5 Signs You Have a Broken Coil Spring
The coil springs keep your vehicle at the proper driving height and make your drive more comfortable. Here’s how to detect whether your car’s coil springs are damaged.
When you’re driving down the road, your suspension is working hard to keep you comfortable. The coil springs are one of the most important parts of the suspension system. The ride is anything but delightful when the suspension or coil springs are faulty.
A sagging corner of your car is the most prevalent indicator of a broken coil spring. Excessive bouncing, uneven tyre wear, or a rattling noise when twisting the steering wheel are all possible problems. Before scheduling your next MOT testing service, have a mechanic perform a full health check on your vehicle to guarantee that any faulty parts are replaced before to the MOT test to avoid a failure.
While these are the most prevalent symptoms, they are by no means exhaustive. Here’s a more complete summary of the most prevalent faulty coil spring symptoms:
1. Corner Sagging — When a coil spring fails, the corner in which it is positioned begins to sag. In this scenario, it’s evident that one of the car’s corners is lower than the others. This sagging issue might also lead to a loss of driving stability. It will also cause some of the other symptoms, such as tyre wear that is uneven and sounds. If you suspect any concerns with the suspension system, look for car services near me and schedule an appointment for a comprehensive health check.
2. Excessive Bounce — Coil springs are built to maintain the car from bouncing up and down every time it encounters a bump. When the springs are faulty, however, they can no longer resist bounciness. This will result in a MOT test to fail and may have even been a reason for a previous MOT to fail when you check MOT history of your car. The shaking or bouncing will get worse over time as you drive, particularly if you drive a lot on uneven terrain or dirt roads. When the bounciness gets too bad, you may lose control of your car.
3. Uneven Tyre Wear — While moving down the road, the suspension system ensures that the wheels and tyres remain balanced. For a safe driving, the tyres should get equal amounts of wear as they rotate. The wheel alignment profile changes when the coil springs fail, resulting in increased wear on one side. Premature tyre tread failure might result in severe handling concerns. If you don’t inspect your tyres regularly, it could result in a blowout. If you Google “check my MOT history,” you’ll find that tyre thread below the legal limit is a regular reason for MOT failure.
4. Rattling Sound — Whenever the suspension springs fail, you may hear rattling and other strange noises. The noise will get louder as time goes on. It may also deteriorate as you speed or go over rugged terrain. If you disregard this early warning sign, this could develop into something far more serious.
5. Unusual Noise When Turning — If you hear a loud noise when turning the steering wheel from the front of your vehicle, the coil spring is most likely damaged and in contact with the vehicle’s body. It can also cause the spring to contact the chassis rather than the top mount bearing, resulting in loud bouncing noises when turning.
A Coil Spring’s Function
The coil springs in your car are in charge of absorbing road bumps. The springs and suspension system work together to give a comfortable ride while the car drives over imperfections.
When an impediment is met, the suspension springs support the vehicle’s weight and allow the wheels to travel vertically. Instead of being sent to the cabin, this movement is absorbed by the springs.
