Help! Rear suspension collapsed
- Thread starter akwaugh
- Start date
Update from OPC.
They will be replacing both coil springs. Asked why it failed - Internal Failure of the spring. parts are on order from Germany, so have to wait a few days. Really cannot fault OPC Cardiff. Never had any issues with work being done under warranty. Think i'll have to renew it next month for peace of mind.
shaun[
]
They will be replacing both coil springs. Asked why it failed - Internal Failure of the spring. parts are on order from Germany, so have to wait a few days. Really cannot fault OPC Cardiff. Never had any issues with work being done under warranty. Think i'll have to renew it next month for peace of mind.
shaun[
]
akwaugh
New member
Shaun, very interesting post. And I think it's possible this could be considered a critical safety flaw - after all, just the week before mine failed I was "exercising" the car quite seriously and I shudder to think what may have happened if the springs had given way mid-corner somewhere.
I know there's a "failures" page or similar - I have not had the chance to check for springs but will add comment when I do.
Anyway, reason for the post is a quick update.
Warranty Direct were quick enough to settle my little Audi claim but suspiciously slow on this one.
Recall the claim went in around 21 May, I noted to them that their request for a last service invoice wasn't necessary since they already had this when warranting the car last year, and that it hadn't needed/had a service since. I lost interest and was away for a short break, returning to find a letter dated 31 May but postmarked 12 June asking for said service invoice.
I decided to be difficult just for a change and advised that they must have a copy otherwise they wouldn't have warranted the car. Brick wall resulted. Ah well, it was worth it to prove these people just don't care and only follow tick boxes. So I got the invoice out and sent it off today. I now await settlement.
So, fellow members, one month on I still haven't been paid back.
Andrew
I know there's a "failures" page or similar - I have not had the chance to check for springs but will add comment when I do.
Anyway, reason for the post is a quick update.
Warranty Direct were quick enough to settle my little Audi claim but suspiciously slow on this one.
Recall the claim went in around 21 May, I noted to them that their request for a last service invoice wasn't necessary since they already had this when warranting the car last year, and that it hadn't needed/had a service since. I lost interest and was away for a short break, returning to find a letter dated 31 May but postmarked 12 June asking for said service invoice.
I decided to be difficult just for a change and advised that they must have a copy otherwise they wouldn't have warranted the car. Brick wall resulted. Ah well, it was worth it to prove these people just don't care and only follow tick boxes. So I got the invoice out and sent it off today. I now await settlement.
So, fellow members, one month on I still haven't been paid back.
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I've got the car back now without any issues. As a bonus Porsche found a leak in the steering rack and replaced that too. In the end they did £1900 worth of work which almost paid for the warranty in one go. I really think the Porsche warranty is the one to go for as they just don't quibble. I've recently got quotes to renew my warranty from various providers and for the sake of a few hundred quid i don' t think its worth the hassle to go with a 3rd party. Hopefully you'll get your money, but i imagine that they will be in no rush to refund you.
good luck
shaun
I've got the car back now without any issues. As a bonus Porsche found a leak in the steering rack and replaced that too. In the end they did £1900 worth of work which almost paid for the warranty in one go. I really think the Porsche warranty is the one to go for as they just don't quibble. I've recently got quotes to renew my warranty from various providers and for the sake of a few hundred quid i don' t think its worth the hassle to go with a 3rd party. Hopefully you'll get your money, but i imagine that they will be in no rush to refund you.
good luck
shaun
akwaugh
New member
At last, a satisfactory conclusion to the springs affair.
Two cheques arrived, paying in total around £460 on a bill of approx. £600, mostly labour.
This is better than I expected and I believe it justifies taking out the warranty. On the basis of this experience and that with my Audi I would be happy to recommend Warranty Direct.
On the subject of the springs I can report that the car is significantly more compliant at the rear, and rides just a tad higher in my opinion.
Recalling that I have also had one front spring snap and given the failures reported here I would suggest these are a service item all round the car. Replacement at about 40-50k should be compulsory!
I'm going to write the various replacement parts up for the relevant listing elsewhere on the forum.
Thanks for the useful chat.
Regards
Andrew
Two cheques arrived, paying in total around £460 on a bill of approx. £600, mostly labour.
This is better than I expected and I believe it justifies taking out the warranty. On the basis of this experience and that with my Audi I would be happy to recommend Warranty Direct.
On the subject of the springs I can report that the car is significantly more compliant at the rear, and rides just a tad higher in my opinion.
Recalling that I have also had one front spring snap and given the failures reported here I would suggest these are a service item all round the car. Replacement at about 40-50k should be compulsory!
I'm going to write the various replacement parts up for the relevant listing elsewhere on the forum.
Thanks for the useful chat.
Regards
Andrew
uknick
New member
If this has been covered before, apologies.
Is the Porsche suspension system fundamentally flawed for UK roads?
We have here a 911 that has broken 3 springs, my Cayman has had 3 shock absorbers replaced, others report springs and dampers being replaced. All within relatively short distances, i.e. 20k or 30k miles.
I owned my previous two cars from new for over 100k miles and only ever replaced suspension bushings with regard to the suspension system, never changed any springs or absorbers. And, one car was a Citroen AX GT on which just every other part had dropped off.
When they replaced the latest absorber, the OPC guy did joke that Porsches are not designed for UK roads!! Or, was he joking?
Is the Porsche suspension system fundamentally flawed for UK roads?
We have here a 911 that has broken 3 springs, my Cayman has had 3 shock absorbers replaced, others report springs and dampers being replaced. All within relatively short distances, i.e. 20k or 30k miles.
I owned my previous two cars from new for over 100k miles and only ever replaced suspension bushings with regard to the suspension system, never changed any springs or absorbers. And, one car was a Citroen AX GT on which just every other part had dropped off.
When they replaced the latest absorber, the OPC guy did joke that Porsches are not designed for UK roads!! Or, was he joking?
s2rjn
Member
im annoyed too - my C2S has just had a major service and I asked them to investigate some knocking/creaking and they have come back to say I need 2 new shock aborobers, ive been quoted over £1600! which I think this is excessive
OK the shocks are £400 each on design 911 and there are a few other parts, bushes etc .......then moochos labour!!
the car has done 60k miles but I've owned other cars and never had this issue, in fact in 20 years of car ownership Ive never replaced a shock absorber, and Ive owned such things as 205's, mr2's, a Rover (sorry) and a few Boxsters
Is there are problem with the 997 suspension or shall we blame the roads!
OK the shocks are £400 each on design 911 and there are a few other parts, bushes etc .......then moochos labour!!
the car has done 60k miles but I've owned other cars and never had this issue, in fact in 20 years of car ownership Ive never replaced a shock absorber, and Ive owned such things as 205's, mr2's, a Rover (sorry) and a few Boxsters
Is there are problem with the 997 suspension or shall we blame the roads!
You're driving a specialist high performance sports car with all the increased loadings that involves. I'm not sure it's fair to compare it with less focussed passenger cars such as 205's, MR'2 or even Boxsters.
It's very true the atrocious state of our UK roads plays havoc with shockers and road springs (and not just on Porsches) but with 60K on the clock, many owners accept it is often necessary to spend money on replacing moving parts.
Incidentally, we have often been able to negotiate better deals for PCGB members for such major works. []
Regards,
Clive.
It's very true the atrocious state of our UK roads plays havoc with shockers and road springs (and not just on Porsches) but with 60K on the clock, many owners accept it is often necessary to spend money on replacing moving parts.
Incidentally, we have often been able to negotiate better deals for PCGB members for such major works. [
]Regards,
Clive.
uknick
New member
I agree shock absorbers will need changing, and as you say 60k does seem to be agreed wisdom (at least on the internet) to change them.
However, my front shocks were both changed at 17k miles, and then the OSF again at 36k miles. I do not under any circumstances consider that acceptable. Which is why no doubt all done under warranty. I wonder what would Porsche say if it was out of warranty?
But coil springs breaking on relatively low mileage cars? As this could be considered a safety issue, and was not Porsche, I think a recall could well have been implemented.
I know sports cars in the past from low volume manufacturers were considered temperamental and as such one accepted their foibles. But, as far as I knew, Porsche always prided themselves on being different to this. This was one reason I have always admired the 911, a high end sports car that did not have the mechanical issues of its rivals.
However, my front shocks were both changed at 17k miles, and then the OSF again at 36k miles. I do not under any circumstances consider that acceptable. Which is why no doubt all done under warranty. I wonder what would Porsche say if it was out of warranty?
But coil springs breaking on relatively low mileage cars? As this could be considered a safety issue, and was not Porsche, I think a recall could well have been implemented.
I know sports cars in the past from low volume manufacturers were considered temperamental and as such one accepted their foibles. But, as far as I knew, Porsche always prided themselves on being different to this. This was one reason I have always admired the 911, a high end sports car that did not have the mechanical issues of its rivals.
It's probably a combination of elements.
With high performance vehicles, there is a trend towards ever lower tyre profiles and larger rims with more focussed suspension designs to obtain the best from them. A uncompromised suspension system isn't really designed for cope with the ever-deteriorating road surfaces we now all suffer in UK.
When I had my Ferrari, all the shock loadings seemed to be fed directly into the wheels as I bent 2 rims just on road surfaces - not because I'd hit something. It's a matter of comprise. Your car rides the bumps but handles like a jelly or holds the road but is stiff. Even common passenger vehicles with higher profile tyres, more articulation and less stiff suspension systems are experiencing problems atm, if you read the daily papers.
The answer is to put pressure on the various highway authorities to improve road surfaces. I have complained about mine to the Local Government Ombudsman. Some of us are sick and tired of paying thorough the nose for public services which are not being provided.
We've just returned from France where the roads are like billiard tables - even in rural areas - and the French are supposed to be financially worse off than us.
Regards,
Clive.
With high performance vehicles, there is a trend towards ever lower tyre profiles and larger rims with more focussed suspension designs to obtain the best from them. A uncompromised suspension system isn't really designed for cope with the ever-deteriorating road surfaces we now all suffer in UK.
When I had my Ferrari, all the shock loadings seemed to be fed directly into the wheels as I bent 2 rims just on road surfaces - not because I'd hit something. It's a matter of comprise. Your car rides the bumps but handles like a jelly or holds the road but is stiff. Even common passenger vehicles with higher profile tyres, more articulation and less stiff suspension systems are experiencing problems atm, if you read the daily papers.
The answer is to put pressure on the various highway authorities to improve road surfaces. I have complained about mine to the Local Government Ombudsman. Some of us are sick and tired of paying thorough the nose for public services which are not being provided.
We've just returned from France where the roads are like billiard tables - even in rural areas - and the French are supposed to be financially worse off than us.
Regards,
Clive.
But if the very nature of a sports car is that extra loadings are put onto the components by design, then those components should be engineered to be up to the task. Porsche, Ferrari, whoever: It shouldn't matter who makes them.
Shocks wearing at about 60K I can just about live with, but springs snapping long before that? I don't see that as being reasonable at all. Granted, the state of most of our roads is piss-poor and needs attention, but if these companies want to sell a premium product in the UK then it should be engineered to be up to the task.
My sheddy old Eunos roadster has just done 125K miles, and the front shock has just started to leak. That's had far more abuse over the years than I would care to imagine, and was designed and built for a country that has stunningly good roads. How comes that's only just started to fail, when it was built in the days of blokes starting a fire by knocking stones together?! []
I'm not sure there's enough evidence either way to say that 997 shocks and springs in particular are not up to the task, but it's an interesting subject.
Shocks wearing at about 60K I can just about live with, but springs snapping long before that? I don't see that as being reasonable at all. Granted, the state of most of our roads is piss-poor and needs attention, but if these companies want to sell a premium product in the UK then it should be engineered to be up to the task.
My sheddy old Eunos roadster has just done 125K miles, and the front shock has just started to leak. That's had far more abuse over the years than I would care to imagine, and was designed and built for a country that has stunningly good roads. How comes that's only just started to fail, when it was built in the days of blokes starting a fire by knocking stones together?! [
]I'm not sure there's enough evidence either way to say that 997 shocks and springs in particular are not up to the task, but it's an interesting subject.
John Maddox
New member
My brothers 997 had both rear springs fail - put it in his garage overnight and collapsed by the morning. It seems fortunate that these failures are occurring when the car is parked up.
My wife's Audi TT had this failure - apparently blamed on the springs being sourced outside the EU by manufacturers which I find hard to believe.
Just checked my 993 but still ok after 182k
My wife's Audi TT had this failure - apparently blamed on the springs being sourced outside the EU by manufacturers which I find hard to believe.
Just checked my 993 but still ok after 182k
A friend with a BMW experienced this (a rear spring breaking) on the move... big bang, and a flying piece of spring shooting across the road - bl**dy lucky nobody was about on the pavement at the time[&:]
There must be something not up to scratch on these - all on newer cars.
There must be something not up to scratch on these - all on newer cars.
Hi All,
Well just over 6 months has passed since my rear suspension collapsed and well its happened again. This time the front drivers side collapsed while i was sat at traffic lights. The car is now with OPC Cardiff and getting sorted. unfortunately this time its not under warranty and to top things off the suspension arm was damaged as well. I'm looking forward to a £1200 bill tomorrow. great start to the new year.
shaun[]
Well just over 6 months has passed since my rear suspension collapsed and well its happened again. This time the front drivers side collapsed while i was sat at traffic lights. The car is now with OPC Cardiff and getting sorted. unfortunately this time its not under warranty and to top things off the suspension arm was damaged as well. I'm looking forward to a £1200 bill tomorrow. great start to the new year.
shaun[
]
Sorry to hear of your further woes, Shaun. You obviously didn't follow your own advice then.....[&:]
Edit to add - my warranty comes up end of next month and I will be taking out the Porsche extended again - had over £3k worth this year alone...(major was the HP fuel pump which quit)
ORIGINAL: sbuckley
Hi All,
Well just over 6 months has passed since my rear suspension collapsed and well its happened again. This time the front drivers side collapsed while i was sat at traffic lights. The car is now with OPC Cardiff and getting sorted. unfortunately this time its not under warranty and to top things off the suspension arm was damaged as well. I'm looking forward to a £1200 bill tomorrow. great start to the new year.
shaun[
Ask for a discount - Cardiff OPC are pretty open to give PCGB / TIPEC members a discount off parts & labour.
Regardless of the cost, it's a little worrying to have a spring break!
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