WinFreak

How likely is it a car (11 plate volvo v50 in this case) has 2 broken front springs but you haven't noticed a thing?

My other halfs car is in for MOT and she's just got the call saying it's failed because of 2 broken springs... I have the feeling they're taking her for a ride but could it be possible they're right?!

They also said it's got an advisory on front and rear pads and while I fixed the washer fluid sensor last weekend I had a look at the front pads and they looked fine to me... so bit confused there too!

Shiskine

Where did she take the car?

"Brakes and springs are like a beautiful woman ..."

WinFreak

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We've tried so many different garages round where we live and none of them do what you want or give you the idea they look after you and your car and they're just after your money and as much of it as they can get away with...

Maybe it's just Surrey where everyone is a mug happy to part with his money

Nick Graves

Like most cars, it's the end coil which breaks off. So you'd not notice the drop in ride height/sudden loss of handling finesse.

Any clunking noises?

It's perfectly plausible, but also convenient, I suppose. There are plenty of Broken-spring V40s/V50s out there.

lower

Its quite likely. BMW Z4m's are prone to breaking their rears springs. I was quite pleased that i'd got to 50k miles without mine breaking. Then sure enough, at the last service they found a broken spring. I'd not noticed any difference at all.

Lots of modern cars seem to break their coil springs. It tends to be the last coil that snaps off and the remainder expands and takes up the slack so you don't notice any difference in ride height. Speed bumps have a lot to do with it apparently.

WinFreak

Thanks guys, I guess they weren't lying!

GreenmanS2000

You can always ask the garage for the old parts back once they've been changed.

Nottm_S2

Have a look - you can spot it as the bit that is a tighter coil is the bit which breaks

very common. Our Vec had this and that had soft suspension.

Advise might just be 'they wont last till next year'. A punt for
some work?

WinFreak

Have a look at the picture above

They failed it on the springs and a nail in the tyre and it's got a list of advisories as long as my arm

Time for a new car maybe!

buaan

I have had two go on a 2007 Ford Ka, I heard the one snap as I hit a bump in the road. Both went near the end of the coil. My father in law has had one go on his 2010 Focus. Maybe Ford have been fitting their cheese springs to the Volvo's?