Broken spring - OK to drive?

[MacV50]

Coming off a roundabout last night, there was a massive bang. Stopped to check but couldn't see anything in the dark with a phone torch. Only had 3 miles to go so drove home without incident and the car didn't feel any different.

Checking this morning the OS rear is broken at the top.

So, am I OK to drive it like this until repair can be completed? Is there likely to be any secondary damage?

My thinking is that it might be OK for a short time as I've known folk only find out about this stuff at MOT time so they could have driven many 000s of miles on the broken spring with no apparent ill effects!

Will certainly look to get the trailing arm bushes done at the same time and probably the ARB drop links

[Familyman 90]

I wouldn't risk it. If the suspension unloads over a bump the spring will find itself loose on the strut and theres a very good chance itll dig into the tyre, with all the expense, pain, carnage, and unwanted attention from the feds that could bring about.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by MacV50

Coming off a roundabout last night, there was a massive bang. Stopped to check but couldn't see anything in the dark with a phone torch. Only had 3 miles to go so drove home without incident and the car didn't feel any different.

Checking this morning the OS rear is broken at the top.

So, am I OK to drive it like this until repair can be completed? Is there likely to be any secondary damage?

My thinking is that it might be OK for a short time as I've known folk only find out about this stuff at MOT time so they could have driven many 000s of miles on the broken spring with no apparent ill effects!

Will certainly look to get the trailing arm bushes done at the same time and probably the ARB drop links

No you can’t drive it. It could fall out and there is a real risk it will dig into the tyre and cause a blow out.

[MacV50]

Just an update

I've had it checked and garage say it's OK to drive for a short time until repaired. The location of the break and distance from the tyre mean the two cannot meet. If it had been the front spring, it would not be safe

Just waiting on quotes ...

Anyone got an indication of costs? I see springs around £60 each on ECP but they don't appear to be the correct ones for R-Design suspension.

Thanks

[Seanl82]

Have you got a quote from Volvo for the part if you're doing it yourself? Springs aren't generally very expensive components so you may find there is little in it for a genuine one.

[MacV50]

Yes, I'm planning on getting Volvo parts fitted but will likely get the work done by a garage as I just don't have the time

[Familyman 90]

Originally Posted by MacV50

Just an update

I've had it checked and garage say it's OK to drive for a short time until repaired. The location of the break and distance from the tyre mean the two cannot meet. If it had been the front spring, it would not be safe

Just waiting on quotes ...

Anyone got an indication of costs? I see springs around £60 each on ECP but they don't appear to be the correct ones for R-Design suspension.

Thanks

The two cannot meet...until the spring leaves its seat on the strut. Then it will meet.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by MacV50

Just an update

I've had it checked and garage say it's OK to drive for a short time until repaired. The location of the break and distance from the tyre mean the two cannot meet. If it had been the front spring, it would not be safe

Just waiting on quotes ...

Anyone got an indication of costs? I see springs around £60 each on ECP but they don't appear to be the correct ones for R-Design suspension.

Thanks

Your garage wont pay your court costs and fines.... It is illegal to drive the car now as it is not roadworthy, a broken spring is at least a major MOT failure, considered Dangerous if any part of it could detach from the car.

It all depends where and how it is broken. If it's broken in the middle and just dropped an inch then it might not cause an issue, but there is always a danger is might move and a sharp edge go into the tyre and puncture it (as happened to my dad) or a part of the spring falls on the road. A colleague of mine had part of a car spring come through her windscreen on the M6 this year - fortunately on the passenger side. I'll post the photo of it from her dashcam if she will send it.

The chances of either of the above happening might be statistically low but the consequences could be very bad for you and/or someone else.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by MacV50

Just an update

I've had it checked and garage say it's OK to drive for a short time until repaired. The location of the break and distance from the tyre mean the two cannot meet. If it had been the front spring, it would not be safe

Just waiting on quotes ...

Anyone got an indication of costs? I see springs around £60 each on ECP but they don't appear to be the correct ones for R-Design suspension.

Thanks

That’s good to hear. It may be that the spring has broken at the ‘cup’ in which case it may not be too bad. However I would still drive it minimally.

Changing rear springs is pretty easy.

[MacV50]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

The two cannot meet...until the spring leaves its seat on the strut. Then it will meet.

I'm really not sure how that could happen. There is so much separation between spring and when on the rear

Regardless, I won't be driving it much