Broken Front Springs

[Handsome Pete]

Hi All,

I own a 987.1, 3.2 S, on an 06 plate, with ~75,000 miles on the clock. Driving along quite happily at ~40 mph when there was the sound of a sharp crack - similar to a nut or bolt on the road being thrown up against the underside of the car. About 10 seconds later, another sharp crack noise was heard, followed by a tinkle, tinkle, tinkle sound behind me. I thought I'd better stop and see what had made the tinkle noise, so I did. I was very surprised to find a half turn of a suspension spring lying in the road. Looking at my front suspension through the spokes of my wheel, I could see the shiny end of the road spring. Looking at the other side, I could see the same thing. I concluded that both front springs had broken and nursed the car home. After recovery to garage and the offending parts were removed for inspection, I could see that both springs had failed in the same place, half a turn up from the lower end and that the driver's side and also cracked in a second place, much higher up. As the PASM shocks needed replacing due corrosion at top of ram, I chose to have them changed, as well as the drop links, suspension mounts and bump stops.
My question is - is there any experience / trend of both front springs failing at the same time?? Has this happened to anyone else?

What a surprising start to the year!

Peter

 

[AndyW1973]

Hi Peter,

It appears to be a fairly common failure, from what I gather. My 986 3.2 S with 65k have almost the same happen last year. I reversed out of my driveway and heard a clunk as I applied lock. I took the car for its MOT and got a call back saying it had a broken front spring (I have the M030 sports suspension - relevant?). I sourced a good condition used one from 9 Apart and took it to be fitted a few days later at the MOT garage. I received a phone call later in the day saying that the other side was now also broken! You couldn't script it!

A friend has since told me that both of his failed less than a month apart. Rears don't seem to be as affected.... touch wood! I was advised by 9 Apart that it is difficult to get replacements as, not surprisingly, they are in high demand.....

Andy

 

[chaser]

Had one break on my 997.1 4S at 30k, albeit 10 years old at the time. Had both replaced with genuine items.

 

[pat bryant]

Yes, me too. 2004 986; one front discovered at MOT; ca 95kmiles; changed both. No obvious symptoms!!?

 

[turbo jonny]

Same happened on my 987 at 35k miles , a month apart . First time a sharp piece of spring ruined a new tyre before i realised and stopped . Replaced with H & R , cheaper and look better quality .

 

[RHT45]

Never happened to me on a Porsche but several times on other makes down the years (many, many, many years....!). Most recently on the daily hack Honda Civic and was advised to change both fronts as "if one goes the other will shortly", plus the balance implications. Was told (and had been previously) that the problem is the way the coils are manufactured - something about the chamfered end that sits in the cup and tends to corrode, internally or externally, as it's not adequately protected. I'm no engineer so no idea if this is really true. Probably also something to do with the appalling state of public roads. [:'(]

 

[rich mich]

yes I had this happen to me on my 987 06 plate a few years ago I was driving down a road ,there was a loud bang I stopped I could see there was less of a gap between tyre and arch.my mechanic I use cmd Porsche said the spring had cracked due to corrosion ,I think it cost £300 for a pair of springs fitted.