Broken front springs?

[Lesliehedley]

I had my 400SE in my local garage today to have a new oil pump fitted. When I went to pick it up the owner informed me that both front springs were broken. The springs came from RT Racing and have been on the car for about four years, but only covered approx. 6000 miles in that time. It seems unusual that both springs should break after such a low mileage. He said both breaks were still shiny, so it must have happened recently. But I haven't used the car since last October when I found I needed the oil pump replacing. So I'm guessing it happened this morning going to the garage, although I studiously avoided speed bumps etc. and it's only a couple of miles from home. Does anyone have any ideas/experience of springs breaking like this and how I could avoid it happening again. TIA

[BadRedWedge]

Very strange thing to have happen !! both spring on the same day on a short trip. Maybe you should talk to RT and see what he says, maybe a wishbone problem, are the rubber seats at the base of the spring still in place ? where are the springs broken? maybe worth getting the geometry checked
As I said .. very strange

[shpub]

Actually more common than you think. Still quite rare though. The design is a bit flawed and the springs will often bend rather than compress and this can lead to metal fatigue and a break.

[BadRedWedge]

shpub said:

The design is a bit flawed

I should have know that, its a TVR

Not too expensive to fix Leslie, I think the springs are about £50 a pair from RT.

[convert]

Just bought a full set of springs for the 350 from RT (uprated by 10%) £141 inc' the dreaded.

[blaineuk]

i have 2 400 front springs in the garage if you need them.

[Lesliehedley]

Here's a few questions for shpub. If I was to fit your new design coilover front springs and shock absorbers, would that stop it happening again? And do the Gaz shock absorbers you supply in the kit suit a 400 as well as the 350? Are the springs for a 400 stronger than a 350 or are they rated the same? Why does RT tend to sell 10% uprated springs for the 400? I think that about covers it. Sorry for all the questions but I'd like to understand why it's happened and what I can do about it.

[shpub]

I have had my coilover setup on the 520SE since 2000. Haven't broken or bent a spring yet. Done about 45k miles, 150+ sprints/hillclimbs, 50 track/test days etc etc. The shocks will fit either car because they are height adjustable so that the ride height can be altered in several different ways. The spring rate is based on what I used on my car in road trim. The springs are standard off the shelf items so can be easily and cheaply changed.

The spring rating determines the ride height with the original design. It may be that it is this that determines RT's 10% upgrade. The adjustment in the brackets and with the spring platform determines it with mine.

[rev-erend]

Has it been jacked on the front suspension by anyone .. this would (I'm guessing) compress the string more than normal and could be the culprit..

[GV]

I got a spare spring compressor going. I had to buy one in the end.....