Broken Suspension Coil - Safe to Drive to Garage?

DAnDan · 6 Aug 2015 at 18:15

So I came home today to find that the driver's side rear spring has snapped on my fiesta, and was in two parts on the drive way.

The question is, is the car safe to drive to a garage? Would certainly be a lot easier than getting it carried there!

Clarkey · 6 Aug 2015 at 18:16

You're saying the spring fell out and there is now no spring in one corner?

DAnDan · 6 Aug 2015 at 18:17

Clarkey said:
You're saying the spring fell out and there is now no spring in one corner?

Yep the spring has snapped into two parts and both parts were on the drive way. There's still a spring in the passenger rear, but nothing driver's side.

Clarkey · 6 Aug 2015 at 18:29

No then.

rodenal · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:12

Just jam a pole in between the cups (don't do this)

Howard · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:13

DAnDan said:
Yep the spring has snapped into two parts and both parts were on the drive way. There's still a spring in the passenger rear, but nothing driver's side.

Really? Wow :/

Hyburnate · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:17

Get a driveway mechanic. Slightly more expensive but they exist

DAnDan · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:39

Howard said:
Really? Wow :/

Yep, quite surprising! Pictures below:

Orionaut · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:51

DAnDan said:
Yep, quite surprising! Pictures below:

Crikey!

I've never seen that before!

Think yourself lucky you weren't doing 80 on the motorway! :eek:

That is definitely a no-go for driving anywhere! (As in be very careful even just trying to turn it around!)

red eye · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:52

Where's that pic with tennis balls

Begbie · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:55

Wow! Also never seen that happen before, I've driven on cracked springs before and never had them fall out!

Dogbreath · 6 Aug 2015 at 19:56

Order a new spring and fit it on your driveway? All you'd have to do is unbolt the damper and jack the car up.

Begbie said:
Wow! Also never seen that happen before, I've driven on cracked springs before and never had them fall out!

Most springs that break are part of a strut, so the damper through the middle retains the spring.

DAnDan · 6 Aug 2015 at 20:05

Dogbreath said:
Order a new spring and fit it on your driveway? All you'd have to do is unbolt the damper and jack the car up.

Most springs that break are part of a strut, so the damper through the middle retains the spring.

Would I not need a set of spring compressors to get it in there?

rodenal · 6 Aug 2015 at 20:10

Not on the rear

snips86x · 6 Aug 2015 at 20:10

Not quite the same but when my front nearside snapped, it coiled down the suspension arm, punctured a new tyre and bent my anti-roll link

While its not the same as yours, don't drive it!!!

Howard · 6 Aug 2015 at 20:22

Oh yeah that makes a lot more sense now - I forgot it's not coil over strut

Lashout_UK · 6 Aug 2015 at 20:24

Dad's Merc did the same - fortunately parked on the drive, not doing 70mph on the A5 like he was 5 minutes prior. Front offside collapsed completely. Known issue. Mercedes wasn't interested. Corrosion had penetrated into a flaw in the spring casting after the plastic coating had failed. Not uncommon, though.

ci_newman · 6 Aug 2015 at 22:49

Yeah, dont drive that

Orionaut · 7 Aug 2015 at 00:26

snips86x said:
Not quite the same but when my front nearside snapped, it coiled down the suspension arm, punctured a new tyre and bent my anti-roll link While its not the same as yours, don't drive it!!!

Seen that several times.

Busted springs are a modern problem. Almost never happened in the past. Blame the damn greenies!

DAnDan · 7 Aug 2015 at 00:32

So does anyone know where I can source a new spring?

I'm going to call some garages in the area to see if any stock them/can get them in, but I'm struggling to find an actual part number anywhere online for the exact spring I should be looking for.