Possible snapped spring

[BruceT]

So... I unlocked my car this morning after parking her up on Friday night after work.

lowered myself in and heard the LOUDEST snap/groan/creek.

I thought... at best that was the handbrake cable snapping....

Got out... look at the back... the back is sitting weird...

Looked the front and the front offside wheel is IN the arch like its been lowered about 100mm!!!!

So... I didnt have time to check it out as I had to be in work.. So I got a lift in the OTHER 406 lol.

Ive read on hear springs cracking is pretty common, but how commen is it for the actual front spring to collaspe complety?

Im now left in the situation where

1. Its probably not driveable.
2. Deffo not safe to drive.
3. I dont have home start to get it towed/trailer to a garage.

Any suggestions on how to get moved?

Also... Its advisable to replace springs on the same axle.. But chances are the rear springs are not too good either.

GSF sell springs for about £55 delivered each. So about £180-210 delivered for 4.

Now, a set of lowering springs cost a max of £150 (unless you go for eilbachs lol).

I dont really want to lower it as I like its softly softly ride etc but been lower it will handle better.

Do you think it would be better replacing with lowering springs? Apex ones are 35mm and have a lifetime warranty...

Gutted my pug is bust

Pics to follow after work

[Welly]

Sorry about this Brucey, they always seem to go when parked on your drive

Mine snapped right at the bottom of the coil and lowered it by about 40mm. I had no home start either but managed to nurse it along for about 3 miles (at 10mph very early in the morning) and then called the AA.

I only changed the one that snapped and it was fine after that.

The new spring is flipping massive and must be at least 600mm long if you're not experienced I'd deffo get a garage to do it. I think it cost me £150.00 fitted and they also waxoyled the other springs (the coil coating comes off in places and fatigue creates a crack in the spring).

If you like the ride as it was then I'd go for standard springs, you might alienate buyers later if you embark on a bit of modding programme? then you'd want new wheels etc etc.......

Try ringing a garage with a recovery service/flat bed they normally charge about £30.00 or might do it for free if they do the repair?

Also carefully check the inside tyre wall, brake hose, drop links etc. for damage!

[steve_earwig]

Also, try not to roll it anywhere as the end of the spring can wreak havoc with tyres, brake lines and, driveshaft boots. It's probably best to tel the guy with the truck these things when he arrives, then it's his fault...

[marco2002]

Hi Bruce
My o/s/f spring snapped about a year ago. Common problem on 406's, springs are supposed to be changed every 100k mine lasted 145k.
I ended up replacing the whole front suspension. As welly said check the brake hose and cv gaitor. I was lucky when mine snapped the end of the spring went through the cv gaitor and that was it and it was at low speed just went to pull away from the kerbside at home. When i stripped the strut to bits i found the bump stop was knackered as well so replaced thatl, top bearing was shot to bits it all fell apart! So that would be worth checking while you are there.

I got the local garage to build the legs for me and fitted it myself. I would advise you to get a garage to compress the springs as you will struggle to compress those springs i had a go myself and you need special tools to do it even when you compress the springs as far as they go you will find you are about 40mm short to get the washer and nut on top. There is a special tool that goes through the middle of the spring and has claws either end allows you to compress spring so much then put spring compressors on. One of the garages here where i live couldn't do it said that the hydraulic compressor does 90% of springs when they compressed the spring there still wasn't enough room on top to get the nut and washer on.

Fitting the legs isn't too bad just make sure the peg on the strut lines up with the slot on the hub and goes in as far as it will go. Found plenty of grease on the strut on the bottom helped a bit. Once its in you just ahve to line the bolts up at the top bit fiddly but doesn't take too long

Thanks
Marco

[Welly]

There's something about a mega-compressed spring that makes me very nervous

The 406's springs must be longer than other cars? might explain the nice ride?

[BruceT]

The problem for me is getting time off work really.

...with it not been drivable also makes even worse!

Ive contacted a few mobile mechanics.. so will wait what they say...

If not its gunna have to be recovery truck and get taken 2 miles down the road to my nearest garage.

I really hope its not knackered anything else as im already pretty damn skint

I have had knocking from the front when going over bumps in the road or uneven surfaces, I put it down to work drop links but maybe it was/is the front spring(s)...

[mandelbug]

Am kinda glad I have seen this, mine is at 85,000 so will look to getting them swapped sooner rather than later. Hope you can get yours sorted though

[BruceT]

Mobile mech. quoted £95 for one side but recommend both (Natually) I will get both done anyway so not gunna be far short of £200!

Awesome

[mjb]

There's something about a mega-compressed spring that makes me very nervous

like the fact that if a compressor breaks and/or slips off, you've got a few tons of force propelling a moderately heavy lump of metal around which could easily decapitate you?

Me too

[BruceT]

Pics here




Cant really see it unless you know how high a 406 usually sits etc

[BruceT]

Well, when I took the pictures I had a little check.

I put keys into Ignition, to POSII (ie, just before it cranks) and a 'ABS Fault' was displayed on the MFD so maybe it had damaged a brake hose or abs sensor/ring. Also had the ABS light on the dash on with the skid warning thing.

Booo.

Mobile mech can come out Wednesday or Friday

[Welly]

Oo-er, I would suspect it's maybe caught the abs sensor wire/connector.

Hope the fix goes ok.

[BruceT]

All fixed.

Unfortunately the spring had snapped in two places and took the abs sensor and pad warning wires.

The O/S Top mount had also exploded.

So its had 2x Front Coil Springs & 2x Top Mounts

[teamster1975]

Oh bugger, glad it's all sorted!
I had to replace a spring on a xsara picasso for a mate last year, ended up replacing the strut as well cos that was shot. A compressed spring really does put the fear of God in you, especially when one end has a nice sharp point from the break!

[Welly]

Glad you got it sorted Bruce.

I daren't ask how much