I've finally become a member.....

[Dubya]

.....of the broken spring club! Stopped off at the garage on the way home from work this morning to check the tyre pressures and was greeted by this sorry sight:



It appears I have been lucky as it has stopped about 10mm short of hitting the tyre. I imagine it was one of the numerous pot holes that infest the roads here in sunny Herefordshire!

I don't suppose anyone knows the correct colour code for ZT-T 190 front springs?

[Heddy]

I need this explaining to me. If a spring broke on the car I'd just have to order one from a list that the supplier stated suited the car. Never understood the colour codes. Are they important?

[Kennyeth]

Originally Posted by Heddy

I need this explaining to me. If a spring broke on the car I'd just have to order one from a list that the supplier stated suited the car. Never understood the colour codes. Are they important?

They must have been at the time of production for them to put the label codes under the rear seats.
Ken.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

Originally Posted by Dubya

.....of the broken spring club! Stopped off at the garage on the way home from work this morning to check the tyre pressures and was greeted by this sorry sight:



It appears I have been lucky as it has stopped about 10mm short of hitting the tyre. I imagine it was one of the numerous pot holes that infest the roads here in sunny Herefordshire!

I don't suppose anyone knows the correct colour code for ZT-T 190 front springs?

When you replace the front springs, it will be well worth fitting a pair of tyre protectors.

To reduce the risk of corrosion and a subsequent break, I keep my springs clean. Weekly clean includes wheel arches. Alison does up to 400 miles a week so she is no show queen!

[Dubya]

Have you drilled the holes in the spring cup? Would I be correct in saying they are to prevent water building up inside?

[Leyland Worldmaster]

Originally Posted by Dubya

Have you drilled the holes in the spring cup? Would I be correct in saying they are to prevent water building up inside?

This is not a Rover '75, but an Audi A2, so the spring cup is like that as standard. I just couldn't find any pictures of my '75 to show how clean I kept everything.

I think there are two reasons for the holes in the spring cup; one is to reduce unsprung weight and the second is as you mentioned to prevent a build up of water and silt in the spring cup.

Good luck getting your car sorted!

[Lovel]

[QUOTE=Dubya;2479593 I imagine it was one of the numerous pot holes that infest the roads here in sunny Herefordshire! [/QUOTE]

Its not the pot holes that do it. Its the integrity of the coating on the spring that deteriorates over the years. Once the coating is broken the corrosion of the spring begins and ultimately leads to fracture.

Keep you springs coated with grease/waxoyl and they will hopefully last much longer.

I would suggest that springs in modern cars are changed out at between 5 and 10 years(wow that's some window) depending on the coating condition.

[neilll]

Brown/Red should be fitted to yours Brown/Brown are the earlier ones iirc.
Changed mine recently and both types are available from rimmers.
Neil

[Dubya]

My replacement springs arrived yesterday so started to tackle the job today. Everything else has come apart nicely except for.....yep, you guessed correctly.....the b****y lower strut pinch bolt. It has been soaked in PlusGas for the last 2 days, using a 6 sided socket and has not even budged.

Okay then I thought, I'll take the strut and hub of together, that'll beat it. All went well until it came to the driveshaft nut. Let's just say I am now in mourning following the demise of my long suffering breaker bar which has provided sterling service for the last 20 years!



Now waiting for the wife to return from another epic shopping trip so I can go into town and purchase a suitable replacement. Don't you just love these cars!!!

[Best_of_British]

Originally Posted by Dubya

My replacement springs arrived yesterday so started to tackle the job today. Everything else has come apart nicely except for.....yep, you guessed correctly.....the b****y lower strut pinch bolt. It has been soaked in PlusGas for the last 2 days, using a 6 sided socket and has not even budged.

Okay then I thought, I'll take the strut and hub of together, that'll beat it. All went well until it came to the driveshaft nut. Let's just say I am now in mourning following the demise of my long suffering breaker bar which has provided sterling service for the last 20 years!



Now waiting for the wife to return from another epic shopping trip so I can go into town and purchase a suitable replacement. Don't you just love these cars!!!

I replaced mine on Tuesday. I gave up on the pinch bolt and took whole strut off. I thought the hub bolt would be a nightmare but plenty of penetrating fluid and just heat from propane torch got it shifted. It was the cheap electric clarke impact wrench that got it moving which suprised me as I did not think it would be up to it. Maybe I got lucky as the nut was clean and no rust had got in. For £10 I would chuck a new top mount bearing on as well. Took the strut to garage £30 to swap spring and bearing. £70 all in and a few scraped knuckles not too bad, spring compressors make me nervous £30 well spent.

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