Is this a broken spring

[tjamesbo]

The 124 has developed a creak Front RHS ;
Not Steering related
So took a look underneath The Spring detail at top / Bottom is hard to see but here is a piccie it looks like the spring is broken right at the Top
Do they renew in pairs ?

 

[Uncle Benz]

Does look like a break, but possibly old as it looks rusty on the broken part. Bottom balljoints are a common squeak point on w124.

 

[EmilysDad]

it looks like the spring is broken right at the Top
Do they renew in pairs ? ......

Can't really tell off your photo, but ALL suspension parts should be replaced as pairs (and brakes too )

 

[tjamesbo]

oes look like a break, but possibly old as it looks rusty on the broken part. Bottom balljoints are a common squeak point on w124.

Both have been done albeit one about 60k ago . I dont think its that because they creak when the steering is turned, I get no creak when the wheel is turned

 

[DIYMAN]

Not sure about the spring, I think they tend to break near the bottom in my experience.
It sounds to me like a dry bottom ball joint is making the noise, mine started it a couple of weeks after passing the MOT then a week later the pin sheared off the ball joint. There will be no play in the joint and it will be quiet with the wheel off the ground.

 

[spock500]

Look like a break as they seem to always go about an inch or two from the end.

Not an easy job as special spring compressor required bot other than that pretty straightforward.

 

[teddycatkin]

The 124 has developed a creak Front RHS ;
Not Steering related
So took a look underneath The Spring detail at top / Bottom is hard to see but here is a piccie it looks like the spring is broken right at the Top
Do they renew in pairs ?

they look a bit manky anyway ---? just fit two new ones they are cheap enough ?

 

[Bikesnoopy]

Springs are always supplied & fitted in pairs.
Over the years & miles, they lose their strength a tad & can sag a bit, so if you only fitted one on one side, the car may sit slightly higher on the side with the new spring.

It is very common for one - or both to break without the driver even knowing.
Generally, its the top half coil that snaps off, a semi-circle of steel about 4" or so long. Sometimes it stays up in the cup, sometimes it falls out.
Its not usually discovered until the car gets raised on a ramp & the suspension drops down free. Its easy to see up into the cups then.

It happens because the cup that the spring sits in gets filled with crud, then stays damp for ages after everything else dries out. This causes this section of the spring to rust & after a period of time it becomes weak. . . then one big pothole and ping, it snaps. It can happen - and does happen, on ANY make of car.
It isn't usually dangerous. . . but, in bad cases, the spring CAN jump out of the cup & the jagged broken end go through the wall of the tyre. . . not good.

It used to be an instant MOT failure, but now its at the descretion of the tester as to weather he considers it dangerous - but broadly speaking, as long as the spring is still sitting in its seat, it shouldn't me an MOT issue.

We do on average 10 MOTs a day & have a further 30 or so cars through the workshops every day & i'd say that we have at least one car a day thats found to have a broken spring.

 

[kth286]

Springs are always supplied & fitted in pairs.
Over the years & miles, they lose their strength a tad & can sag a bit, so if you only fitted one on one side, the car may sit slightly higher on the side with the new spring.

It is very common for one - or both to break without the driver even knowing.
Generally, its the top half coil that snaps off, a semi-circle of steel about 4" or so long. Sometimes it stays up in the cup, sometimes it falls out.
Its not usually discovered until the car gets raised on a ramp & the suspension drops down free. Its easy to see up into the cups then.

It happens because the cup that the spring sits in gets filled with crud, then stays damp for ages after everything else dries out. This causes this section of the spring to rust & after a period of time it becomes weak. . . then one big pothole and ping, it snaps. It can happen - and does happen, on ANY make of car.
It isn't usually dangerous. . . but, in bad cases, the spring CAN jump out of the cup & the jagged broken end go through the wall of the tyre. . . not good.

It used to be an instant MOT failure, but now its at the descretion of the tester as to weather he considers it dangerous - but broadly speaking, as long as the spring is still sitting in its seat, it shouldn't me an MOT issue.

We do on average 10 MOTs a day & have a further 30 or so cars through the workshops every day & i'd say that we have at least one car a day thats found to have a broken spring.

good realistic post, and also good to see you're up to date on the recommendation re PASS/FAIL.

 

[tjamesbo]

Here it is after extraction to do the balljoint squeeking was classic balljoint sound but as the balljoint was only 25K old I am wondering if all the noise ( even creaking / squeeking on Turning the wheels ) was the spring all along but the spring doesn't move if you are stationary turning the wheel
However the Lower arm is almost off now so I'll be able to have a good look at the Balljoint .
Monday will be spring order day then and possibly a Lower arm Nick froome says new Bushes vastly improve the car Can the bushes be replaced in the arm (as it will be off the car ) or do I need a new arm to do them ?
Boyd

 

[kth286]

bushes are replaceable - they are orientated - you need to look at workshop
manual.

Very rusty underneath - where has car been living - by seaside ?

 

[tjamesbo]

Just UK roads I think its the fact its at 227K and is a daily driver Know what you mean though

 

[tjamesbo]

New lower Arm from GSF is £78 so got to be cheaper than buying a balljoint taking it to get old pressed out and then new one in , then same for each bush + price of Bushes and the Time Tooing and froing

 

[tjamesbo]

new spring from Merc £69 avail wednesday (2days ) I am hoping ride height matches and ui can get away with 1 At merc they go through the whole spec is it auto does it have aircon , etc hopefully more likely to match and be the correct ride height than the one size fits all at the Euro or GSF franchises