Hi,

I have a '51 Vauxhall vectra 2.2 hatchback. The rear passenger side
suspension is broken. I am fairly sure that the bottom of the spring
has broken, where it would attach to the shock absorber (see pictures
linked below, both the broken side and the good side).

What do I need to replace? Just the spring, or the shock absorber
and / or anything else? Just this side or both?
Is it a good idea to try and source a new one from a breakers yard, or
should I buy a new one?
Is it the sort of job a not very competent amateur (ie. me) could
attempt (I do not have a tool for compressing the spring)?
How much would you expect this to cost if done professionally?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.geocities.com/hughmorgan72/car/badSide.jpg (200 kb)
http://www.geocities.com/hughmorgan72/car/goodSide.jpg (100 kb)

Dave wrote:

They recomend that you replace the springs in pairs as over time they
lose some of thier bounce

On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:20:20 -0000, steve robinson
<steve (AT) colevalleyinteriors (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

& if it's not bouncy then you don't need to change the shocks, spring
compressors aren't expensive.

On 26 Oct, 15:50, "Duncan Wood" <nntpn... (AT) dmx512 (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
It is not bouncy. I have just rung a garage and he reakons it is one
hour at 32.50 so that is a lot easier that doing it myself I am
afraid. He reakons one from a breakers would be a false ecconomy, but
I do not need to do both sides. That seems to me like a bargain for
the south (Berkshire).

Looking at those photos since I have posted them I noticed that there
is a lot of corrosion on the broken side and none on the good side. I
have to assume that this means that the broken wheel is locking up
under breaking, it happend a while ago (I use the car every day) and
that I have not noticed what I have to assume is a signifigant change
in handling. Worries me a bit.

Hugh

"Dave" <davidjones (AT) myself (DOT) com> wrote

On 26 Oct, 15:50, "Duncan Wood" <nntpn... (AT) dmx512 (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
It is not bouncy. I have just rung a garage and he reakons it is one
hour at 32.50 so that is a lot easier that doing it myself I am
afraid. He reakons one from a breakers would be a false ecconomy, but
I do not need to do both sides. That seems to me like a bargain for
the south (Berkshire).

Looking at those photos since I have posted them I noticed that there
is a lot of corrosion on the broken side and none on the good side. I
have to assume that this means that the broken wheel is locking up
under breaking, it happend a while ago (I use the car every day) and
that I have not noticed what I have to assume is a signifigant change
in handling. Worries me a bit.

If you're referrring to the corroion on the brake disc, it is not
significant, it's just where water has got on the disc recently and will
disappear the first time the brake is applied. It does not mean the brake is
locking up. Have you been hearing tyre noises which might suggest this?

Your not noticing a change in handling demonstrates the fallacy that springs
must always be changed in pairs. For racing and for extreme high performance
use this may be the case, but for everyday motoring it's not necessary. Of
course this does not change the fact that if one has gone and they're both
the same age, the other *may* also fail, but primarily the claim is used by
those who are selling them and would obviously like to sell you two rather
than one.

Steve

On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:59:16 -0000, shazzbat
<shazzbat (AT) spamlessness (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

It's primarily used by the rest of us as the 2nd set will normally oulast
your ownership of the car, so not having the other side fail & all the
associated hassle is worth the price of a spring & 45minutes labour.

Dave has brought this to us :
Because one spring has snapped does not mean the other will do similar.
The rear passenger side gets most of the water and the bounce as you
drive over drain covers. It could also have been faulty when fitted.

Fit just one and may find it sits a bit lop sided, but it may or may
not settle down to level in time.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On 26 Oct, 18:59, "shazzbat" <shazz... (AT) spamlessness (DOT) fsnet.co.uk>
wrote:
I am reffering to the corrosion on the brake disk. What makes me
think it is locking up is that the good side is clean but the broken
side is dirty. I am not worried that it is a problem itself, just
that it is a sign of how little weight was on that wheel.

I shall get just the one side changed, 106 GBP all inclusive. Better
than I had expected.

Thanks for the input.

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:28:07 -0700 (PDT), Dave wrote:

If it's locking up it would still remove the rust before it locked up.
Disks rust very easily, ten minutes after rain on that side will do it.
It doesn't look bad, not pitted or anything so it's probably just been
hit by a shower. If the brakes were seized I'd expect to see it totally
covered in rust so I suspect it's just a bit of rain on that side since
you last drove it. Check it after your next trip and see what it's like
though to be certain.

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail ngpsm4 (at) infohitsystems (dot) ltd (dot) uk

"Dave" <davidjones (AT) myself (DOT) com> wrote

On 26 Oct, 18:59, "shazzbat" <shazz... (AT) spamlessness (DOT) fsnet.co.uk>
wrote:
I am reffering to the corrosion on the brake disk. What makes me
think it is locking up is that the good side is clean but the broken
side is dirty. I am not worried that it is a problem itself, just
that it is a sign of how little weight was on that wheel.


The weight on the wheel was exactly the same as before it broke, minus a few
ounces for anything which broke off.

Steve