Right hand side coil spring broken
- Thread starter Heather
- Start date
Skipton01
Admin Team
Broken springs do seem to be getting more and more common on the A2 and for no real apparent reason.
THe spring material is a high grade steel, epoxy coated and should last easily more than 3-4 years. However, the top bearings do seem to be prone to seizure which could lead to extra lateral forces on the spring.
Overall, the Kwik Fit quote is good, although my experience of the work these guys do is not very good, especially their tracking ability. If you can get to a good independent specialist (Stealth Racing springs to mind!) then I'd recommend that option above a Kwik Fit fitter any day. The Audi quote is high because of their labour rates, but apart from that, it's not bad (although for that price, you could get a pair of Weitec front springs and get Stealth to fit them and have change left over, a lot of change!).
Cheers,
Mike
THe spring material is a high grade steel, epoxy coated and should last easily more than 3-4 years. However, the top bearings do seem to be prone to seizure which could lead to extra lateral forces on the spring.
Overall, the Kwik Fit quote is good, although my experience of the work these guys do is not very good, especially their tracking ability. If you can get to a good independent specialist (Stealth Racing springs to mind!) then I'd recommend that option above a Kwik Fit fitter any day. The Audi quote is high because of their labour rates, but apart from that, it's not bad (although for that price, you could get a pair of Weitec front springs and get Stealth to fit them and have change left over, a lot of change!).
Cheers,
Mike
monkeyfinger
Member
My LH front spring snapped a little while back, 80k on a Y plate. This was as a result of the top bearing seizing up, causing the spring to twist rather than just go 'boing' up and down. I imagine that there are a combination of factors effecting this - age, mileage, environmental conditions (ie. water getting up under the wheelarch).
Even on my 6 year old car, I was surprised that this happened...
Even on my 6 year old car, I was surprised that this happened...
monkeyfinger
Member
Heather - my independant just replaced the broken spring, with no problems whatsoever with ride height etc.
Skipton01
Admin Team
WD40 is never a good idea for bearings - the stuff is too thin and doesn't stick the the bearings and even worse, it dissolves any remaining grease still there!
Moral of the story, don't use spray oil of any kind on bearings.
The bearings themselves are pretty much maintenance free, in that you can't re-grease the balls without fully disassembling them, which means removing the suspension strut from the car (not a 5 minute job!).
You could try to get a finger full of grease up and around the inner circumference of the bearing, but it'll be a struggle.
Cheers,
Mike
Moral of the story, don't use spray oil of any kind on bearings.
The bearings themselves are pretty much maintenance free, in that you can't re-grease the balls without fully disassembling them, which means removing the suspension strut from the car (not a 5 minute job!).
You could try to get a finger full of grease up and around the inner circumference of the bearing, but it'll be a struggle.
Cheers,
Mike
chantelle01
Member
Hi Heather
Oh my god if i could just tell you what happened to me! Weekend where we had the bank holiday i took my car into get my brakes done- only to be told sorry but ur car is notroad worthy. Mechanic told me spring was damaged plus anti roll bar it cost me 900 quid to fix (this was with audi specialist but not actual audi garage) He told me when he ordered parts the springs are now modified as this is a big problem with the a2s. I told him im such a careful driver i would know if i went down a curb/pot hole/ or whatever but nope i didnt do anything like that!
I hope you get it sorted
Chantelle
Oh my god if i could just tell you what happened to me! Weekend where we had the bank holiday i took my car into get my brakes done- only to be told sorry but ur car is notroad worthy. Mechanic told me spring was damaged plus anti roll bar it cost me 900 quid to fix (this was with audi specialist but not actual audi garage) He told me when he ordered parts the springs are now modified as this is a big problem with the a2s. I told him im such a careful driver i would know if i went down a curb/pot hole/ or whatever but nope i didnt do anything like that!
I hope you get it sorted
Chantelle
convert
Member
Just had the same problem on the Wifes A2, front o/s spring broken at top, last 5 cm missing, it's also bu66ered the top bearing.
Audi are quoting 24+vat for the bearing and 39+vat for the spring.
My problem is getting into the top mount, like everything on A2's it's oretty difficult to get in and get the spanners on it.
Called a mate in the trade, and he reckons he can changed it for £60, plus parts.
The spring had come away from the top mounting, and was at an odd angle. Seems strange as the springs mount directly to the strut and top mount. Usually (on other cars) the coils have a rubber 'do-nut' locator.
I've managed to get the spring to seat into the remaining half of the bearing (Just to improve the geometry a little) so I think if we take it steady we should be OK to drive 5 miles to the Garage.
I'll let you know what the total bill is once the work's been done.
Audi are quoting 24+vat for the bearing and 39+vat for the spring.
My problem is getting into the top mount, like everything on A2's it's oretty difficult to get in and get the spanners on it.
Called a mate in the trade, and he reckons he can changed it for £60, plus parts.
The spring had come away from the top mounting, and was at an odd angle. Seems strange as the springs mount directly to the strut and top mount. Usually (on other cars) the coils have a rubber 'do-nut' locator.
I've managed to get the spring to seat into the remaining half of the bearing (Just to improve the geometry a little) so I think if we take it steady we should be OK to drive 5 miles to the Garage.
I'll let you know what the total bill is once the work's been done.
My right spring has just failed too. Made a very nasty noise when it happened, and it sounded like something fell out
I'm getting the odd clunk and graunching sounds if I'm taking a tight corner. Just like Convert's, the spring is canted at a funny angle.
Breeze Southampton have just turned me away, saying that with the tools they have they wouldn't be sure they could finish the job. That's after I told them that the bearings are VW parts!
So, a couple of questions:
Should I avoid driving it until it's fixed?
Is Breeze right, or should I convince them to have a go?
Thanks,
Dev
I'm getting the odd clunk and graunching sounds if I'm taking a tight corner. Just like Convert's, the spring is canted at a funny angle.
Breeze Southampton have just turned me away, saying that with the tools they have they wouldn't be sure they could finish the job. That's after I told them that the bearings are VW parts!
So, a couple of questions:
Should I avoid driving it until it's fixed?
Is Breeze right, or should I convince them to have a go?
Thanks,
Dev
Heather
Member
Hi Dev,
I didn't know mine was broken until the A2 went in for its service so not sure how long i had been driving around with it like that.
Derby Audi advised me not to drive with it broken though.
Took it to an independent garage in Leicester for the fix. They just replaced the broken spring and not the pair.
Since getting it back though the car has developed a slight clunk when the wheel is turned to the left.
I asked Derby Audi to take a look last week when i had the roof fixed.
They had it up on the ramp and road tested it and couldn't find fault.
The clunk is still there. Seems to only happen when the car has warmed up!!
I didn't know mine was broken until the A2 went in for its service so not sure how long i had been driving around with it like that.
Derby Audi advised me not to drive with it broken though.
Took it to an independent garage in Leicester for the fix. They just replaced the broken spring and not the pair.
Since getting it back though the car has developed a slight clunk when the wheel is turned to the left.
I asked Derby Audi to take a look last week when i had the roof fixed.
They had it up on the ramp and road tested it and couldn't find fault.
The clunk is still there. Seems to only happen when the car has warmed up!!
convert
Member
Heather, Did they replace the top bearing as well?
I've been told that first the bearing seizes, and this causes the spring to break. If the bearing hasn't been changed then the clunk you're hearing maybe the spring 'shifting' on the top plate.
I'd get it checked out, and probably get the bearing (and the housing) changed.
I've been told that first the bearing seizes, and this causes the spring to break. If the bearing hasn't been changed then the clunk you're hearing maybe the spring 'shifting' on the top plate.
I'd get it checked out, and probably get the bearing (and the housing) changed.
Hi Heather,
thanks for the reply. I was paying attention, honest.
My A2 has been checked out: the spring is definitely broken and the bearing doesn't look right either. A2 is now booked in for some TLC. Parts look fairly sensible: around £9.70 per bearing and £39-ish per spring. I've been quoted one hour per side.
Re that clunk. If you didn't have the top bearing replaced with your spring, it's probably that. Otherwise might be your drop links. Mine failed a long time back.
Cheers,
Dev
thanks for the reply. I was paying attention, honest.
My A2 has been checked out: the spring is definitely broken and the bearing doesn't look right either. A2 is now booked in for some TLC. Parts look fairly sensible: around £9.70 per bearing and £39-ish per spring. I've been quoted one hour per side.
Re that clunk. If you didn't have the top bearing replaced with your spring, it's probably that. Otherwise might be your drop links. Mine failed a long time back.
Cheers,
Dev
Heather
Member
Hi all,
yep got the top bearing done at the same time as the spring (think it was Skipton or Spike that advised me about that!)
The car seems to have behaved itself yesterday and today to and from work without a clunk, but will listen out on Wednesday as have a longer journey to/from Manchester and it seems more noticeable when warmed up.
If it continues will drop it back to Lion in Leicester for a closer look.
yep got the top bearing done at the same time as the spring (think it was Skipton or Spike that advised me about that!)
The car seems to have behaved itself yesterday and today to and from work without a clunk, but will listen out on Wednesday as have a longer journey to/from Manchester and it seems more noticeable when warmed up.
If it continues will drop it back to Lion in Leicester for a closer look.