MOT time again

[ffrenchie]

MOT fail yesterday, both front springs broken   How did I not notice that? It still drives perfectly well.

[Gadgetman]

I believe the M59 had the spring cuff mounted as standard on the front(it was supposed to be some sort of Recall on the M49 to fit them), and these cuffs keeps the parts somewhat in place. They were added because broken front springs tends to rip apart the sidewall of the tire.

[Gryffindor]

I had exactly the same - MOT failure - but for only one spring. And as you say, it drove perfectly fine.

I once visited my sister who lives in the Fens, or as the locals call it, spring country. Parked up at her house with no problems. Got into the Berlingo the next morning for a drive but it would not move. The front springs collapsed overnight while it was parked up.

[ffrenchie]

I've done one side finished it this morning, forgot what a b@!!ache it is . Got back ache now so I'll be doing the other later in the week. I replaced the safety retainer that stops spring hitting the tyre.

[evdama]

I had exactly the same - MOT failure - but for only one spring. And as you say, it drove perfectly fine.

I once visited my sister who lives in the Fens, or as the locals call it, spring country. Parked up at her house with no problems. Got into the Berlingo the next morning for a drive but it would not move. The front springs collapsed overnight while it was parked up.

We had a batch of Merc Sprinter chassis cabs at work.They'd snap rear leaf springs while parked up in the yard unladen.
Eventually once the whole lot had been replaced the new springs didn't break again.

I potholed the offside spring on my b9 and apart from the knocking  didn't actually notice a difference....

[Gryffindor]

Hmm. If they were chassis cabs, were the back ends bouncing about on the road due to not having weight on them? That would not be too unlike driving in spring country on all four springs!

On the other hand, sounds like you had a duff batch of springs, so maybe I did too.

A slightly different story: a retired friend used to be a civil transport infrastructure engineer. He once told me a story about a coach firm in bath which got the attention of various official bodies, including those coloured blue. Their coach tyres kept blowing out on the M4. The tyre suppliers were paid a visit, but the supplied tyres were indeed the correct ones, and of the correct standard.

These tyres had a max speed rating of 65mph, since that is the legal speed limit for coaches. No prizes for guessing why they kept suffering blowouts on the motorway!

[ffrenchie]

Both springs done and one new drop link, the old one stripped threads. Just need to top the gearbox oil up when it stops raining and take for retest. Still have a few days left to play with so no rush.

[NANO_Vigo]

I wish I had read your post before leaving the drive away all dirty. Right spring  not problem, left spring the palier started to spill all the oil of the gearbox.

[Sol]

I wish I had read your post before leaving the drive away all dirty. Right spring  not problem, left spring the palier started to spill all the oil of the gearbox.

Where have you been! Sleeping like Rip Van Winkle? I thought you had left. Good to see you back again

[ffrenchie]

Oil replaced and retested, all done for the year again.