broken spring
 

once again broken spring and a ruined brand new tyre this is my second rover it's happened with is it just our cars that shred tyres when they break a spring as i have had a few cars in my day of various makes with broken springs but never damaged a tyre this is the second time i have just started to drive out the driveway only went a couple of feet when i felt and heard it i have taken the wheel off and grinded off what i could of the spring to allow me to take the car for repair in the morning has anyone ever had this happen at speed i shudder to think what the outcome could be by the way i am in the process of ordering tyre protectors can anyone say whether they do the job they are designed to do going for a well earned cuppa now cheers

Is say tyre protectors are about 80% effective, I have seen a spring brake at a higher point than the tyre protectors flange and still shred a tyre.

For the money, I’d still fit a set to improve your chances though.


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Have had 2 front springs go , so far! The first went and I didn't have the protectors........result, a shredded tyre.

I then fitted some protectors and when the second one went, it saved the tyre. As Trikey says, it will depend where the fracture happens but as they are so cheap, in my mind, they are worth fitting.

Judging by forum posts George, no. It always happens when the car is first moved from a parking position.

Simon

I had one of my springs snap at the beginning of this month, and yes it shredded my tyre.
A pair of new front coils have been fitted, but I've not bought the tyre protectors yet.
I'm hoping they will last a couple of years before they get to the stage where I'm in danger of a spring snapping again!

Sorry to disagree Simon.
When the front offside went on my 75 some years back it happened as I was exiting a roundabout onto dual carriageway (right foot down!!). I was probably only doing about 30mph, loud BANG immediately followed by heavy rumbling. I had to stop on the carriageway and check what had happened, a bus only just missed me and the car. Fortunately for me there was a field entrance a few hundred yards away which I limped to and put the space saver on and crawled to my sisters house for emergency repair.

The heavy rumbling was the spring ripping through the nearly new tyre:flog2:
SteveN

Hi Steve and no need for an apology! :} I am always interested to hear evidence from all points of view. First of all I am relieved to hear that you didn't come to any harm.

Can I ask whether spring protectors were fitted?
Where on the spring did your fracture occur?

Simon

PS We heard recently from a member who says he was involved in the tyre protector project. He added that MG Rover eventually changed the manufacturer of the springs to solve the problem. So provided that genuine parts are used (and they are made by Simplex) for replacement, there should be no need for concern.

I think its indiscriminate and luck of the draw . Mine failed on a duel carriageway (centre of the spring )and I limped home with no damage , My brother's failed over a level crossing and it took out the tyre. He ended up been transported home on back of a recovery truck . Both times on the move but I know from the forum plenty return to a parked car and find them failed
As for the protectors , If they prevent an accident or save 1 tyre they have more than paid for themselves

Hi Simon,
Spring protectors were not fitted prior to the failure, but were fitted at the same time that BOTH front springs were replaced. Though I don't know which make of spring was fitted. (this happened about 8 years back, nothing on the bill)
The fracture was part way up the spring, roughly at the lowest full diameter, if that makes sense?? :shrug:

When I got to my sisters I borrowed my brother-in-laws angle grinder and cut off the sharp point so it cleared the space saver and drove home (25 miles) with no effective spring on that wheel :eek:. I borrowed a few bags of sand (the flood alert had been cleared) to put in the boot over the near side wheel well to give some sort of balance.
Heath & Robinson eat your heart out :D

New Springs
 

Surely a bit of preventative maintenance is in order. What is the cost of a pair of new springs? Is it a DIY job?
Only just got my ZT-T so I think I will do it
Cheers