and the Nightmare of Springs
and the Nightmare of Springs
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Discussion

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
Started off to service the S tonight - got it jacked up, front wheels off, to be confronted by a broken front spring. I'll post a photo later but the break is as clean as a whistle, no rust or anything - so I think it just happened at the weekend...

I don't have a clue what size / rating I need so I think I'll be phoning Absolutely Shocks tomorrow.

Talk about Ying and Yang... it's my own fault for enjoying myself too much - it never lasts!

orange_dodo

694 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
Oh gawd don't say that! I'm planning to service mine this weekend!

This is the 3rd report of a broken spring I've heard of on the S, makes me a little wary. I assume it's just 20yo springs wearing out. frown

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
This is the 4th broken spring I've had in 7 years!

I had to change both fronts about 3 years ago, and then one of the rears (well I changed both but only 1 was broken) - and now a front again!

techbotics

1,803 posts

208 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
Are these all standard OEM type springs or after market coil overs..?

Cheers D

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
as far as I can tell, all oem springs...

orange_dodo

694 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
tvrgit said:
This is the 4th broken spring I've had in 7 years!
eek

Your not helping my unease!

phillpot

17,489 posts

209 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
tvrgit said:
This is the 4th broken spring I've had in 7 years!
Mmmmm, how can I put this tactfully ? are you fat ? hehe

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Wednesday 10th March 2010
quotequote all
phillpot said:
tvrgit said:
This is the 4th broken spring I've had in 7 years!
Mmmmm, how can I put this tactfully ? are you fat ? hehe
Erm... how can I put this tactfully? Yes!

(In my defence, though, I would plead in mitigation that you should see the state of some of the roads around here - I was just commenting at the TVRCC meeting on Sunday that you forget how st our roads are until you drive them in an S)

Barkychoc

7,848 posts

230 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
quotequote all
My V8S springs are 275lb rear and 325 on the front and IMHO they need to be a bit stiffer. I'm thinking of using the 325's on the back and buying new ones for the front. Then again with the state of the roads going stiffer might knock my fillings out!

steve j

3,223 posts

254 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
quotequote all
tvrgit said:
phillpot said:
tvrgit said:
This is the 4th broken spring I've had in 7 years!
Mmmmm, how can I put this tactfully ? are you fat ? hehe
Erm... how can I put this tactfully? Yes!

(In my defence, though, I would plead in mitigation that you should see the state of some of the roads around here - I was just commenting at the TVRCC meeting on Sunday that you forget how st our roads are until you drive them in an S)
Yes, our roads are a b$%^dy disgrace and they`ll get worse before they get better. Let`s hope nobody damages a car due to our roads.

magpies

5,193 posts

208 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
quotequote all
Hi
I have some (not sure if standard as they were wrapping SPAX shocks) you can havefor the cost of postage.
Mick

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Saturday 13th March 2010
quotequote all
Mick - sorry, haven't returned to this thread till today, didn't realise anybody had replied. I ordered new springs yesterday but thanks for the offer.

But the nightmare continues! three of the four mounting bolts seem to be rusted into the bushes (not enough grease on reassembly I suggest! whistle ) and are not for moving, at all. I've hammered them, heated them, twisted them, oh and as a final resort, called them nasty names, but they're stubbornly refusing to move.

I've been out and bought a new cutting disk for the angle grinder - we'll shift the buggers tomorrow!


tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Sunday 14th March 2010
quotequote all
Final score: Angle grinder 3, stubborn bd bolts, Nil

Got the dampers off but obviously the bushes are now consigned to scrap. Does anybody know - do AVO sell replacement bushes? I know you can buy spherical bushes but by the time I buy those plus springs I'd be as well buying a set of GAZ. I just want to get it back together for now.

Barkychoc

7,848 posts

230 months

Sunday 14th March 2010
quotequote all
Are they the red ones?
If so I rang AVO and they sent me some for nothing smile

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Sunday 14th March 2010
quotequote all
Barkychoc said:
Are they the red ones?
If so I rang AVO and they sent me some for nothing smile
aye, them. They'll do me for now.

phillpot

17,489 posts

209 months

Sunday 14th March 2010
quotequote all

I know its all money but really wouldn't bother with those red bushes, think its now a fairly well known fact the rear ones "chew up" very quickly ( bad chassis design/alignment ? ) but having a look around my car today whilst doing one or two little jobs I noticed both top front bushes have split, so instead of being like an "O" they are like a "C" !
I'll be on the phone tomorrow to order some spherical joints.

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Sunday 14th March 2010
quotequote all
phillpot said:
I know its all money but really wouldn't bother with those red bushes, think its now a fairly well known fact the rear ones "chew up" very quickly ( bad chassis design/alignment ? ) but having a look around my car today whilst doing one or two little jobs I noticed both top front bushes have split, so instead of being like an "O" they are like a "C" !
I'll be on the phone tomorrow to order some spherical joints.
How much are the spherical joints? I was reading about them just the other day (can't find the thread now) and they would definitely be an improvement - but I was going to change to GAZ at some point, so wasn't that bothered for now.

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Well, springs and bushes arrived yesterday (I went for replacement plastic bushes in the end), new bolts, nuts and washers also delivered, front damper units all now re-assembled, didn't have time to put them back on the car though.

Nightmare nearly over, I'm sure a new one must be just around the corner...

phillpot

17,489 posts

209 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
tvrgit said:
How much are the spherical joints? I was reading about them just the other day (can't find the thread now) and they would definitely be an improvement - but I was going to change to GAZ at some point, so wasn't that bothered for now.
4 bearings clips and spacers ( enough for 2 shocks) £44 + vat + p&p

tvrgit

Original Poster:

8,484 posts

278 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
phillpot said:
tvrgit said:
How much are the spherical joints? I was reading about them just the other day (can't find the thread now) and they would definitely be an improvement - but I was going to change to GAZ at some point, so wasn't that bothered for now.
4 bearings clips and spacers ( enough for 2 shocks) £44 + vat + p&p
That's not the price he quoted me at AVO on Monday - he said £7 per joint plus £1 per spacer (2 required per joint) = £9 per end, or £36 for 4...

Anyway, I went for the standard plastic ones, fitted them last night and fitted the units back on the car tonight. Nightmare (well at least this one!) is over!