Broken spring fury!

[T84]

Hi all,

I have a broken spring on my Focus and I need to get it to a garage, unfortunately I don't have breakdown cover so does anyone have a suggestion on a (cheap!) way I can get it to the garage?

Thanks!

Edited by T84 on Friday 4th February 11:33

[Carrot]

Most good garages offer a collection, see how much they charge if they own a flatbed.

[lost in espace]

You must know somebody with AA cover or similar that would cover them?

[944fan]

Phone a local recovery firm. They are pretty cheap. When my immobilizer packed up I think I paid £35 for it to be taken on a flat bed, about 3 miles.

[JM]

Can you not just drive it?

[HellDiver]

Lift out broken part of spring. Get in car and drive to garage.

[T84]

I don't really want to run the risk of driving it, would it be ok if the broken part was removed then?

[rallycross]

should be ok to drive it

[T84]

Thanks, I'll see how much recovery is.

[aldo56]

Just drive it! Many thousands will be driving unawares with broken springs as we speak!

[sumlin]

Happened to me about a fortnight ago: just pull the broken part out (if it doesn't just fall out when you move the car a little bit) and make sure as best as you can that whats left behind isn't rubbing on the tyre and then just drive it nice and slowly taking a bit of care.
If you smell burning rubber then stop!

[T84]

Right, just tried to get the broken piece out and it's horseshoe shaped and smaller than the strut, so not wide enough to get off of the car! Will have to arrange a transporter

[HellDiver]

If it won't come off the strut, then it's not going to hit the tyre. Don't be a pussy, just drive it.

Even if it does munch the tyre, a new tyre is going to be cheaper than a tow truck.

[MG511]

When a front spring snapped on my car last winter my local mechanic fixed it on my drive, in a snowstorm, using only the light from our security lights, which he kept on having to jump in front of! Well beyond the call of duty, but a good local mexhanic will probably come out and fix yours too.

[Rich_W]

Unless your local garage is miles away. Just drive it slowly to the place. You think the person that fixes it wil be towing it into the workshop?

[white90]

Just drive it there go slow,
what would you do in the middle of no where and you had found it broken?
how long had it been broken before you found it?
I offer you are being a little over cautious!
Or buy some spring compressors and fit a new one yourself.
where are you in the country? if near me I'll help/show you how to do it.

[Athlon]

I fail cars daily on MOT's with bust springs, Focus fail pretty safe so check it is not touching the tyre then run it in to a local garage. Focus springs are not the best to change as they are very long uncompressed and tricky to fit.

[mph1977]

agree with those saying drive it carefully to the garage unless it;s a stupid distance, fortunately my local preferred garage is less than a mile from home and seem to do a good job at a reasonable price ( also Good garage scheme and a VOSA approved PCV /lgvmaintainer - perhaps unsuprising given it's owned by coach company- but other operators use them as well)

[davepoth]

Spring Compressors are £20 at Screwfix. It's an afternoon's job even if you've never done it before.

[davidjpowell]

According to a Renault dealer it's perfectly safe to drive around with a broken spring. I was not convinced then, and remain unconvinced, but in the few days we waited for the part nothing happened, and it was a struggle to tell any difference.