Moving car with broken coil spring

El Borracho · 28th November 2018, 18:56

I've got a broken front coil spring. Fortunately it happened when the car was parked up as the spring is sitting on the tyre - I've only found out about the protectors in the last couple of days

Unfortunately the car isn't at home so I need to get it there (on a tow truck obviously!!) But, I need to get it onto the tow truck then into my drive at the other end.

Is there any way of lifting the spring off the tyre so it doesn't catch as I would rather not have to replace it if I can help it - or do I just bite the bullet and hope for the best?

I'm not very familiar with broken springs as I've only had 2 previously in 35 cars - had one fixed & sold the other.

This also answers the dilemma of whether to take the car off the road when the MOT runs out. I had too many jobs to do anyway so I'll put it in the garage & take my time!

Number 6 · 28th November 2018, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Borracho

I've got a broken front coil spring. Fortunately it happened when the car was parked up as the spring is sitting on the tyre - I've only found out about the protectors in the last couple of days

Unfortunately the car isn't at home so I need to get it there (on a tow truck obviously!!) But, I need to get it onto the tow truck then into my drive at the other end.

Is there any way of lifting the spring off the tyre so it doesn't catch as I would rather not have to replace it if I can help it - or do I just bite the bullet and hope for the best?

I'm not very familiar with broken springs as I've only had 2 previously in 35 cars - had one fixed & sold the other.

This also answers the dilemma of whether to take the car off the road when the MOT runs out. I had too many jobs to do anyway so I'll put it in the garage & take my time!

I am not sure if this will help but could be worth a try.Do you have the standard space saver wheel as a spare ?If you have try changing it for the standard road wheel The space saver is narrower in width and may just clear the broken spring enough to get it onto the two truck

vitesse · 28th November 2018, 19:16

When one of my front springs broke it too settled on the tyre, the only solution I could think of at the time which would save the tyre was an angle grinder. I had a spring compressor to take up the slack and cut a few inches off the broken coil and then removed the tyre.

Mind you I never had to move the car as it happened in my driveway.

Regards

Southern Star · 28th November 2018, 19:49

When my o/s coil spring broke on the M6 and took the tyre out, I put the spacesaver on and drove around 400 yards on it into Knutsford services. The spring was rubbing on the tyre wall but didn't puncture it, so you might be OK getting it onto the tow truck.

trikey · 28th November 2018, 20:02

As Vitesse says, chop off the protruding piece of spring using an angle grinder, then pop on a space saver, all will be well.

COLVERT · 28th November 2018, 20:11

Just lately Lidl have been selling a cordless angle grinder. Great for cutting off broken springs or even wheel clamps----

RoverP480 · 28th November 2018, 21:37

If its of any use, a decent tow truck will have a trolley that they can put under a wheel so that it does not need to rotate.

El Borracho · 1st December 2018, 16:35

Some useful ideas there. I'm sure it's got a full size steel spare but I'm not so bothered about the tyre on that so might just swap it. Or go to lidl for a cordless angle grinder! Cheers

patrolman pete · 1st December 2018, 19:14

If you remove the wheel you may find that you can't get full sized wheel back on as the spring will drop. A space saver will work if you smear the inside of the tyre with washing up liquid so it will slide against the broken spring. I know as I've done it to load one of mine onto a truck a long time ago.

If i'm called out to a broken spring in my work patrol van, I fit transportation blocks to the strut to take off the weight, then fit our emergency spacesaver with a spacer which normally leaves a good gap away from the spring and drive it to the garage.

SideValve · 1st December 2018, 20:09

My previous 75 broke a front spring while parked on the 2nd floor of a multi-storey car park.
The breakdown truck arrived but obviously couldn't get to me. I jacked the car up and the spring moved from the side-wall to the top of the tyre. As I couldn't do anything else with it, I lowered the car and drove it out like that. It sounded and felt dreadful but I made it down the ramps and on to the lorry. Half way home we had to switch lorries. I was sure my luck would run out but it made it off the lorry and on to the next one. Once home, the lorry wouldn't fit down my drive so I again drove it with the broken spring resting on the top of the tyre.
Once home I could swap the spring. There was no sign of anything more than rubbing on the tyre, I swapped it to the rear but it was fine.
I was amazed that I got away with it.

28th November 2018, 18:56	#1
El Borracho Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Gateshead Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Moving car with broken coil spring I've got a broken front coil spring. Fortunately it happened when the car was parked up as the spring is sitting on the tyre - I've only found out about the protectors in the last couple of days Unfortunately the car isn't at home so I need to get it there (on a tow truck obviously!!) But, I need to get it onto the tow truck then into my drive at the other end. Is there any way of lifting the spring off the tyre so it doesn't catch as I would rather not have to replace it if I can help it - or do I just bite the bullet and hope for the best? I'm not very familiar with broken springs as I've only had 2 previously in 35 cars - had one fixed & sold the other. This also answers the dilemma of whether to take the car off the road when the MOT runs out. I had too many jobs to do anyway so I'll put it in the garage & take my time!

28th November 2018, 20:02	#5
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,765 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	As Vitesse says, chop off the protruding piece of spring using an angle grinder, then pop on a space saver, all will be well. __________________ Lest we forget..

28th November 2018, 19:16	#3
vitesse I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gävle Posts: 2,528 Thanks: 395 Thanked 823 Times in 652 Posts	When one of my front springs broke it too settled on the tyre, the only solution I could think of at the time which would save the tyre was an angle grinder. I had a spring compressor to take up the slack and cut a few inches off the broken coil and then removed the tyre. Mind you I never had to move the car as it happened in my driveway. Regards

28th November 2018, 19:49	#4
Southern Star Loves to post Rover 75 CTDi Contemporary SE Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Stretton-under-Fosse, Warwickshire. Posts: 358 Thanks: 54 Thanked 134 Times in 83 Posts	When my o/s coil spring broke on the M6 and took the tyre out, I put the spacesaver on and drove around 400 yards on it into Knutsford services. The spring was rubbing on the tyre wall but didn't puncture it, so you might be OK getting it onto the tow truck.

28th November 2018, 20:11	#6
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	Just lately Lidl have been selling a cordless angle grinder. Great for cutting off broken springs or even wheel clamps----

28th November 2018, 21:37	#7
RoverP480 Gets stuck in None at the moment Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Hereford Posts: 501 Thanks: 1 Thanked 165 Times in 146 Posts	If its of any use, a decent tow truck will have a trolley that they can put under a wheel so that it does not need to rotate.

1st December 2018, 16:35	#8
El Borracho Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Gateshead Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Some useful ideas there. I'm sure it's got a full size steel spare but I'm not so bothered about the tyre on that so might just swap it. Or go to lidl for a cordless angle grinder! Cheers

1st December 2018, 19:14	#9
patrolman pete Posted a thing or two Rover 75 club se tourer CDT and a Connoisseur SE Diesel Auto Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houghton - le - Spring Posts: 1,418 Thanks: 618 Thanked 333 Times in 197 Posts	If you remove the wheel you may find that you can't get full sized wheel back on as the spring will drop. A space saver will work if you smear the inside of the tyre with washing up liquid so it will slide against the broken spring. I know as I've done it to load one of mine onto a truck a long time ago. If i'm called out to a broken spring in my work patrol van, I fit transportation blocks to the strut to take off the weight, then fit our emergency spacesaver with a spacer which normally leaves a good gap away from the spring and drive it to the garage.