Broken Spring

Oreo_The_Cookie

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Location
Mississauga
TDI
02 Jetta
I was sitting in my car with 4 friends on a slight slope downward from left to right (\) when we hear something like a spring snap and metal hitting metal. We got out of the car, checked it and didn't see anything wrong with it (when I heard the sound I thought the parking brake cable snapped). We got back in and about 20 min later we heard another spring snap followed by metal on metal but this time it was louder. When we got out of the car we found this:









2002 Jetta TDI
160km
Bought used at in May at 130km

So what's involved in getting this fixed? Do I just need new springs or do I change out the springs and shocks? Should I might aswell drop in a nice Suspension kit for myself? I really have no knowledge in suspensions so I could really use some guidance as to exactly how I should go about fixing this because I'm assuming I can go and get the springs replaced anywhere I want but if I can get a sport suspension installed for not much more I might as well. Also where do you recommend I get parts/service.
 
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Wingnut

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Location
Toronto & Whitby
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta Wagon
Wow..thats weird. I've never seen that before on a MKIV. I have seen it a lot on Ford Escorts though. You need to tell your friends to go on a diet :D J/K

Its a very easy & cheap fix too. Just get some cheap OEM springs from the Vortex. They are all over the place for $50. It takes less than 1 hour to change them and no spring compressor required for the rears. Just disconnect the lower shock bolts and jack up both sides of the rear. the axle will drop down enough to allow you to put the new springs in by hand. Lower the car, reconnect the shock bolts and your done. No need to even take off the wheel, but it does make it easier if you do.
 

Oreo_The_Cookie

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Location
Mississauga
TDI
02 Jetta
Wow, thanks, I was really worried this was a 300$+ repair and I might as well drop some cash and get a kit done with TT bushings while i'm at it. What about that bushing (if that is what it is) that fell out though, would I just reinstall that or pick up a new pair?

p.s. Thanks for the offer on the springs but I'm gonna try and pick up a pair tonight and get this done asap. :)
 
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Wingnut

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Location
Toronto & Whitby
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta Wagon
Oreo_The_Cookie said:
Wow, thanks, I was really worried this was a 300$+ repair and I might as well drop some cash and get a kit done with TT bushings while i'm at it. What about that bushing (if that is what it is) that fell out though, would I just reinstall that or pick up a new pair?

p.s. Thanks for the offer on the springs but I'm gonna try and pick up a pair tonight and get this done asap. :)
That rubber 'bushing' just sits inbetween the top of the spring & the body. No need to replace it. Just re-use it.

If it was the front that was broken, then yes, you might as well upgrade. But this is an easy fix for less than $50, so get yourself up & running and you can worry about upgrading in the spring when its warmer.
 

Wingnut

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Location
Toronto & Whitby
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta Wagon
For reference, here is the rear shock disconnected:



You need to disconnect both sides to get the axle to lower enough to take the springs out by hand. You can jack it up enough to get to the bolts, but leave the wheels still on the ground to take the weight off the bolts. Then crawl under & remove the bolts, then continue to jack it up the rest of the way. Just be safe and use a jackstand for safety. Never crawl under a car that is supported only by a jack.
 

Oreo_The_Cookie

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Location
Mississauga
TDI
02 Jetta
And I just got home with said parts, just need to eat something and I'll head over to my buddie's place and work on it. I'll let you guys know how it goes.
 

Oreo_The_Cookie

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Location
Mississauga
TDI
02 Jetta
Install went great. I hit the garage at 7:30 and was done test driving at 9. Took us a little time but we took our time with things and made sure things were safe. Getting the springs in was a little bit of a pain, the springs I picked up from TDIMAXIMA are definitely bigger then the old springs that were on there, so it took a little bit of force to get them in even with the wheel pushed down all the way. The car also sits a bit higher now (right after the install it was sitting much much higher then before but I suppose the springs needed some time to settle in but they've still seated themselves just above stock levels). The ride is quite a bit smoother now though, especially in turns, it's a much softer ride and doesn't roll as much as before. I probably should've done the shocks as I did the springs but I guess that's something to play with once it gets warm.

Thanks to TDIMAXIMA & Wingnut for the support, I keep telling people how amazing this community is and this is a small example of that, thanks guys. :D
 

TDIMAXIMA

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Location
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA
TDI
2004 4motion Passat 5 speed 1.8t
Oreo, let the shocks settle. Been out for 6 months. Im not sure, but my springs may be a bit different considering its a 04 with tdi sport edition suspension. The car should be safe, and thats important.

Hey, i think this was a big example of how the community works together!!! ;)
 

Wingnut

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Location
Toronto & Whitby
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta Wagon
Funny thing...I did the same job today. I replaced the springs in a car to raise it up for winter. The fronts took 2 hours, the rears took about 20 minutes. They gotta be the easiest suspension parts to change in any vehicle i have ever worked on (the rears that is). I was thinking of you as I was under there.

Glad you got up & running again. Great job supplying the parts so quick Paul.
 
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