Replacing rear springs - advice needed
Discussion
My Merc estate has a broken rear spring and is due in for replacement today.
I'm tempted to only replace the broken one (£130) rather than fork out to replace both rears - especially given that I plan to trade the car in within the next year or so.
Any views on whether replacing only one spring is a false economy?
Is replacing 1 likely to be detrimental to the handling?
I'm tempted to only replace the broken one (£130) rather than fork out to replace both rears - especially given that I plan to trade the car in within the next year or so.
Any views on whether replacing only one spring is a false economy?
Is replacing 1 likely to be detrimental to the handling?
I broke a front spring on my 96 Mondeo and only replaced the one side given that I only used it as a commuter. MOT man didn't argue. I considered the evangelical theorising but given I didn't even notice the original spring had broken and noticed no difference with the new one, think I made the right choice.
I doubt it is ever that critical save on a performance car or unless the original spring is so baggy, it obviously needs replacing ie if the car leans to one side with the new spring on.
I doubt it is ever that critical save on a performance car or unless the original spring is so baggy, it obviously needs replacing ie if the car leans to one side with the new spring on.
In theory you should replace them as a pair, in practice it doesn't make a lot of difference. I have replaced single springs on the rear before with no problems at all. Some cars are made with different rated rear springs for the same model, Astras spring to mind, so just make sure you get the same rated spring as the car was built with.
te?Less give in tyres, poorer roads, harder springs, different spring material/quality, speed humps, heavier cars with more power.....
I did all on mine as used it as an opportunity to sneak an Eibach spring kit past the missus, £200 well spent and still fitted into reasonable and expected maintenance costs for an 8 year old car, much better than the standard Saab ones plus they dont explode, better ride, better handling, better stance.
I did all on mine as used it as an opportunity to sneak an Eibach spring kit past the missus, £200 well spent and still fitted into reasonable and expected maintenance costs for an 8 year old car, much better than the standard Saab ones plus they dont explode, better ride, better handling, better stance.
Its more common on european than jap made cars as the ends of the springs are finished differently.
The jap design resists corrosion better.
Its a good reason why you should spend at least 15 minutes a week with the hose under the arches and general underside when the roads are being salted.
The jap design resists corrosion better.
Its a good reason why you should spend at least 15 minutes a week with the hose under the arches and general underside when the roads are being salted.
As i work in a garage we are seeing an increase of broken springs. Had 1 week that we had 15 cars in with broken springs. Most due to springs being wide, poor quality, bad roads, less give in tyres. However my car has narrow springs and are the original springs cars done 100,000 miles. Suprisingly most broken springs you can never feel and 1 car in with the spring broken in 3 peices and the guy didn't notice.
The ageing E220CDI (2003 plate) used by my work as an airport run car had a spring go about a month ago, so it was replaced. Last week the spring on the other side went, so it needs to go back into the garage again. Can't remember if it was the front or rear springs.
You might be lucky, but if one has gone then the other might follow soon.
You might be lucky, but if one has gone then the other might follow soon.
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