Broken coil spring

[hachiroku]

As Trevor says, if replacing one spring then I'd do the other side as well as  a precaution, the same way you'd replace pads and/or discs on both sides. If one spring has snapped then it's possible that the other may go the same way at some point. It's not too much extra work, and you get plenty of practice too so the 2nd side should be quicker and easier to do

[Kokain]

So lets recap, you have 3 ways of doing this. 1st and cheapest way is going to the car morgue and undoing 5 bolts, 3 on top and 2 bottom and just take the whole shock/spring/top mount combo. 2nd is buy some 15gbp spring compressors and a 22" deep spanner (22" is not very cheap), now from this experience you will end up with the tools for feature DIY jobs, which is always my moto. And last 3rd option is 22" deep spanner + FK Automotive / TA Technix coilovers

3rd option is what it will cost you if a garage replaces just the spring for you. Just for labour...

[andy-womble]

I would buy a second hand one with everything on it save you messing around with a spring compressor, only proplem with that is its second hand and might not last as long but would be quicker and not much messing.

No my friend, to do that you would need to buy the complete strut assembly from the scrap yard which would involve swapping brake parts and potentially loads of other stuff plus a lot more time consuming. Personally, I wouldn't entertain using second hand springs. Would fit new and to both sides. Replaced plenty of coil springs and macpherson struts in my time from Mk1 Escorts and onwards. Little tip is to loosen off the big nut located in the middle of the top mount while the vehicle is on the ground and also fit the strut clamps at the same time as it can be awkward with the weight off and the springs extended..... 

[ffrenchie]

If you are going to do one side, I wonder if it is worth doing both front springs?
A few years back I had a recall from Citroen for my Mk2 to have 'cups' fitted to the bottom of the springs which stopped the spring from digging into the tyre if it broke, I wonder if they still do this?

My car has the cups fitted and they contained the spring when it broke so it would not contact the tyre. I bought a single spring and removed the leg and took it round to a local garage where they have an hydraulic spring compressor. I don't think I would have done it safely with the old screw type. It only took him 10 minutes and he didn't want anything but a contribution to the tea fund.

[ffrenchie]

The brake and hub are separate from the strut leg not like old rear wheel drive Escorts. There is a clamp bolt and you have to beat the front hub off the bottom of the strut leg with a lump hammer and a 3x2     That's my preferred method anyway 

[Silent_Bob]

Thank you very much for the answers here folks. Some really good ideas to mull over.

Are these cups available for a 2004/05 1.9? Can you buy them if not? I like having decent branded tyres on my van and wouldn't want a repeat of this to shred a tyre. I'm probably borrowing trouble but still..

I can't do much more until weekend, thanks again guys.

[Trevor]

I would contact Citroen and ask them about the cups, maybe it is still covered by recall? Nothing to loose by asking.

http://www.citroen.co.uk/about-citroen/contact-us

[CourierJim]

Hi Silent-Bob, I had exactly the same thing happen to me. ie discovered OSF coil broken and it was half way down the strut leg, when I went to reverse my van off my drive. I also discovered that a 4" piece had snapped off the NSF coil as well! I decided to have a go at doing the job myself and bought some cheap spring compressors from Machine Mart. I ordered springs from Euro Car Parts, but they sent the wrong ones, so I ended up buying mine from a Citroen dealer for £170 a pair.

You will need a large allen key (7mm I think it was) to hold the strut while you loosen and tighten the top strut securing nuts. I had to apply heat from a blowlamp to loosen them! Make sure that you are wearing good eye protection as, even a new coil spring could snap while you tighten the compression clamps on. I did both struts in half a day, and it's a job well within the abilities of someone with a half decent tool kit, and a torque wrench.

[hachiroku]

Well, after reading this thread the other day I took my Blingo for its MOT, which it failed.... a broken coil spring  

so it looks like I'll be doing the same job as you in the next few days.

This seems to be a fairly common occurence on these cars

[lorraine]

I bought after market springs,big mistake they are crap.