Cracked spring safe to drive on?

[FocusOnPunk]

I think I have the semi-common cracked front coil spring. When I turn the wheel, I get this loud, reverberating "clunk" (the reverb is what makes me think it's the spring). I also get this going over sharp bumps. Other than that, the car seems to drive just fine.

Is this safe to drive on temporarily? I can't get to the shop until next week, and need to drive somewhere this weekend.

[blueovaldave]

If the spring is broken it is not safe. The spring can easily come in contact with the tire which can cause a puncture.

You should be able to pull a wheel off and look and see if the spring is broken or not. If they do break they usually break towards the bottom and hang down below the spring perch.

[FocusOnPunk]

Unfortunately, I'm not able to jack the car up and remove a wheel where it's parked. Thanks for the advice on driveability though.

[Liquid_02_ZX3]

not safe = get fixed ASAP

[Sharply_Focused]

If you look at the spring, you should be able to tell right away if it's broken or not. Your car will lean to that side and you'll have coils touching each other.

I had this happen sometime before winter started and I couldn't afford to fix it until just 8 weeks ago. The car handled a little worse but in my case it was driveable. It may not have been the best idea to drive with it like that, but I had no money or choice in the matter. I needed to get to school and work. The problem was compunded by the fact that I use my car for work (pizza delivery).

It never gave me a problem. I believe the focus' coil springs are a variable coil package that tapers off as they move toward the spring seat. I think, the way mine broke, the smaller coils at the bottom broke into the larger coils above telescoping on itself and sitting nicely on the seat. I may have gotten lucky. Nevertheless it was still in the back of my mind the whole time to get it fixed.

Good luck.

[FocusOnPunk]

Update: irrelevant, I got it fixed. It's under some lifetime or near-lifetime extended warranty.

[GapBoyPCS]

Originally Posted by FocusOnPunk

Update: irrelevant, I got it fixed. It's under some lifetime or near-lifetime extended warranty.

It's actually an extended warranty. It's NOT lifetime, and it's only covering those of us who have specific model year cars and up to a certain mileage.

For example, Canadian vehicles were covered from 2000 to 2002 (I believe it's upped to 2003 and 2004, but I'm not sure), and it covered 10 years/240,000 km. Heck, I blew past that mileage and went right into the SVT suspension

To see if your vehicle is covered, any Ford dealer should be able to run your VIN through the database and detrmine if you have extended coverage. Owners on file with Ford should have already received the letter. Otherwise, you may have moved and/or have bought the car used, so Ford wouldn't have been able to notify you.

[UDonkey]

I had this happen this morning on my '01 ZX3. I called the dealership and they ran the VIN - said that there aren't any "recalls" but that theres a bulletin and that they'll need to inspect my car on Thursday to decide what can be done.

I'm hoping my springs are covered - this is an expense that I definitely don't need right now.

[Chaney]

I think i still have my stock springs, I will have to check and see if they are in good condition. They have like 20k on them. If you need them Donkey, we can work something out for cheap.

Shoot me a pm, as i will forget I posted in team tech.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

In the U.S. market the spring coverage is 10 years unlimited mileage for the affected vehicles.

[Sharply_Focused]

Originally Posted by FORDSVTPARTS

In the U.S. market the spring coverage is 10 years unlimited mileage for the affected vehicles.

This is correct. I just went to the dealership today for an unrelated issue and even though I had my springs replaced elsewhere, they said they would work to get my money back for me! I was blown away. Bring it in and get 'em fixed FREE.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by Sharply_Focused

This is correct. I just went to the dealership today for an unrelated issue and even though I had my springs replaced elsewhere, they said they would work to get my money back for me! I was blown away. Bring it in and get 'em fixed FREE.

If you want another neat trick you can also buy or bring in new struts and they will usually install them free with the new springs since it'll be fully disassembled anyways.

They'll only do that with OEM style struts though, I know of a few people that had that done.

[UDonkey]

Originally Posted by UDonkey

I had this happen this morning on my '01 ZX3. I called the dealership and they ran the VIN - said that there aren't any "recalls" but that theres a bulletin and that they'll need to inspect my car on Thursday to decide what can be done.

I'm hoping my springs are covered - this is an expense that I definitely don't need right now.

Just got back from the dealership - both front springs replaced for FREE on my '01 ZX3.

Thanks Ford!