Suspension springs do fail
 

Suspension springs do fail:

* Age = sagging under base chassis load.
* Abuse = constantly carrying over capacity loads.
* Corrosion = salt, acid, etc.
* Traumatic stress = massive impact event.
* Raw materials defect
* Surface imperfections
* Improper heat treatment
* Decarburization
* Delayed hydrogen embrittlement failure

Design and failure modes of automotive suspension springs
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V2X-4R7RSB3-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_user id=10&md5=dba6b45c9a16628636fc9660c38a1ac9

suspension spring failure modes
http://www.google.com/search?q=suspension+spring+failure+modes&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Yep. First time I jacked up my W201 and fully unloaded the front suspension I heard a little "tink." It was the sound of the bottom 3/4 of a coil hitting the ground. The fracture surface was all rusty, so it had been like that for some time. I guess the broken piece was trapped in place until the angle of the LCA let it come loose. Even with the broken end, the spring stayed in the lower seat just fine and I drove it like that for quite a while before finally replacing both front springs along with a bunch of other suspension work.

The front of my SEC sits up a little bit high. Someone suggested that the springs may need replacing. It seems to me that it would be sitting too LOW, not too HIGH. Is this possible?

Maybe you need rear springs.

I was intending to put lowering springs on it as soon as I had the $$ and got a couple of other more pressing things fixed. I thought that, too, though. That's why I was surprised to hear someone say what they did.

Answer
 

Generally this indicates the rear springs/suspension have issues.
* Weak springs
* Bad bushings
* Bad mounts


Personal experience shows lowering these cars increases wear, and reduces durability of steering/suspension = generally not suitable for a daily driver.

I have a 123 300D in my back yard with a front broken suspension spring, we were swapping tires and noticed the broken spring, there was a rubber piece not to far from the break in the spring what is the rubber piece for?

The Dee8gonator is my Funmobile, so that's probably not an issue.

Answer
 

It could be the rubber spring shim.
Pictures attached.

Something I've seen happen on VWs is when the owner lets the rear shocks remain broken for an extended period, the springs end up being trash as well. I figure the constant bouncing of the wheel wears the metal out. Is that plausible?

Answer
 

Yes.
The extended travel and exercises can easily break old springs.

I have this problem on a 1995 E300D . The front shocks were warn like crazy. The owner drove it for a few years like that. The front sits 2.5 inches lower than rear measured between fender and tire. I was replacing the strut and noticed the spring was broken at the spring seat. So where do you get front coil springs ? I check the pelicanparts.com here and no luck. I'll try to parts forum. Mine have 4 yellow dots and a red dot and then a blue mark lower down.

Is it safe to swap in a different set from a W124 as as both sides are the same?

Thanks

Answer
 

Spring, front
MB# 1243212204
Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW


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just wanted to add a few more tidbits of info to this thread.

Recently had the driver front spring snap on a 83 240 while parked due to mostly temperature change.

Looking at the fracture there is a definite grain to the break, and it appears the spring had worn a considerable flat spot into the lower edge. All the fracture grain seems to start from the flat spot on the spring. I had trouble photographing it, but drew a diagram that shows the lines in the break of the metal.

Looking at this pic, this piece of the spring is upside down from its normal orientation, and you can see the flat spot, which would be close to the lower spring cup. If you are worried about the condition of your springs, this might be worth looking for on a 123, since the spring sits bowed out like it does, it has definite areas of more pressure bearing down.