Will keep this short. Front springs have snapped, discovered a small amount of coil on each cup.
I have booked into a fast fit centre I have used before and they did point out a couple of minor faults then (rusting exhaust and a 3mm tyre but weren't pushy and said they will need doing one day...).
Been quoted £175 inc the tracking just got a couple fo questions:-
1) I assume the horror stories on google are rear examples as surely these businesses would be out of business by now if they mess up say 1/10 jobs?
2) Does the tracking actually need doing after replacing the springs?
I actually jacked the car up myself this afternoon and had a good look at the front springs, if it wasn't for the trip to the moon (well 117 miles away) I would leave them till they got worse but if a spring napped at 70mph it could be fatal so I am not risking . I have checked the front shock absorbers and they are not leaking so if oil appears tomorrow I shall go mad. The front pads are also 200 miles old so if they comment on that I shall go mad, my discs are old but perfectly smooth, not warped and still got some thickness in them (they will probably need replacing within the next two years).
My main concern is they do something to make my car worse (e.g make a mistake like fitting the coils upside down) and then there will be no notice to get the car right before Friday when I need it for the holiday.
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2) Does the tracking actually need doing after replacing the springs?
It's worth checking. Sometimes things don't go back together exactly as they came off the car.
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Just been reading Dooyoo and the chain seems very poorly rated but most the complaints seem to be about people being shocked about tyre prices. Its a shame about the name and shame policy but I don't want to name them now in case they do a bad job and I need further advice.
I would like to watch them do the job but I can imagine them taking hours so I probably can't :(.
I have used them for my rear tyres and they did an ok job they pointed out my rusting exhaust (which is still not blowing) and a tyre with 3mm (since being replaced) but didn't mention my scruffy rear coils (at the time, since been replaced as one snapped) or my scruffy looking drums so got the impression they are trustworthy.
I don't mind paying for the tracking if its a good idea to have done, I think the tracking is ok but I have never tried to find out :p
Edited by Rattle on 01/07/2009 at 01:36
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How does ted feel about a second swoop? Frankly that's where you need to go, with suitable sweeteners of course...
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I wouldn't want to ask him to the job, its too short notice and quite difficult (need compressing) its not like the rears which were an easy job. I still feel bad that he did the job for nothing last time. However I would value his opinion the garage told me there is its not dangerious but they would need doing I took this two ways.
Just thinking more and more if I took it to his fast fit place my car will come out with more faults than it went into to. I know my usual mechanic will do a good job but he will also just fob me off he is the opposite to me in this respect.
This is partly my own fault for leaving this so late, but the power loss problem which I have now fixed (was the MAF) was far more serious.
I think I will cancel this appointment tomorrow and get a second opinion.
I know I have a reputation for being paranoid and I admit I am I used to be like that when I first setup my business but now I have no fears. I think because motoring is still new for me I am fear it but if I car makes it there and back I will be a lot happier.
I jacked the car up and put a bit of force on the front springs and they would not budge. When Ted jacked mine up to replace the rears one of them virtualy fell out into his hands it was that badly snapped. As you can imagine I am driving people close to me mad as well with all this.
I think as the trip to moon [to show I do have a sense of humour when fun is poked at me] is getting closer I am suffering from anciety and discovering this problem has made it 100 times worse.
I might ask Ted if he is arround to have a quick look as longs as he lets me do something in return e.g computer related.
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Is Valium still available on prescription? :-)
Try to take things a bit more calmly, Rattle, rather than constantly looking for the worst-case scenario.
I'd imagine that front spring replacement on a Corsa would be - even for a fast-fit outfit - a straightforward job.
If they didn't check the tracking, you'd probably be worrying that they should have done....
Enjoy your holiday - relax a bit!
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Broken coil springs seem to be the 'swine flu' of the car world at the moment - I'm hearing of so many cases.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 01/07/2009 at 12:01
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Told them to stuff it. I booked the car in for 9.30. They said it would be read in two hours. 11.40 car still has not moved. I already had concerns at by this time as they were 16 year old scallies. I asked if they was a problem with my car at 11:45 because its still not been moved their reply was "yeah so!" if their rudeness has just cost them nearly £200.
I just had a big big feeling my car would come out with a more faulty suspension than it came in with. It was jsut a really bad vibe I got about the place and their rudness confirmed it.
All they said to say is we are sorry we are short staffed, or we will have it in the ramp at half an hour but their responce was "yeah so!" does the fact I told you I needed the car back by 12:30 and they said no problem mean nothing to those oinks?
Edited by Rattle on 01/07/2009 at 12:05
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I drove a car with broken front springs for about 3 months. Car felt much worse AFTER they were fixed.
If you actually ask around, I suspect you'll find that most fast-fit places aren't the monsters some people make them out to be. Not in their interest, is it? They might tell you your brakes want doing, but no requirement to get them done there!
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Just phoned up vauxhall and they suggested it isn't actually that urgent [when I asked if they could do it today or tomorrow] but I have a feeling my next call is to the doctors for some Beta blockers and valium!
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>>Not in their interest, is it?
It doesn't work like that David.
These places set up on busy roads, and rely, like a spider, on passing trade. They have no need to offer a good or comprehensive service, and so, they cherry pick the easy high mark-up work, and employ the cheapest staff they can find to do it.
Take for example the air con regas offer at the moment. The process of regassing the system is by far the easiest part of air con work - it's the easy, high mark-up part - and they seem quite good at getting that wrong, with tales of over 45% overfill of refrigerant and similar.
It's far better to find, by word of mouth recommendation, a good independant garage who don't market themselves that way. These independants really do need to look after their customers.
I wouldn't let them touch the wheel of my wheelbarrow.
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NC that is the impression I got. They had this money look in their eyes (shifty) which my managers at my previous employer (well known electrical chain) had. What they do is scare the customer by telling them the bads are worn etc when yes they may well be but still perfectly servicable for another 5k!
Just going to get a second opinion now but I am suspect I am worrying about nothing but the lack of time is making it worse.
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Rattle if I were you I would take your car to an independent garage and get them to fix it. I you can't find an independent I would take it to a Vauxhall dealer, you will know then that it will be done with correct parts.
I would not drive a car with broken front springs, they might rip your tyres and cause an accident.
If the fast fit firm is the one I'm thinking of you have done the right thing in driving away. They are hopeless in most cases, I wouldn't let them near my car. You can do much better at indie places, look in the phone book and get a quote.
I hope you have a good holiday, it often rains in north Wales. Have you checked your wiper blades? (just my little joke)
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Yep replaced the wiper blades two weeks a ago a good job too! It won't be the fast fit place you're thinking off but it does get very bad reviews. The problem is I leave in 48 hours so I have no choice but to use a fast fit all the indies won't be able to fit me in.
Just spoke to my own mechanic who says they will be fine but will need replacing one day (to me that means replace now :( ) and has quoted £50 is I supply the springs making it £100 VX wanted £250.
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Just found an indie which is a member of a good garage scheme and a lot of other things. They said £40 each for the springs and £60 labour plus VAT which is the same as the fast fit places want.
They said they will have it ready for lunch time tomorrow.
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Well done, you are doing the right thing.
I'm wondering which firm is worse that the fast firm I was thinking of.
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why do you always quote your local independant man but never give him any work rattle?
he should love a 20 minute a side corsa spring job
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Bell boy, from what I've read over the last year or so, I don't reckon that Rattle's mechanic is much good.
I may be wrong on this, but please keep it to yourself, "mums the word"
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I don't reckon that Rattle's mechanic is much good. >>
or the mechanic is figment of Rattle's self-confessed rich imagination, along with the car problems he has previously freely admitted to being so!
Edited by jbif on 01/07/2009 at 15:29
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Just spoke to my own mechanic who says they will be fine but will need replacing one day
They'll need replacing one day. That day is before the next MOT test. I very much doubt you'll notice a difference at the moment.
(to me that means replace now :( )
Your whole car will need replacing one day - do you have to do that now, too? No.
and has quoted £50 is I supply the springs making it £100 VX wanted £250.
There you are, then. Go for it, now or when you come back.
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The difference isn't that much. The springs are a bit more expensive than £25 for the front so this place is about £40 for expensive. My indie is too busy to do before Friday.
Now the garage I have never used before, but they had done the last 4 MOTs on my car so I assume the previous owner was happy with them.
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