w203 front suspension collapse

alex cnwell

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c220 w203,2004, 2014 e350 bluetec, 2004 z4 3.0 straight six
In all my years driving i have never had this happen (31), driving the wife to the doctors and went over a speed bump at around 10mph and could only describe it as a big bang and then a grinding noise which you could feel through the steering wheel, upon looking the bottom mount of the spring had snapped completely in half and was resting on the tyre. managed to limp home slowly . changed it all today but never had this before.
 

John Laidlaw

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Yikes- managed to avoid that in my life (so far)
 

M80

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Only similar,
about 3 years ago I was passing my Vito on the drive when a front spring snapped. Helluva bang.
The Vito had been stood overnight, not loaded, no one near it aside from me.
Why it didn't go the previous time of driving it is a bit of a mystery.

Changed the pair of springs as you do.
 

LostKiwi

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Water can gather in the spring platform and rust it from the inside. Eventually its not strong enough and bang.....
 

M80

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thankfully i read this.....my rear springs came up as an advisory on last mot
Lucky you,
Mind, I've to wonder how it's advisory. If there is enough evidence of imminent failure surely it should fail.
 
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alex cnwell

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c220 w203,2004, 2014 e350 bluetec, 2004 z4 3.0 straight six
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The best bit is its only been mot,d 2 weeks ago and failed on nsf spring which was broken right at the bottom, but this failure wasn't the spring but the spring mount itself which i think is alloy?
 

th3h1ghlander

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CLS 350cdi (C218) 2012 / OM642
This concerns me. On my w203 I am getting spring pinging at the back and a strange noise on the top of the suspension at the front which could also be a spring (mount already changed as it was slightly cracked), concerned they have cracks too


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alex cnwell

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c220 w203,2004, 2014 e350 bluetec, 2004 z4 3.0 straight six
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how long ago was the mount changed? did you check the spring for corrosion?, theres only one way to be sure if you cannot see to the top of the spring and thats to dismantle, its literally an hour to take off and put back on
 

th3h1ghlander

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how long ago was the mount changed? did you check the spring for corrosion?, theres only one way to be sure if you cannot see to the top of the spring and thats to dismantle, its literally an hour to take off and put back on

It was changed by MOT garage after I complained about noises going over humps, mechanic noticed the resting heights were also incorrect, lower arms has been previously replaced, looks like the shock on that side may also be after market. Took to an indie specialist after the noises were still there, he can’t see the issue either but it is still possibly the shock or spring, indie quoting me to investigate. Rear sway bar needs replacing anyway as I can hear knocking and indie says there is too much play.

I want to avoid the situation you had!


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alex cnwell

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c220 w203,2004, 2014 e350 bluetec, 2004 z4 3.0 straight six
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I don't blame you the missus nearly had a heart attack!
 

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