After SWMBO reported occasional noises from the nearside over small bumps, and failing to identify the cause, my indy had a look and found the coil spring had failed (some time ago by the look of the fracture) about half a turn from the bottom, and there was nothing obviously wrong with the car's behaviour. He was incredulous when I said that it was my first-ever spring fracture and the car is 18 years old. He went on to tell me about dealing with coil fractures on a 3-year-old Note, and also to moan about the deteriorating materials being fitted these days.
I can't recall ever having a failed coil in any of my 205s - and the present one is 34 years old, with no history of broken springs - so he may be right ?
|
|
Coil spring on our first Berlingo broke in a similar way to what you describe.
|
I don't understand the physics but springs almost always fail towards the bottom, friend just had one snap on his fiesta.
|
>> I don't understand the physics but springs almost always fail towards the bottom, friend just
>> had one snap on his fiesta.
Yup, that's where the 'lingo's spring went.
|
>> I don't understand the physics but springs almost always fail towards the bottom, friend just
>> had one snap on his fiesta.
loads of reasons, thats the bit that flexes the most (tends to end up not sitting flush in its cup), the end that carries the most sudden shocks, the end that rusts the most
|
>> loads of reasons, thats the bit that flexes the most (tends to end up not sitting flush in its cup), the end that carries the most sudden shocks, the end that rusts the most >>
The broken half-turn of the spring was well patinated, so the failure was clearly not recent. I guess the spring had partially cracked and settled down into the lower cup. After some time the short piece worked loose and started clonking. SWMBO was convinced something was loose inside the door - in fact to me it sounded rather like glass loosening from the regulator !
|
|
A while ago a mechanic told me that some chemical previously used to temper the metal was banned around 20 years ago, leading to more brittle springs and more breakages. I haven't looked into this assertion so I don't know if it's true, sounds believable though. I've had both front springs replaced due to breakage on my current car in the last 18 months.
|
|
Apparently because of better materials, springs have got thinner. Certainly the springs on Mrs F's Pug 2008 look thinner than the ones on her old Focus, which never had to be replaced in its lifetime of 21yrs and 160,000 miles. I shall try to remember to clean and grease them on my annual(ish) wheels-off inspection as I've read that if their protective coating is damaged they are more likely to develop a corroding crack...+ pothole = #.
|
|
Update - damaged spring replaced last week - £168 all in.
|
Peugeot 207 SW - 08 1.6 Macpherson strut coil spring failures - Bromptonaut
