Rear offside coil spring failure...

[YorkshireBloke]

Hi All,

So much for trying to fix issues before real (MOT)...

We had a pre-test but then an a run I heard a noise... Today Wolfgang (her idea..) failed the MOT.

So, help! Should I do both for balance? What else should be done "while in bits??".

Robert

[ainarssems]

Yes, always do springs in pairs.

[MikkiJayne]

Yes, definitely do both. The lower spring supports are getting a bit tatty on most of them at this age so thats worth doing as well and not particularly expensive. 4D0512297E.

There's not much else 'while you're in there' without it getting monstrously expensive. The rear bushes will probably all look horrid, but they'll all likely still be perfectly serviceable as they don't wear anything like as fast as the fronts.

The dampers will be past their best, but again that can get expensive fast because its not a great leap to then justify a full set of Eibach and Bilstein Well, not for me anyway!

You need a spring compressor like this to get them out without dismantling the lower arm btw:



The hook on a threaded bar type don't work because the lower arm is in the way, but these ^ can reach in and squash the spring so it can be removed without dismantling anything.

[moltuae]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

You need a spring compressor like this to get them out without dismantling the lower arm btw:

Reminds me of an image I saw a few days ago ...

[johnny_quattro]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Yes, definitely do both.

I'd certainly second that advice - my A8L suffered from a broken/snapped NSR coil spring a couple of years ago. I replaced both as a precaution. I got away with it, according to the garage where I had the work done. A previous customer who had a similar problem in a Megane was met with a £1200 plus repair bill when the spring snapped and became dislodged, destroying most of the rear brake caliper/hoses etc. including the rear wheel arch liner.