[Steering & Suspension] Broken front spring

[Multispacer]

Hello, due to the current c**p state of the roads in the UK, I have suffered a front broken spring on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR 1.6Hdi

A couple of questions, looking on catcar.info for the correct spring and there seem to be a lot of alternatives [I've put in my VIN number] but there seems to be another number an OPR Number what does that refer to and where can I find out the OPR number of my vehicle?

I'm assuming I need an uprated spring at the Multispace XTR is a heavier vehicle.

Second question, can the spring replacement actually be done in-situ [with spring compressors] or do I need to to take the whole shock assembly out?

Will, of course, be replacing both sides as never good to replace just one side.

Thanks for any help, or tips on changing these.

[cancunia]

The OPR number is the manufacturing date encoded, if you search around, you'll find some calculators and also the correct location, it's on the plate with the tyre pressures but I can't remember exactly where.
You'll need to take the strut out and if you don't have a heavy duty spring compressor, you'll need to take it somewhere that does. Probably worth changing the strut top bearing while you're doing it. You should really replace both springs at the same time as the other may not be far behind in terms of failure but you can get away with doing just one.

[Sol]

Open the drivers door, on the slam panel there's a sticker with a 5 digit number and two letters on the end like 12950FV etc, the numbers are your opr number. Or use one close to the build date from your v5, I posted a pdf version of the calculator I built to get the opr from build date and vice versa. Its in the how to section.

Click here, download the pdf and search for your date of first manufacture off your v5, the opr will be the number adjacent to this date.

https://www.berlingoforum.com/thread-19887.html

[cancunia]

The following search shows some OPR calculators plus some images of the OPR number location:

https://www.google.com/search?client=ope...8&oe=UTF-8

[Multispacer]

Thanks guys, I located the number on the door pillar as advised.

[ItsGreen]

I'm not sure if it's the case on newer cars, but on most things I've worked on, there'll be a couple of dabs of coloured paint somewhere on the old spring, these are to identify its specifications. Might be worth going under the wheel arch with a torch to see if anything stands out

[ffrenchie]

I do springs one at a time and never had problems with it. I see throwing out a good spring as a waste of money. I've not changed top bearings either if they didn't need it. I bought a hydraulic spring compressor as they are scary things to do with the screw type.

[Sol]

I bought a hydraulic spring compressor as they are scary things to do with the screw type.

Aye, amen to that. I had a set let go while compressing a spring on a Merc strut, whilst it was in the boot of the car for safety...it nearly went through the side when the compressor hook decided it wanted to "go straight" (see what I did there  :wink: ) and new trousers were required immediately.

[Nice4dad]

Had the two front springs replaced but one at a time as they failed (about a year apart) Didn't notice any change in the handling characteristics with only one replaced. Did have the top mounting replaced and after the second one was changed the car was the quietest it had every been. The top mounts are small money.

2009 XTR

[Multispacer]

    I got around to changing the front springs today all went well on the offside [the side that was broken] bit of a disaster on the nearside though, on the last knockings of getting the front shock in, I obviously moved the hub a bit too much leading to a loss of a substantial amount of gearbox oil. I'm guessing the driveshaft seal will now be totally b***ered which is not what I needed! I might try and top up the gearbox oil first to see if if actually leaks when I drive it before tearing it all apart again. Has anyone else been in this scenario and got away without changing the seal [ie might it just be that I pulled the shaft out too far but now it's back it it won't leak or am I just being over optimistic?]

I did change both springs and the top mounts while I was at it and I also don't trust the little hook over coil compressors, I invested in a heavy duty spring compressor set a number of years ago.