[dragerboy]

Driving into town this morning at 30mph and a huge metallic bang from the front of car. Appears my drivers side spring has had a massive failure!

[thesanchez]

Exactly the same happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Doing about 15mph, 200 yards from my house. Big thud and then



I ended up having some B14s fitted last week. Annoying but the difference in the old and new stuff is night and day.

[dragerboy]

What did you have replaced mate? I have brand new set of Eibach Pro springs in garage. Do I buy new shocks as well? Can I do just the front axle?

[thesanchez]

I just replaced the whole setup with some Bilstein B14 coilovers front and back. My car is a 58 plate with 100k on the clock and they were the original factory shocks and springs so well past replacing.

Have you had the wheel off to take a look at the damage? Because the spring is smaller at the bottom, when mine snapped it took the spring seat out with it on the shock too so that also needed to be replaced. See if yours has done the same.

I think as a minimum you should be replacing whatever has broken on both sides. I'm no expert though and I'm sure other will be able to offer better advice.

[dragerboy]

Cheers for that. I only had a little look and could see part of the spring but was certainly not in the correct position. Just hoping tyre, wheel and brakes are ok.

I'm currently searching the internet and have seen a pair of Bilstein B4's from Demon Tweeks for a good price. Then I could have new shocks and springs on the front and get the rear done when funds allow.

[Dace64]

Originally Posted by thesanchez

I just replaced the whole setup with some Bilstein B14 coilovers front and back. My car is a 58 plate with 100k on the clock and they were the original factory shocks and springs so well past replacing.

Have you had the wheel off to take a look at the damage? Because the spring is smaller at the bottom, when mine snapped it took the spring seat out with it on the shock too so that also needed to be replaced. See if yours has done the same.

I think as a minimum you should be replacing whatever has broken on both sides. I'm no expert though and I'm sure other will be able to offer better advice.

What are your thoughts on the B14's? Having them fitted on mine in a couple of weeks.

[thesanchez]

Originally Posted by Dace64

What are your thoughts on the B14's? Having them fitted on mine in a couple of weeks.

I think they're really excellent to be honest. The ride is more firm as you'd expect (not harsh or crashy though) but the car feel much more composed in every given situation. There is much less body roll in the corners and the car definitely hangs on in the corners a lot better too.

Of course I was running well worn suspension before so pretty much anything would be an improvement but I'm very happy with them.

[hp88]

Mine snapped last week as well, possibly had something to do with the massive pothole I hit on the M1.

[RajB]

Quite a few people suffering with this of late.

If it's just the spring then you can just fit the Eibach springs all round and job done (of course depends on mileage the shocks have covered etc).

Otherwise replace the shocks too.

Oh and check the drop links as they may have bent under the load.

[davealfa11]

its amazing the feed back owners put up regards new shocks on their car ...youll be amazed by the mileage that shocks actually start showing signs of losing their damping action ...imagine oil going through orifices continuously in its life eg 10w oil soon becomes 5w ....5w becomes 0w and has a detrimental effect on damping ,same is to say when gas pressured shocks start loosing their pressure and it doesn't take much from original pressure ...you probably see people pushing down on shocks and seeing cartridge extend ,a knackered shock can still do that but it doesnt take in to account the oil inside has turned to water viscosity(0w)..I used to rebuild motorcycle suspension and set bikes up amongst other things and after 15k rear shocks have lost their damping , they start fading and yes these are gas pressurised as well ......by the way its the damper that keeps tyre in contact with road ..spring is there to support the weight whether its static or dynamic ,the damper controls it ..

[dragerboy]

Seems this is a common issue. I have a pair of Bilstein B4's just arrived to pair with the Eibach kit. They are going to do front axle.

I take it I should buy new bumpstops and topmounts? Also they want to do 4 wheel alignment afterwards for £75 should I get this done as I appreciate the front of the car will be different but I'm hoping to get the rears done in about 6-8 weeks so don't want to waste money.

Any thoughts?

[Digitalize]

alignment shouldn't effect having the rear done, but yes you absolutely need it done after changing any suspension components.

Just tell them you're changing the rears and as long as they're not massively out leave them.

[dragerboy]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

alignment shouldn't effect having the rear done, but yes you absolutely need it done after changing any suspension components.

Just tell them you're changing the rears and as long as they're not massively out leave them.

They are going to do alignment but if rear is ok they will only charge me for front.

[dragerboy]

Update :

Got the car back today with the Bilstein B4's and Eibach Pro Kit springs fitted on the front only.

I've only driven it 3 minutes home but car feels solid and composed and better over bumps etc. Happy with ride height currently although it seems front left is higher than front right but I could be imagining it lol.

Next on the list is matching rear set up which I think I will do myself as looking online rears seem very easy, perhaps someone can confirm this?



Rears need doing and possibly 10mm spacer



Gave her a quick clean too as the sun was out

[Digitalize]

I'd say front is easier than rear as you need to drop the lower control arm to remove the spring which is a bit of a hassle. It definitely feels like more work than the fronts to do.

If you had to compress the front spring and fit it to the damper then front is more work, but if it's a unit ready to bolt in I'd say front is easier.

[Raahil]

I found the rears to be much quicker and easier.
Providing the bolts are not seized all you need to do is jack the car high enough and remove the bottom bolt on the arm. Arm will drop and remove the spring.
Remember to put a jack or something under the arm before removing the bolt tho

Done rear shocks and springs on my last car, e92, and was done in about an hour for both sides

[dragerboy]

Cheers for the response guys. I'm tempted to fit the springs asap as I already have them

Pair of Bilstein B4's will be ordered for the rear as they are good value, shame it seems that all the extra bits like lower and upper mounts are the same price or more than the shocks!