Rusty Suspension Springs

[sproutdreamer]

The old Yaris we have just bought is generally in excellent nick for 04 and with only 45K should be good for years as a local runabout. However the last 2 MOT's have advisories for "all suspension springs rusty". As a safety precaution I was thinking of replacing all the springs. It would only take me a couple of days to do myself and about £80 for the springs. I do have lots of other stuff to do and i wonder what others think who really know about cars. I was visualising what may happen if a spring went but would fatigue breakage of a spring be down to rust anyway?

[Madasafish]

We had a rear spring break on the rear suspension early this year.. right at the bottom  coil. Clonked on bumps and the spring slipped in but did not leave the lower hanger.  Annoying as I spray everything every 4-5 years with Dinitrol 4941  but missed that bit.

 

At the front, depends where the spring breaks.. It usually is at the bottom -  in some cars it can pierce the tyre..

 

I only replaced the broken rear spring - car is still level. At the front, both springs have sunk  (D4D has a heavy engine)  so if one breaks it's a do both job.  You will need spring compressors...

[mickburkesnr]

I don't think rust is that much of a problem with springs, it's more pitting that is the problem.

Springs will tend to just snap, not rust away and break. Can happen on new springs, can happen on springs that are 50 years old.

It's not a hard job to do at all, I've tackled it for the first time on my Corolla and changed all four shock absorbers while painting the springs (they were in good condition). You could do all four over a weekend easily.