Grrr, mutter mutter suspension grrrr!

Feek · 19-02-2008, 07:52

I was sitting in my shack last night and I heard what can only be described as a loud metallic crunch from outside. I looked out the window and saw nothing and grabbed my maglite and checked as well but saw nothing and no one.

I just started the car to go to work and as soon as I started reversing I realised what that noise was.

The front nearside coil spring has broken. It's a common fault on these Focuses and it's happened before. It's the effect of repeated heating and cooling which just makes the metal go brittle and eventually they collapse. The front nearside is sitting a good inch to two inches lower than the offside.

Note - Nearside. NOT my side

So I phoned work and I'm going to log in from home today and try and get the man from the garage to come get it and get it sorted but I really don't need this, neither the hassle nor the added and unexpected expense of the repair.

It's too late to be going back to bed and it's too early to log on to work or phone the garage so I figured that the next best thing was so sit here with a cup of coffee and write about it!

Feek · 19-02-2008, 11:35

It's definitely the spring - I found a chunk of it sitting in the grass about three foot away from the car. It's not drivable so the garage are arranging for it to be recovered.

Daz · 19-02-2008, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feek

Note - Nearside. NOT my side

Harsh dude. Is it likely to be expensive?

/knows too little about this stuff.

PvtPyle · 19-02-2008, 12:31

How new/old is your Focus Feek? I drive one too.. Mine is a '53 plate 1.6 LX

Feek · 19-02-2008, 12:47

It's a 2000 turbo diesel. I've already had both front springs go, this is the same one which went first I think, 3 or 4 years ago. It's a common problem with them according to the garage which did the first one. It has done a lot of miles.

Can't remember the cost of getting it sorted but I simply have to have it fixed.

PvtPyle · 19-02-2008, 13:13

Mm I see. Might be worth me bearing in mind as the mileage ticks over on my wagon then. Good luck with getting it sorted quickly

Jonny69 · 19-02-2008, 13:37

Cheap spring steel to be honest. Cost cutting at its best and poor quality control. Either that or incorrectly specced spring steel because of noob engineers.

Justsomebloke · 17-08-2008, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

Cheap spring steel to be honest. Cost cutting at its best and poor quality control.

For Truth.
Shocked me when hanging out at my mates Tyre/Exhaust place a few years back watching him swap one out. I am like wtf has he done to break that & Stew said it happens all the time these days as they are made out of Monkey metal

The car was a Vauxhall with about 60k up it.

Nutcase · 17-08-2008, 10:43

Agreed! The ones on the beigemobile are 26 years old and 180+K miles.

Ok, so I just changed the back ones because they've started sagging, but the front ones are fine, if rather heavily rusty!

Feek · 19-02-2008, 15:02

Could be either of those. £145 out of my pocket including the towtruck.

19-02-2008, 07:52	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Grrr, mutter mutter suspension grrrr! I was sitting in my shack last night and I heard what can only be described as a loud metallic crunch from outside. I looked out the window and saw nothing and grabbed my maglite and checked as well but saw nothing and no one. I just started the car to go to work and as soon as I started reversing I realised what that noise was. The front nearside coil spring has broken. It's a common fault on these Focuses and it's happened before. It's the effect of repeated heating and cooling which just makes the metal go brittle and eventually they collapse. The front nearside is sitting a good inch to two inches lower than the offside. Note - Nearside. NOT my side So I phoned work and I'm going to log in from home today and try and get the man from the garage to come get it and get it sorted but I really don't need this, neither the hassle nor the added and unexpected expense of the repair. It's too late to be going back to bed and it's too early to log on to work or phone the garage so I figured that the next best thing was so sit here with a cup of coffee and write about it! __________________

19-02-2008, 11:35	#2
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	It's definitely the spring - I found a chunk of it sitting in the grass about three foot away from the car. It's not drivable so the garage are arranging for it to be recovered. __________________

19-02-2008, 12:47	#5
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	It's a 2000 turbo diesel. I've already had both front springs go, this is the same one which went first I think, 3 or 4 years ago. It's a common problem with them according to the garage which did the first one. It has done a lot of miles. Can't remember the cost of getting it sorted but I simply have to have it fixed. __________________

19-02-2008, 13:37	#7
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Cheap spring steel to be honest. Cost cutting at its best and poor quality control. Either that or incorrectly specced spring steel because of noob engineers. __________________

19-02-2008, 15:02	#10
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Could be either of those. £145 out of my pocket including the towtruck. __________________

19-02-2008, 12:31	#4
PvtPyle Sofa Boy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wield of the Shire Posts: 701	How new/old is your Focus Feek? I drive one too.. Mine is a '53 plate 1.6 LX

19-02-2008, 13:13	#6
PvtPyle Sofa Boy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wield of the Shire Posts: 701	Mm I see. Might be worth me bearing in mind as the mileage ticks over on my wagon then. Good luck with getting it sorted quickly

17-08-2008, 10:43	#9
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Agreed! The ones on the beigemobile are 26 years old and 180+K miles. Ok, so I just changed the back ones because they've started sagging, but the front ones are fine, if rather heavily rusty!