Do modern vehicle suspension springs last?

[Rannsachair]

My new to me 2014 XC90 just went pop at 71k miles

I see the other front one was replaced last year (from reciepts).

New spring fitted tonight, new drop link due tomorrow:

I seem to replace springs on my brothers peuget van every other year, was doing a job for someone today who was just taking their car for new springs after a failure (Renault car, 2019, done 30k miles).

I do not remember broken springs on my old Saab's, mk2 escort or the Defender I ran for the last 21 years!

Are the roads worse today, or springs not designed to last nowadays?

 

[brightspark]

the krap now. ive had 6 go in the last 12 years never had any on my mk 2 and 3 escorts apart from a few real leaf springs .quite often see the remnants on the road next to the railway crossing outside my house. theres more go in winter as the steel is more brittle with the cold

 

[harveyp6]

I think it's the roads rather than the springs.

 

[dieselsamurai]

Missus had 2 Renault Lagunas and had 3 front springs go all of them whilst sat on the drive luckily , especially as one pierced the front tyre !

 

[brightspark]

Missus had 2 Renault Lagunas and had 3 front springs go all of them whilst sat on the drive luckily , especially as one pierced the front tyre !

i had that with my pug van they all had recalls and fitted with a lower cup to stop them doing it if they snapped

 

[Gragson]

Had it with a couple of newer style VW beetles that have been sat a while collapsing after a drive, Was quite surprised.
took it to my good mate who owns a busy car workshop
He said, it's not unusual. I was annoyed he did not break into song

 

[JOEPRO]

My new to me 2014 XC90 just went pop at 71k miles
View attachment 538691
I see the other front one was replaced last year (from reciepts).

New spring fitted tonight, new drop link due tomorrow:
View attachment 538692

I seem to replace springs on my brothers peuget van every other year, was doing a job for someone today who was just taking their car for new springs after a failure (Renault car, 2019, done 30k miles).

I do not remember broken springs on my old Saab's, mk2 escort or the Defender I ran for the last 21 years!

Are the roads worse today, or springs not designed to last nowadays?

When suspension parts fail, spring or shock they are supposed to be replaced in pairs on the same axle. Thats how I always do it.

Imbalance could shorten the service length of both springs.

Is that the bottom that broke off? Looks rusty there did the car live near a coastal area?

 

[Rannsachair]

When suspension parts fail, spring or shock they are supposed to be replaced in pairs on the same axle. Thats how I always do it.

Imbalance could shorten the service length of both springs.

Is that the bottom that broke off? Looks rusty there did the car live near a coastal area?

Me too, I bought a pair of Sachs springs. I contacted the garage who replaced the one last year, they fitted a Sachs too, so I thought I would see how it drove before doing the other side, and check ride height between the two.

Car was originally in London then Hamilton before me and it's not rusty underneath, bar minor surface rust on the rear subframe that I have treated

The crack did propagate from a rusty spot on the spring: there was a small area at the start of the fracture that had visible corrosion, Though could be the initial crack initiated the rust unless the original spring had a defect in the coating.

 

[james butler]

When suspension parts fail, spring or shock they are supposed to be replaced in pairs on the same axle. Thats how I always do it.

Imbalance could shorten the service length of both springs.

Is that the bottom that broke off? Looks rusty there did the car live near a coastal area?

its amazing how much stuff can be bought as singles, springs, shocks and even brake disks in some places with certain brands
what next individual brake pads?
springs arent as good as they used to be, i do seem to recall a shot peining process is done to springs to help relieve stresses and reduce the chance of them breaking easily/ early
maybe that step (or similar) is being skipped?
this reminds me i need to change the front springs on my wifes golf, front left one has snapped

 

[8ob]

Low profile tyres and carp roads are giving modern suspension systems a good workout, made worse because everything travels and corners that much quicker these days.

Bob

 

[Kram]

This worries me with the abuse my Mazda6 gets

Luckily I have recently been able to get the customer to do tip runs. Yesterday was this lot of chip in a Honda CRV. 50 - 70kg each I think.

I was suprised that the suspension didnt appear to sag where as mine would have dropped significantly.
She was speeding over the bumps I warned her to slow down.

 

[Melvyn Best]

When suspension parts fail, spring or shock they are supposed to be replaced in pairs on the same axle. Thats how I always do it.

Imbalance could shorten the service length of both springs.

Is that the bottom that broke off? Looks rusty there did the car live near a coastal area?

Try telling that to a customer with an end of life car!

 

[dobbslc]

I came back to my Ford Courier van once and saw 1/4 of a spring on the ground next to it, I thought some poor sods driving home at an angle, turns out it was me
It had just gone bang while I was working.

 

[Melvyn Best]

At our local level? crossing, just about every week there is a broken spring section lying in the road , I’ve witnessed several breakages as I’m walking my dog that most boy / girl racers types never slow down for the crossing

 

[Popcorn]

All the speed bumps doesn't help either........

 

[james butler]

At our local level? crossing, just about every week there is a broken spring section lying in the road , I’ve witnessed several breakages as I’m walking my dog that most boy / girl racers types never slow down for the crossing

faster you go the less you feel

 

[JOEPRO]

its amazing how much stuff can be bought as singles, springs, shocks and even brake disks in some places with certain brands
what next individual brake pads?
springs arent as good as they used to be, i do seem to recall a shot peining process is done to springs to help relieve stresses and reduce the chance of them breaking easily/ early
maybe that step (or similar) is being skipped?
this reminds me i need to change the front springs on my wifes golf, front left one has snapped

Try telling that to a customer with an end of life car!

I have seen some stupid stuff done by used car dealers under warranty.

Such as fitting new brake discs and the old worn down pads back in! And also, pads on one side of the axle to cure a pad warning light. Idiodic stuff!

 

[doubleboost]

Broken coil springs are a very common MOT fail .
Even the last 2 inches of top or bottom coil is a fail .

 

[james butler]

the garage i used to work at the most common thing the gaffer would say is "but the customer isnt paying for it so why worry?"
hmm so the customer is happy for us to sling a bad repair together on the vehicle but when it crashes (not if but when) who will they come back to?
find someone else to do it then
as you say some dealers are eager to pacify and please customer demands despite how dangerous it may be not only to themselves but also other road users

 

[james butler]

Broken coil springs are a very common MOT fail .
Even the last 2 inches of top or bottom coil is a fail .

remember when for were doing £99 a month rentals on fiestas and ka`s
i think all them by 3 years had broken springs especially the rears
that said may be the clientele driver habits