911 returnd from dealer with molegrips in suspension spring
Discussion
Gah.
Just had some work done at my local OPC - new front struts, tyres and 4 wheel alignment.
Took it home, getting a massive 'clonk' on speed bumps and potholes.
The kindly Porsche assistance chap diagnosed it within 30 seconds of it being on the flatbed - a pair of mole grips jammed in the front right suspension spring.
Not overly impressed as you can imagine!
I haven't really got a clue when it comes to mechanics, but if they remove their tools and say 'job done' should I be suspicious? is this likely to have knackered/weakened the springs or bugger up the alignment that they did?
Cheers
Just had some work done at my local OPC - new front struts, tyres and 4 wheel alignment.
Took it home, getting a massive 'clonk' on speed bumps and potholes.
The kindly Porsche assistance chap diagnosed it within 30 seconds of it being on the flatbed - a pair of mole grips jammed in the front right suspension spring.
Not overly impressed as you can imagine!
I haven't really got a clue when it comes to mechanics, but if they remove their tools and say 'job done' should I be suspicious? is this likely to have knackered/weakened the springs or bugger up the alignment that they did?
Cheers
PorscheGT4 said:
well if they did the "alignment" with that jammed in the spring, then yes it will be out now that's been taken out.
Ta, I'll push for a new alignment. What about the springs, I'm guessing if its been trying to bounce up and down unsuccessfully it can't have done them much good?
I would be horrified if I had discovered that! 
I'd not be happy at all.
Apart from the fact they didn't road test the car after they replaced the springs - if they had they would have noticed the noise, the mole grips are there to prevent the damper rod rotating when doing the top nut up. Probably means they've spun the damper rod, couldn't do the nut up, one lad fits the grips and holds them, the other does up the nut. One assumes the other removed the grips afterwards.... Its a fairly common thing to use the grips to do this, otherwise you can damage the damper spinning it repeatedly. That's not to say they didn't do that before using them.
Apart from the fact they didn't road test the car after they replaced the springs - if they had they would have noticed the noise, the mole grips are there to prevent the damper rod rotating when doing the top nut up. Probably means they've spun the damper rod, couldn't do the nut up, one lad fits the grips and holds them, the other does up the nut. One assumes the other removed the grips afterwards.... Its a fairly common thing to use the grips to do this, otherwise you can damage the damper spinning it repeatedly. That's not to say they didn't do that before using them.
With these feet said:
I'd not be happy at all.
Apart from the fact they didn't road test the car after they replaced the springs - if they had they would have noticed the noise, the mole grips are there to prevent the damper rod rotating when doing the top nut up. Probably means they've spun the damper rod, couldn't do the nut up, one lad fits the grips and holds them, the other does up the nut. One assumes the other removed the grips afterwards.... Its a fairly common thing to use the grips to do this, otherwise you can damage the damper spinning it repeatedly. That's not to say they didn't do that before using them.
^ If the grips were indeed used on the shock absorber piston rod then you need to have the shocks replaced as under NO circumstances should the piston rod be gripped in this way. Once the piston rod is gripped it no longer provides a perfect seal when passing through the shock-absorber and this will result in the shock absorber leaking. Apart from the fact they didn't road test the car after they replaced the springs - if they had they would have noticed the noise, the mole grips are there to prevent the damper rod rotating when doing the top nut up. Probably means they've spun the damper rod, couldn't do the nut up, one lad fits the grips and holds them, the other does up the nut. One assumes the other removed the grips afterwards.... Its a fairly common thing to use the grips to do this, otherwise you can damage the damper spinning it repeatedly. That's not to say they didn't do that before using them.
Really bad practice and if I were the OP I would be mighty p****d off.
With these feet said:
I'd not be happy at all.
Apart from the fact they didn't road test the car after they replaced the springs - if they had they would have noticed the noise, the mole grips are there to prevent the damper rod rotating when doing the top nut up. Probably means they've spun the damper rod, couldn't do the nut up, one lad fits the grips and holds them, the other does up the nut. One assumes the other removed the grips afterwards.... Its a fairly common thing to use the grips to do this, otherwise you can damage the damper spinning it repeatedly. That's not to say they didn't do that before using them.
To be fair, you couldn't hear a thing until you hit a speed bump or a pothole, it all seemed to be driving very nicely.Apart from the fact they didn't road test the car after they replaced the springs - if they had they would have noticed the noise, the mole grips are there to prevent the damper rod rotating when doing the top nut up. Probably means they've spun the damper rod, couldn't do the nut up, one lad fits the grips and holds them, the other does up the nut. One assumes the other removed the grips afterwards.... Its a fairly common thing to use the grips to do this, otherwise you can damage the damper spinning it repeatedly. That's not to say they didn't do that before using them.
chrisABP said:
^ If the grips were indeed used on the shock absorber piston rod then you need to have the shocks replaced as under NO circumstances should the piston rod be gripped in this way. Once the piston rod is gripped it no longer provides a perfect seal when passing through the shock-absorber and this will result in the shock absorber leaking.
Really bad practice and if I were the OP I would be mighty p****d off.
Yeh I am mighty po'ed. Was having a bad week already and now sitting in the office now waiting for a hire car to turn up.....Really bad practice and if I were the OP I would be mighty p****d off.
So new springs, new rods, new alignment? & wheel arches if they are damaged? Is that what I should be asking for? I'm guessing if that grip was gripping the rod it's probably shredded it? though as you can tell I'm no mechanic!
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