Suspected suspension coil failure...

[BEANFro Elite]

Hey guys, yesterday myself and the missus were about to set off to pick up the baby from my mum's place, as I started moving off, there was an all mighty crunching sound eminating from the front wheels, as the car rolled forward it was then a VERY loud grinding, scraping noise like something rubbing on the tread of the tyre.

So I immediately stopped the car and got out to inspect the car.

On initial inspection, I noticed the front right wheel was REALLY close to the chassis, I checked underneath the car to see if anything was lodged between the car and the ground, or tyre and the tyre, but nothing, so back in the car and I ask the missus to get out of the car to tell me how noticeable this grinding, scraping noise is when I move the car to which she replies "yes, VERY".

We also notice a slightly different sound when I turned the steering wheel in both directions so I thought, it was maybe due to low power steering fluid, so popped open the bonnet an nope, full up.

Anyway, fast-forward, I go over a few checks with the missus's grandad, and notice that all the points of the car when depressed, sprung back up except the front-right wheel which didn't depress or spring back when I applied a downward force on it which implies a suspension failure.


Now, while this maybe the case, I'm intrigued as to how this may be as literally the day before when we were dropping the baby off at my mum's place the car was absolutely fine with none of those loud grinding, scraping noises I mentioned earlier, what I'm asking is, how does a suspension system fail overnight when not in use?

It may be worth pointing out, that where I park my car, one side is on the curb, the left side of the car, this maybe part of the cause of suspension failing but its a bit lame if it can't cope with a tiny bit of curb.

Naturally, I'm going to have a detailed inspection today and report back my findings

[jimbouk]

I believe they can just 'go'. One of my springs snapped clean in two just pulling away from parking where the car had been sat normally for a few days.

The curb parking would probably cause slightly uneven wear, could you alternate which way you park?

[mikemikemi]

Similar thing on my sister's golf except her bf caught it on time, car ran fine nothing strange at all; the only thing was some strange noise when turning full lock, which wasn't very noticeable when you were in the car.

Took it to a garage and they found that the spring was on the way out.

So I don't think there are that many warning signs before it can just go, lucky it didn't go while you were driving; as my sister had just made a 200 mile trip.

[TAKTAK]

My sisters did go while she was driving, but luckily while on a country road, went straight through the tyre, did loads of damage to the rim and dragged the car into the verge.

But shes a slow driver so it's not as bad as it could have been.

[BEANFro Elite]

Just had a look, the coil snapped clean at the foot of the coil, the broken part then jumped out of the spring seat and ended up pressing on the side of the tyre, which explains the grinding noise.

Seemed to be that the coil was on its last legs as there is a lot of rust round the snap, going to change over all the coils but I'll start off with the front wheels.

I'll upload some photos a little bit later.



Some pictures for you lot, as promised

[kalniel]

I've seen plenty of these go, and they've always gone over night rather than when driving in our case - possibly related to the cold? Or more likely they'll just go anyway because they're still holding a load, and the proportion of time a car spends not being driving is usually higher than the time it is being driven, so probability wise it's more likely to go when not being driven.

Front right is a slightly odder one though, usually it's front left due to roundabouts

[eshrules]

seems to be an increasingly common ocurrence, I'm not sure of the cause, perhaps the state of our roads? It is a little disconcerting but I suppose in the long list of 'things to go wrong on a car' it'd come nearer to the bottom than the top.

Whilst you've got the springs off, give your shocks a quick once over for wear and leaks.

out of curiosity what car is it? Looks like a focus with aftermarket wheels?

[GoNz0]

potn.com have good prices on aftermarket springs

[BEANFro Elite]

Yeah, its a Ford Focus MKI 1999 1.6l, its got some TSW 17.5" low profile alloys.

I'm actually planning on doing a complete overhaul of the suspension coils, struts etc. now, as I may not be so lucky next time.

[Teamsreth]

I've had about 8 failures on previous cars, 3 of which were on my BMW 528. None of these went while driving.

Still, thats what you get for always buying old bangers. (And the uncanny knack of usually buying a dog)

[BEANFro Elite]

My next car will be a nearly brand new dealy, around the 2litre mark

[jimborae]

seems to be an increasingly common ocurrence, I'm not sure of the cause, perhaps the state of our roads? ................

Traffic calming measures perhaps??? Around Newbury there are tons of those damn humps and that must really hurt the springs over a period of time.

[Rave]

Yeah, its a Ford Focus MKI 1999 1.6l, its got some TSW 17.5" low profile alloys.

17.5"?!

I'm actually planning on doing a complete overhaul of the suspension coils, struts etc. now, as I may not be so lucky next time.

Aye, might as well replace the dampers while you're replacing the coils, under £90 for the pair:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Fo...hock-Absorbers

And if you're doing a complete overhaul- Polybushes.

Parking on a kerb for a year and a half is, I think, what caused the N/S damper on my mum's Clio to break- it kept getting stuck in the extended postion, before releasing with a bang. There are a LOT of speed bumps round here, so obviously that wasn't ideal. I replaced it myself over two days, finishing just in time to drive it to work for a late shift. I really ought to do the other side as well, but the car hardly gets used any more, and doing the one was such a faff....

I checked the spring and it looked all right, gave it a WD40-ing where the paint had worn off, should really have Hammerited it but hey....