thoughts or advice?

You should have 12 months warranty with the springs. When did you get the work done last year?

percy212

It's about six months ago. I will have a chat with the mechanic tomorrow. Not too happy.

ironclaw

Did you replace the spring or the damper? You could have replaced the spring to have a damper fail.

colm_mcm

If you had a spring break on a car under manufacturers warranty they'll usually just replace one.

percy212

Springs both sides replaced. Spring on passenger side now broken. I'll ask tomorrow. Thanks.

ironclaw wrote: »

Did you replace the spring or the damper? You could have replaced the spring to have a damper fail.

Mellor

colm_mcm wrote: »

If you had a spring break on a car under manufacturers warranty they'll usually just replace one.

Might be because they are replacing it with an identical spring.

percy212 wrote: »

So, imho he only replaced one spring last year but charged for two.

Can you tell by looking at it?
If its 8 or 9 years older than the one on the other side that might be apparent

percy212

Well I know that if I don't get some kind of explanation or discount, I will try my luck elsewhere.

beer enigma

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Suspension work, like tire replacements, need to always be done in pairs - you don't want to have different tires on the same axis, different shocks or even different springs (the latter will, most likely, result in the car running "leaning" on one of the two sides due to one spring having slightly less tension).

As for the broken spring, it can happen - many cars never need a replacement spring, others might break a couple in 12 months.

Now there's an interesting thought ! - my 2001 318i recently failed the nct due to a cracked spring and the garage replaced it, just the single spring. Also had new tyres put on, but since then the car just hasn't felt right on the road. Seeing your post has made me think the single spring replacement could be the issue.

Cee-Jay-Cee

It'll be very clear from looking at the springs if they're both reasonably new or if only one is new.

Supergurrier

This is why you always ask for old parts back. A good mechanic will do this without needing to be asked.

H3llR4iser

Andip wrote: »

Now there's an interesting thought ! - my 2001 318i recently failed the nct due to a cracked spring and the garage replaced it, just the single spring. Also had new tyres put on, but since then the car just hasn't felt right on the road. Seeing your post has made me think the single spring replacement could be the issue.

Worth changing the other one with the same type and model spring; I'm afraid you'll need your alignment checked again after that (ideally, anytime any suspension part comes off the car, you want to redo the wheel alignment). I would be wary of a garage that replaces one spring, just sayin'...

percy212

Good point hellraiser. I will get tracking done after I collect it today. I will also ask to see old springs as suggested above. So annoying that you can't trust people at all. Have to double check everything. Love this forum!

percy212

Collected the car today and had to listen to a long string of lies about how springs are only replaced in ONE's on any car. I will be taking my business elsewhere from now on.

bucketybuck

percy212 wrote: »

Front right spring went in my suspension last year and I took it to the usual mechanic. He told me at the time he replaced both front springs kind of laughing at me for even asking if it was necessary to do both.

Today I took it in for a knocking noise which turns out to be a broken spring on the left side.

So, imho he only replaced one spring last year but charged for two.

Any thoughts or advice?

Your logic is faulty, just because a spring is broken now does not mean that it was not replaced last year.

It may or may not have been, but a broken spring now is a totally separate issue.

percy212 wrote: »

Collected the car today and had to listen to a long string of lies about how springs are only replaced in ONE's on any car. I will be taking my business elsewhere from now on.

If a spring is broken on any of our product range we only replace that one spring. That is the manufacturers recommendation.

Distrust the mechanic if you want, but it would be better to distrust him based on informed logic rather than uninformed.

percy212

This isn't a philosophical argument. Logic my arse. I am talking about a transaction. I paid for "services and goods" I did not receive. Last year the front right spring was broken. I was told BOTH were replaced during the repair, because "that's the way you do it". This week the front left spring was found to be broken by the same mechanic. If both springs were replaced six months ago, how on earth could one be broken already (in a car that has done maybe 1k since that time). At the very least I would expect the "new" springs I paid for six months ago to be under warranty and receive a discount.

Furthermore, when I questioned the mechanic, he could easily have proved his argument by showing me the receipt for the "ONE spring" he supposedly bought, showing me the removed spring and it's fault, stuck a flashlight under the car to explain the details etc etc. He did none of this, just said, "you wrong, me right, pay me". Is it worth mentioning this lad works around the corner from a scrapyard. I find that pertinent.

bucketybuck

percy212 wrote: »

Logic my arse.

That does indeed seem to be your attitude.

percy212

Great comeback. I challenged your illogical viewpoint so you go for the cheap shot. Bad style.

bucketybuck wrote: »

That does indeed seem to be your attitude.

gctest50

You need to replace them in pairs or the weights will be off ( unless you can check them )

( think of a chair with one short ( or long!) leg )

Can lead to it handling weird or losing control esp. in wet/ slippery stuff

bucketybuck

percy212 wrote: »

Great comeback. I challenged your illogical viewpoint so you go for the cheap shot. Bad style.

I could have picked your post apart and explained a few bits and pieces but to be honest there is no point, I have seen hundreds of customers with your attitude and your mind is already made up. The big bad garage screwed you over and that's it, so I'll just leave you to it.

percy212

Thanks for posting to let me know that you are too lazy to actually explain anything. That's a waste of my eyeball time.

bucketybuck wrote: »

I could have picked your post apart and explained a few bits and pieces but to be honest there is no point, I have seen hundreds of customers with your attitude and your mind is already made up. The big bad garage screwed you over and that's it, so I'll just leave you to it.

ironclaw

bucketybuck wrote: »

I could have picked your post apart and explained a few bits and pieces but to be honest there is no point, I have seen hundreds of customers with your attitude and your mind is already made up. The big bad garage screwed you over and that's it, so I'll just leave you to it.

I am curious as to your explanation. I'm not trolling, I'm genuine. If I put a set of springs in my car and after 1000km one is broken, assuming I didn't rail road down a boreen with an elephant on my roof, I'd probably assume something is up. If both were repaired, I'd be chasing a manufacturer warranty as most reputable manufacturers would honor it and be interested in why it failed after such a short time e.g. http://www.bilsteinus.com/products/search-service/warranty/

The OP either got two cheap springs or only one was replaced, I can't see another option bar damage on the OPs part.

bucketybuck

ironclaw wrote: »

I am curious as to your explanation. I'm not trolling, I'm genuine. If I put a set of springs in my car and after 1000km one is broken, assuming I didn't rail road down a boreen with an elephant on my roof, I'd probably assume something is up. If both were repaired, I'd be chasing a manufacturer warranty as most reputable manufacturers would honor it and be interested in why it failed after such a short time e.g. http://www.bilsteinus.com/products/search-service/warranty/

The OP either got two cheap springs or only one was replaced, I can't see another option bar damage on the OPs part.

My original point was that a spring replaced 6 months ago could be broken now, its very possible, and as such a broken spring today does not at all prove that the spring was not replaced 6 months ago. What actually happened in this case? God knows, I certainly don't.

Would I expect a new spring to break in 6 months? No, I would not. But I have done hundreds of parts warranty claims so I know better than most that new parts can fail long before they should, thats just the law of averages. If only one side was replaced I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear the other side failed a few months later, but I have seen new springs break as well.

What actually happened in this case? A few things spring to mind, such as wondering why the OP doesn't prove his argument by producing his own receipt... but as I say, why bother.

percy212

You must be trolling. All points below already answered above.

bucketybuck wrote: »

My original point was that a spring replaced 6 months ago could be broken now, its very possible, and as such a broken spring today does not at all prove that the spring was not replaced 6 months ago. What actually happened in this case? God knows, I certainly don't.

Would I expect a new spring to break in 6 months? No, I would not. But I have done hundreds of parts warranty claims so I know better than most that new parts can fail long before they should, thats just the law of averages. If only one side was replaced I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear the other side failed a few months later, but I have seen new springs break as well.

What actually happened in this case? A few things spring to mind, such as wondering why the OP doesn't prove his argument by producing his own receipt... but as I say, why bother.

tonto24

Did you ask about warranty?

pjmasks

I've never replaced shocks or springs in any cars or vans in pairs.

And theyve never failed an NCT or DOE after having replaced just one either.

I don't think I even know anyone who's replaced them in pairs.

pjmasks

Unless the original spring is deficient there's not going to be a difference in weights.

Otherwise you'd have to drive differently each time you had 1 or 2 passengers in a car.

percy212

This thread is dead mate. Go away. Mods please close. Thanks.

JohnBoy26

pjmasks wrote: »

I've never replaced shocks or springs in any cars or vans in pairs.

And theyve never failed an NCT or DOE after having replaced just one either.

I don't think I even know anyone who's replaced them in pairs.

Shock absorbers should always be replaced in pairs