Octal

Octavia 4x4 Rear Broken Springs

e-mail query: To Honest John 11 July 2005

Re Query/Answers entitled “… in spring time” within the Honest John “Questions Answered” feature in the Daily Telegraph Motoring Supplement dated Saturday 9th July 2005, I would like to add a few comments.

Car: Octavia 4x4 Registered Nov 2001.
Mileage: 58,000 approx.
Spring Defect: 60,000 mile service completed, dealer advised both rear springs broken at “bottom end”.
Repair: Two weeks later dealer replaced both springs, plus packing and end stops. Total cost £287.00 including VAT.
Spring Fault: Both springs broken at same point approx 2 to 3 inches from the bottom end of the coil which spirals inwards. To my eyes both springs have a fatigue fracture which had occurred some time ago possibly between MOT in Nov 04 and the present. Fracture was jagged and rusty. Dealer stated that a broken spring or springs is a MOT failure. Broken springs scrapped.
Safety Concern: Car handling did not change sufficiently to alert driver to spring facture. If the one or both springs were defective at MOT and missed perhaps the manufacturer has recently alerted dealers to double check springs. What about the front springs ? Are they from the same manufacturer and when should I expect a repeat failure ? Also I regularly drive with one 10 stone passenger plus approx 170 lbs of PC hardware, tools, manuals, etc. The car is NOT excessively loaded and travels over Scottish Highland A roads and occasionally on B roads
The Good News: Handling much improved and reminds me of the first 10,000 miles.
The Bad News: Another worn anti roll bar bush or bushes on the front suspension.
Redress: The car is 8 months out of warranty – is any one responsible ?

e-mail reply from Honest John 11 July 05

“ Seems almost every European assembled Euro badged model suffers from this defect. Many theories. But if they all come from the same spring manufacturer it could be he has been using steel with a high scrap content.”

TKW

I also read in HJ's Sunday column that another manufacturer had problems with broken springs. Seems like an excuse to upgrade the suspension, no?

Stuart_J

If anyone else gets this problem I have a complete 4x4 std suspension, front & rear that had covered about 8000 miles, also a complete std exhaust system that can be had for a small donation to the beer fund

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Speed is an addiction for which thankfully there is no cure

Octal

I would love to but as I seemed to miss the effect of one or both broken rear springs would I notice a change for the better to something better than standard ?