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Car mechanics SR3 area + advice needed

JAZZMANB said:
Sorry ,I've no idea the point you are making . Springs are often colour coded ,some car makers do 8 codes on 1 vehicle depending on spec .Others do 1 across the range .
Manufacturers will then do a compromise part number to cover them . You can get two new springs that look different but sit the same on the car . Less/more coil, different wire diameter .
Unless you go to dealers for the exact oe spring all the springs will be made for the job but aren't necessarily exact . Even dealers now due to price pressures offer non oe stuff in " value " ranges in dealers boxes
Springs dont get changed because they lose bounce so why change it because the other side snapped ? Yes they soften over time but not massively .People sometimes swap a pair out for heavier options if towing etc . The fact is the car has had a life and owners may not know how old anything is under the car .
That's where a mechanic would check and advise . The 1 thing i know for sure is a pair of springs bought isn't common . The broken part gets replaced
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Just tell me then as a mechanic what would I check and advise on by sticking my head under the wheel arch and looking at a coil spring apart from it being broken?
 

black cat in france said:
Just tell me then as a mechanic what would I check and advise on by sticking my head under the wheel arch and looking at a coil spring apart from it being broken?
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I'm talking about looking at the other side while replacing a snapped spring . I'm not a mechanic by the way ,I just sold springs for 40 plus years . Had all the " it looks different " phone calls. Spent many a half hour identifying correct parts for the job ,been to all the Product awareness courses .
Kyb Lesjofors Zf sachs etc.
I'd often tell a mechanic how to fit a spring ,the banana springs on a Citroën for example.
In answer to your question . The general condition of the other spring . They rust and will either look decent or like something off the titanic . They'd be under the car rather than looking through arches .
 
black cat in france said:
I was for 30 odd years and a garage owner, you talk in riddles my friend. Have a nice day dishing out bad advice, remember the lad with the Astra.
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Maybe I do talk in riddles, you've lost me on most of your replies
Talking cobblers in fact .
I've said repeatedly, the fitter can make the judgement for you ,it's not a change out no matter what situation and youll know that from experience .
On the astra thread the owner said he'd spoke to a mechanic who said he could drive it
I replied saying " a quick Google suggests " backing up what he'd been told
You offered no advice
Others did offer more detailed advice .
 
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Always loved and hated doing springs.

Loved because they were quick and profitable.

Hated because compressing springs always has and always will scare the shit out of me.

Never changed them or advised them to be changed in pairs in my 30 years in the trade.

I’ve got need idea what Francey and Jazzy are debating about mind.
 
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JAZZMANB said:
Maybe I do talk in riddles, you've lost me on most of your replies
Talking cobblers in fact .
I've said repeatedly, the fitter can make the judgement for you ,it's not a change out no matter what situation and youll know that from experience .
On the astra thread the owner said he'd spoke to a mechanic who said he could drive it
I replied saying " a quick Google suggests " backing up what he'd been told
You offered no advice
Others did offer more detailed advice .
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Oh stop it man I replied when you advised it was no problem I replied saying not if the thermostat was stuck shut, that jog your memory.
 
Goat Eyes said:
Always loved and hated doing springs.

Loved because they were quick and profitable.

Hated because compressing springs always has and always will scare the shit out of me.

Never changed them or advised them to be changed in pairs in my 30 years in the trade.

I’ve got need idea what Francey and Jazzy are debating about mind.
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Yeah always were easy money. Change the broken side only, can only imagine the punters face if you said change the other one which is in one piece still. :lol:

Still do the odd one now on the drive. Nervously. :eek:
 
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black cat in france said:
Oh stop it man I replied when you advised it was no problem I replied saying not if the thermostat was stuck shut, that jog your memory.
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You did and I didnt disagree with you,it was just chat ,throwing stuff around ,i didnt say i was correct . You never offered advice to him directly given your experience. The lad clearly said his mechanic had said it was okay to drive
Goat Eyes said:
I’ve got need idea what Francey and Jazzy are debating about mimind.
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Me neither 😁
Only thing I had issue with is the old " must change the pair " stuff . Next thing you know we're at the cobblers
 
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black cat in france said:
Same here mate never look back, it's good to keep your hands in though. Got a lad works in the trade so keep up to date on things. I'll admit I'd be lost on some of the latest technology.
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Aye will always be on the spanners for my own gains till i can do it no more, certainly doesn't get any easier mind. Got some diagnostic kit, but its madness the stuff you need to work on everything for full access.

Leave the day to day job for the younguns.
 
yamar1 said:
Yeah always were easy money. Change the broken side only, can only imagine the punters face if you said change the other one which is in one piece still. :lol:

Still do the odd one now on the drive. Nervously. :eek:
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I’ve got a lock up, with a ramp, compressor and all the gear that me and a few mates use to piss about in on our own cars (they buy and sell a bit) and even with a proper spring clamp it’s dicey. Especially as Jazzy said with the Citroen ones I think they are where they’re about a metre long decompressed and need to go down to about half of that to fit.
 
Goat Eyes said:
Always loved and hated doing springs.

Loved because they were quick and profitable.

Hated because compressing springs always has and always will scare the shit out of me.

Never changed them or advised them to be changed in pairs in my 30 years in the trade.

I’ve got need idea what Francey and Jazzy are debating about mind.
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Having seen one come out of the jaws of a compressor I don't blame you
 
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