Hmm - Bent Spring?
 

Hmm do front springs bend or stretch? I'm guessing I need a new front spring on the passenger side. But would replace springs in a pair.

What would have happen to have the spring bend like that, and notice the tire scrape on the top of the inner fender.

Question:

• Did the spring 'stretch' or bend?
• Is that what would have caused the scrape insider the fender?
• The tires are 195/65R15

Spring Management

Check the very bottom coil of the spring..they snap off at the last 3-4" and that cocks the spring.

you can't do it that way...the car has to be on the ground with the weight on the spring...

The rub mark on your inner-fender has nothing to do with the spring as the spring cannot tip the wheels in or out.

Check the top of the strut for a rubber bumper/bushing, if it is not there your wheel might be traveling up further than it should.

Thanks for the response - Front Springs
 

So ..
I'm learning here ...
Clifmac - should I just look (measure height) of the car to see if it's level? If looking underneath is not the correct way? Thanks for the update.


Babymog - A missing bushing - may have happen - the car is 15 years old. I'll look next weekend (I'm out of town now).

I would have to say no...that's not it...if you have a broken spring you will most certainly see it...this is a subtle thing.....really it's not...

The spring can bow out as in your photo, with the car in the air. I think that cliffmac means that the springs will look more normal with the weight on the wheels, springs compressed.

As far as broken springs, you can see this. Often only the bottom coil or partial coil will break off, and you won't notice unless you look closely. That you can do with the car in the air.

<[B Often only the bottom coil or partial coil will break off, and you won't notice unless you look closely. That you can do with the car in the air. >.
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Yup...That's what I was saying in my earlier post..it is the last 2-4" that sits in the lower spring Seat and they are hard to see. I did one last year cuz the left break was visabile and we wanted to do both as a set , so when we got to the right one, which we thought was OK, we put the spring cmpressor tool on it and out popped a 3" end on that one that we just could not see.
Benz had a lot of them break right there on cars in Winter Climates [ salt], so they issued a TSB to add a Zink foot that slides over the spring end for that last couple of inches ..the zink stops the spring from rusting and breaking.
Dealer Item..........