This week my suspension has mainly been a complete arse.

[Bigsidavies]

Prior to xmas I booked the van in for Hunter alignment for today 5th Jan, due to slightly scrubbed front tyres.
Then I thought I could hear a little knock from the front end on little bumps.
Decided it needed addressing before the alignment. And there was the start of my downfall......

Bought new droplinks, jacked up the van, put it on axle stands and then tried unsuccessfully to remove the droplinks. All I managed to do was loosen one top drop link bolt and then I broke my torx bit on the bottom bolt. Spanner slips removed skin in chunks and I gave up. However, what I did notice was that the front ARB bushes had loads of play.
Never mind, I'll get the guy at the alignment place to replace them I thought.
Next day get in the van, drove 200metres and 'clang'. Back up in the air in the snow to find a spring has snapped.
So thats 3 days of my life wasted and a cancelled alignment appointment for today.

Anyway, one phonecall to CRS this morning and I'm booked in for Thursday morning for them to fit my drop links and put everything else right that needs doing.

The moral of the story - just ring Steve at CRS.

 

[Skyliner33]

Prior to xmas I booked the van in for Hunter alignment for today 5th Jan, due to slightly scrubbed front tyres.
Then I thought I could hear a little knock from the front end on little bumps.
Decided it needed addressing before the alignment. And there was the start of my downfall......

Bought new droplinks, jacked up the van, put it on axle stands and then tried unsuccessfully to remove the droplinks. All I managed to do was loosen one top drop link bolt and then I broke my torx bit on the bottom bolt. Spanner slips removed skin in chunks and I gave up. However, what I did notice was that the front ARB bushes had loads of play.
Never mind, I'll get the guy at the alignment place to replace them I thought.
Next day get in the van, drove 200metres and 'clang'. Back up in the air in the snow to find a spring has snapped.
So thats 3 days of my life wasted and a cancelled alignment appointment for today.

Anyway, one phonecall to CRS this morning and I'm booked in for Thursday morning for them to fit my drop links and put everything else right that needs doing.

The moral of the story - just ring Steve at CRS.

Having a bit of a mare. But at least there is light at the end of the tunnel

 

[Dellmassive]

Prior to xmas I booked the van in for Hunter alignment for today 5th Jan, due to slightly scrubbed front tyres.
Then I thought I could hear a little knock from the front end on little bumps.
Decided it needed addressing before the alignment. And there was the start of my downfall......

Bought new droplinks, jacked up the van, put it on axle stands and then tried unsuccessfully to remove the droplinks. All I managed to do was loosen one top drop link bolt and then I broke my torx bit on the bottom bolt. Spanner slips removed skin in chunks and I gave up. However, what I did notice was that the front ARB bushes had loads of play.
Never mind, I'll get the guy at the alignment place to replace them I thought.
Next day get in the van, drove 200metres and 'clang'. Back up in the air in the snow to find a spring has snapped.
So thats 3 days of my life wasted and a cancelled alignment appointment for today.

Anyway, one phonecall to CRS this morning and I'm booked in for Thursday morning for them to fit my drop links and put everything else right that needs doing.

The moral of the story - just ring Steve at CRS.

That's awesome... What kit did you have?... That broke?

Well done team @CRS Performance for sorting him out.

Keep us posted work they outcome @Bigsidavies

 

[Bigsidavies]

That's awesome... What kit did you have?... That broke?

Well done team @CRS Performance for sorting him out.

Keep us posted work they outcome @Bigsidavies

I've got the Koni adjustable dampers which originally (Jan 21) had H&R springs. I had all the springs replaced Feb 2024 after a front spring broke so this current broken spring has only been on 23 Months. I don't think these springs like being jacked up and then lowered in freezing conditions (even though it's done very slowly on a bottle jack).

 

[DaveD]

I've got the Koni adjustable dampers which originally (Jan 21) had K&N springs. I had all the springs replaced Feb 2024 after a front spring broke so this current broken spring has only been on 23 Months. I don't think these springs like being jacked up and then lowered in freezing conditions (even though it's done very slowly on a bottle jack).

That's poor, in my humble opinion.
I don't think it's unfair to expect more than two years out of springs even if they have a hard life, which I suspect yours probably don't.

 

[DXX]

That's poor, in my humble opinion.
I don't think it's unfair to expect more than two years out of springs even if they have a hard life, which I suspect yours probably don't.

I’ve got a 24 year old car outside with the same springs it was born with, only replaced the rear shocks in the last few years as I load it to the roof with logs.
Fancy paint; red, yellow, blue, whatever colour it is it’s over priced and over rated.

 

[cgtmiles]

I've got the Koni adjustable dampers which originally (Jan 21) had K&N springs. I had all the springs replaced Feb 2024 after a front spring broke so this current broken spring has only been on 23 Months. I don't think these springs like being jacked up and then lowered in freezing conditions (even though it's done very slowly on a bottle jack).

I have this setup and I noticed last year just how corroded the springs were. I expected to get it at least flagged at the MOT but it wasn’t mentioned. I can’t see them lasting much longer though. Worrying that you already had them replaced and that they are decreasing in life (3 years down to 2!), I got mine fitted in 2020 so whatever I guess I can’t complain. I believe CRS can do the alignment now too so hopefully you’ll get it all sorted in one hit

 

[stu3467]

So what is the life expectancy of a spring ? Had my suspension changed a CRS 5 years ago been great ever since ! But noticed they were badly corroded all paint flaking off when I changed pads a month ago .

 

[DaveD]

So what is the life expectancy of a spring ? Had my suspension changed a CRS 5 years ago been great ever since ! But noticed they were badly corroded all paint flaking off when I changed pads a month ago .

Based on my motoring history I'd expect springs to last at least 8 years, although like @DXX I've owned older cars that have been on their factory springs. I do, however, think we need to take into account the weight of the vehicle - if it's frequently heavily loaded it's probably only fair to reduce our expectations.
Strangely my 9 year old T6 is on the original springs and there is barely a hint of surface corrosion, they look two years old, not nine. No idea why!

 

[JumpShip]

I've got the Koni adjustable dampers which originally (Jan 21) had K&N springs.

H&R you mean ?

 

[stu3467]

Based on my motoring history I'd expect springs to last at least 8 years, although like @DXX I've owned older cars that have been on their factory springs. I do, however, think we need to take into account the weight of the vehicle - if it's frequently heavily loaded it's probably only fair to reduce our expectations.
Strangely my 9 year old T6 is on the original springs and there is barely a hint of surface corrosion, they look two years old, not nine. No idea why!

sounds like pot luck as to how long they last then!!

 

[Stay Frosty]

Had a front spring and then a rear spring snap on my Bilstein B14s at roughly 4 years old.
Got Steve to replace the whole lot with H&R coilovers and now coming up to 3 years use so clenching at each pothole.
Regarding how often springs break, as retired gentle folk the wife and I undertake a number of urban safaris each week including tours of the Library, LIDL and Sainsbury's and whether it's because I specialise in gutter spotting but the amount of discarded spring pig tails I spot is remarkable and I'm sure increasing in number.

 

[JumpShip]

Maybe you could add to your enjoyment by documenting the pigtails by colour and manufacturer ? Hours of fun!

 

[64 SPLIT]

Defo feel your pain with the droplinks - had very similar issues when I came to remove my lowering springs to go back to stock height.
Ended up having to cut them in half and angle grind the bolts off as I snapped my Torx bit as well. Horrible job!

 

[Stay Frosty]

@JumpShip You'll be surprised how many of them actually retain their original satin black plumeage despite being trapped in the gutter, often for weeks at a time.
I may be wrong but it could be a combination of poor diet and vehicle obesity or the decreasing amount of actual tarmac coverage on UK roads but discarded spring pig tails has been one of the very real signs of growth areas in the UK and an indicator of the comparative health of the automotive population.
It's worth remembering that even after suffering a broken spring many vehicles can still go on to live long and reasonably fulfilling lives.
In the case of the Lowdown Transporter sub species in particular, as witnessed at Busfest and many other breeding grounds, some vehicles have evolved to completely shed their springs and float, almost magically simply on air.

 

[Bigsidavies]

H&R you mean ?

Absolutely I do. Well spotted. In my defence I've got manflu lol

 

[Bigsidavies]

I’ve got a 24 year old car outside with the same springs it was born with, only replaced the rear shocks in the last few years as I load it to the roof with logs.
Fancy paint; red, yellow, blue, whatever colour it is it’s over priced and over rated.

I've got a 21 yr old Audi S4 outside still on it's original springs. It's had a set of shocks a few years ago, but that's it.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Absolutely I do. Well spotted. In my defence I've got manflu lol

That'll be down to hill walking, have you tried urban walking and climbing in "the built environment"... fancy name for shopping centre staircase, you can still rope up and wear Rab anoraks, we do.

 

[Bigsidavies]

Defo feel your pain with the droplinks - had very similar issues when I came to remove my lowering springs to go back to stock height.
Ended up having to cut them in half and angle grind the bolts off as I snapped my Torx bit as well. Horrible job!

I was going to grind them off but couldn't get the grinder in to the bottom bolt without dismantling even more suspension.

 

[Bigsidavies]

My snapped spring doesn't have a hint of corrosion. It's still a nice black shiny finish. I agree that it"s a bit poor to only last 23 months.
In terms of driving I do the occasional potholed car park when out biking and walking, but drive on them oh so slowly. Other than that it's usually longish drives on decent roads. Not even much round town stuff and certainly no banging up kerbs.
The last one that snapped went when the tyre place jacked the front up to swap the tyres in freezing conditions in February. This one has snapped after jacking the van up a couple of times in freezing conditions again. Maybe the steel just doesn't like the cold.