Snapped Front Coil Spring
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 112
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From: Blades,DE
xj,
Do you have to drop the control arm to get the assembly out or can you just use the compressor to hold the spring in place and remove the entire shock assembly?? Thinking about replacing my shocks and never messed with a strut type shock before. Thanks.
Do you have to drop the control arm to get the assembly out or can you just use the compressor to hold the spring in place and remove the entire shock assembly?? Thinking about replacing my shocks and never messed with a strut type shock before. Thanks.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,263
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From: New Castle, PA
There might be a way to do it without undoing control arms but im not sure, what i did was undo the upper ball joint so the lower control arm can drop, (support the lower arm while undoing the ball joint or it will all fling downward) and then just undo the top three strut nuts and the big lower bolt/nut and pull the whole assembly out and then you can compress the spring and undo the top nut that holds it all togther.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Sunapee NH
I replaced struts/shocks last weekend. All you need to do is remove the wheel (obviously), drop the tie rod end, remove the 3 nuts holding the top of the strut assembly to the upper mount and remove the large lower bolt/nut (make sure you have a deep 30mm socket a standard socket wont clear the body of the bolt). I used a pry bar to pry down on the lower control arm to get the assembly out and then the new one back in. I only had to pry down a small amount to do so.
You can certainly follow the method xjcamaro89 mentions, but I think it's adding a little more work then is necessary. But hey, that's just my opinion.
If you opt to do the job yourself. Make sure the compressor you use is robust. Our springs have large diameter coil wire and a pretty hefty amount of spring pressure. Screwing up can be a very bad experience when working with pre-loaded coil springs.
You can certainly follow the method xjcamaro89 mentions, but I think it's adding a little more work then is necessary. But hey, that's just my opinion.
If you opt to do the job yourself. Make sure the compressor you use is robust. Our springs have large diameter coil wire and a pretty hefty amount of spring pressure. Screwing up can be a very bad experience when working with pre-loaded coil springs.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 379
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From: Minneapolis, Mn
Springs
I've had two vehicles with broken springs in the past, both done by the wife I'm sure. In her case I think it's hitting speed bumps too fast. In the case of the T-Bird, which had 3 broken springs, I had them all replaced. Once that was done it still drove terrible (wanting to throw you from lane to lane) until I found a speedshop that did alignments. Once they did their magic and I weighted it down for the winter storage, drove fantastic that next year when I took it out the first time. No problems since then and it's been a few years since it happened.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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I'm glad you finally found the problem, XJ. Broken coil springs not all that uncommon. It's usually a result of the heat treat process not being done correctly. When things are done properly the spring usually will just lose it's springing capacity. If the heat treat is done too hot or cooled too quickly it'll make the steel too brittle and eventually the coil will snap. It seems to be a more common occurance these days. Quality seems to have taken a backseat to quantity since the global economy has taken hold.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
I've had two vehicles with broken springs in the past, both done by the wife I'm sure. In her case I think it's hitting speed bumps too fast. In the case of the T-Bird, which had 3 broken springs, I had them all replaced. Once that was done it still drove terrible (wanting to throw you from lane to lane) until I found a speedshop that did alignments. Once they did their magic and I weighted it down for the winter storage, drove fantastic that next year when I took it out the first time. No problems since then and it's been a few years since it happened.
F150s see far more harsh driving conditions than your wife's Thunderbird does, and nobody around here has heard of one of these breaking a coil spring before. 2005+ Super Duty trucks have coil springs, and they also see lots of harsh driving conditions.
I think it's a simple case of bad luck ending up with bad springs.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: St. Peter
Another thing to take into consideration is the coating that is on the springs. Sometimes the springs are even wrapped in rubber. Both of these are known to trap water, and erode the springs.
Springs have always been a big problem on Ford vehicles. They have even had recalls, or extended warranties on just springs, like on the Taurus and Focus. My attitude is if that is the worst that happens to my truck i'm sitting pretty good.
Springs have always been a big problem on Ford vehicles. They have even had recalls, or extended warranties on just springs, like on the Taurus and Focus. My attitude is if that is the worst that happens to my truck i'm sitting pretty good.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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I should have looked up the old beater 94 Taurus to see if the rear springs would have been covered under the recall. I lost a whole day changing out the springs and rear struts on the old girl. Probably would have lost 2 days if I would have let my old Buddy Weiser help cuz I would have had to re-do something I'm sure.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Minneapolis, Mn
I'd be inclined to agree if the wife wasn't the only driver on them for that year, both cars had been checked previous and no issues. Then 1 year of her driving them and 3 broken springs on one and 2 on the other. Too much of a coincidence and I've seen her take speed bumps. Too much of a coincidence to believe I had 5 bad springs on 1 cars made in different plants and years.
New User
Joined: Jun 2007
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late reply.... My 2004 SCrew had both front coils break. Found it on an oil change. both broke in the same location as the above pic. I replace mine with moog 81118's with bil's 5100's and the truck handles much better.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 77
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From: Dallas, Texas
I cant believe so many people have never heard of coil springs breaking. I mean between Taurus's (probably the worst car there is for broken coils), Focus's, Escorts, It feels like i've replaced a million of those thigns. Granted I was surprised to see one broken on a truck, but you see something new everyday.
When a break like that occurs, in a spring mind you, it's obvious to me the heat treat process wasn't right or it has an alloy issue.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: St. Peter
You may be correct on that. However most of the springs I see, the break occurs inside of a rubber coating on the spring. Like moisture pools inside of the coating on the spring, and rusts it away. Now my truck on the other hand. I would say hands down a metallurgy issue. The spring was pretty clean at the break.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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On my old 94 beater Taurus, the break was definately a heat treat or manufacturing defect. Even though the undercarriage hadn't been washed in years, that break also was a clean break as if it snapped. There was no evidence of rust and corrosion being the culprit. And both rear springs were broken the same way at almost the same spot.