At least 600. On inspection the spring had no where to go, only indication was it sat a little lower on the right rear side.
Snapped spring on KW1
- Thread starter Samro
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IMO they should have been replaced as a pair, when the first spring failed the remaining spring was overloaded.
So, is that also the opinion of @BognorMotors or @CRS Performance?
Should I now make sure that both of the rear springs are replaced at the same time?
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As they are relatively new(around a year aren’t they?) then you should be fine replacing one. However in our workshop, on older vehicles we always recommend replacing in pairs.
They weren't even a year when the first one was replaced. It was 6k miles and only 4 months old, but would you suggest that both get changed this time after 21k miles and 20 months old?
Is it worth moving away from kw? Are there better options?
These have been great u too the sprigs snap, but I don't want to keep on snapping springs as I'm worried that at this rate is is a matter of time until a spring snaps and ends up ripping into a tyre, which could be pretty dodgy!
I’m pretty sure yours are the only rear KW springs we’ve had snap- Id need to check with the guys. I know these weren’t supplied by us but ultimately all come from the same place. Maybe just unlucky.l with both going , but very rare all the same. Bell me tomorrow and we can have a chat. I’d need your receipt
You've always looked after me at Bognor Motors, but I bought my coil overs before I'd learned the virtues of getting @BognorMotors to look after me!
I will be in touch, but would like to know if KW have moved on from the V1 kit fitted to my van, as may consider changing to something more reliable.
Incidentally I have KW ST-X coil overs on a LWB T30 with a heavy conversion and this has been flawless! Do KW do any other more reliable options for T32 than the V1 setup?
The rear springs are all the same from STX to V1 and V3 all using the same spring .
we have sold hundreds of these kits and we haven't had one failure that i know about . We also do an improved rear spring and adjuster that we make for the B14 rear problems . No issues with that so far as well .
Springs in UK really do suffer from the weather and corrosion before moving to UK from my other business in South Africa i had never seen a broken spring . in UK its a huge problem and that includes standard parts and after market performance parts
The STX and the KW are essentially the same kit.
In which case.... how unlucky am I? I am pretty sympathetic towards anything mechanical, and don't see how I have had two springs fail when everyone seems to state that the KW kit is considered trouble free!
It seems that two failures of springs within 20 months of use is pretty much unheard of! Trust my luck!
If you chat to the management at E C P it is by far there biggest selling part , ( Broken spring replacements )
I also thought it was odd so on a trip to The H&R factory i asked the question about the warranty on their springs because in South Africa we gave a life time warranty on them . they said the weather is the main cause of failures , not just UK clearly but any where that the temp drops low i guess . The lower the temperature the more brittle the chrome silica spring steel gets .
Ourselves and Bognor sell tons of these kits and we are both saying we aren't having issues at all i dont think another make or even a different spring is the answer , you are unlucky as you said ! . let us know if you get a replacement or have any trouble getting one , i have plenty in stock . we also have a B14 rear repair kit ( for the breakages on the rear spring which are common place ) Its a much improved rear spring and fits the KW adjuster , if you want to try those .
Thanks for this. It really helps with my confidence after what has been a couple of (minorly) irritating KW spring failures.
I'll speak to Bognor Motors on their opinion on the B14 repair kit as that sound like it may be a good plan. Have you fitted these B14 reapir kits to KW adjusters before? If so was this to overcome ongoing issues for someone who had experieneced similar issues to me?
The vehicle (with the snapped spring) is currently wound down pretty low and has always driven really nicely, albeit with a failry stiff ride.
I want to have a chat with @BognorMotors, as my LWB T30 (with a heavy conversion) is on STX coilovers and I fiind it slightly "wallowy" compared to the SWB T32 (the van with the broken spring). Before I do this, what are your thoughts on the following:
- If I raise the T32 by 20 mm will it make the ride more wallowy like the LWB van?
- If I raise the T32 by 20 mm will it make the vehcile less prone to snapping springs as a result of reducing the springs preload?
- I'm thinking that I could ask that they move the ARBs from the SWB T32 to the LWB T30 and then upgrade the ARB on the T32 (my daily drive). In your opinion, is this likely to be a worthwhile excercise to reduce the aformentioned "wallowing" on the Camper van? Waht ARB setup would you suggest for the SWB T32?
Anyway thsi is certainly a first world problem and I'm sure they'll fit me in when they can and look after me as they always have!
I’m not sure it’s a UK issue as such, maybe just a general lowering in quality to meet a price point, or possibly where the steel is sourced from. Combined with a big increase in vehicle weight in recent years to meet crash requirements and people’s wish for tech.
I never had a broken spring from my first car in the mid-80s to about 10-12 years ago. That was across dozens of vehicles of different makes, types etc. In recent years though I’ve had numerous broken OEM springs, front and rear on S-Max, XC60, 120d and Z4. My driving and use hasn’t changed but the later cars are all heavier (like for like) and the roads are in a much worse state.
My 18 plate Passat needed new front shocks at 40k miles as the originals had leaked all their fluid. Not cheap as it has DCC. I think suspension is now very much a consumable item unfortunately!
My T32, B14’s never had a snapped spring in 40,000 miles, 5 years, towing a 1900kg caravan and I live right next to the sea.
B14’s are the answer!
B14’s are the answer!
Shock absorbers are a serviceable part , they should be replaced now and again , the big issue is that as the shock oil gets thinner and deteriorates the worsening ride goes unnoticed because its a gradual deterioration . only feel the difference when they are replaced .
It always has been, but when you are paying hundreds of pounds for fancy suspension systems and then they fail I don’t believe they are fit for purpose.
My last pair of Sachs rear struts on my A4 were £55 / pair delivered, quick job to replace the springs and they do an adequate job without flash paint jobs.
Of course, the whole car is. My point is, from my experience, suspension doesn’t last as long now as it did. With my more recent vehicles it’s been the norm to replace broken springs, worn bushes or leaking shocks on relatively low mileage cars (sub 50k say). That was not the case for me 20-30 years ago. I’m just questioning why that might be, quality of the material used, weight of the vehicles, state of the roads, the road salt that’s used…?
I agree, one would expect expensive aftermarket suspension to last. I hope so having just traded my kidney for some H&R coilovers and ARBs!
I know what you mean but I certainly felt it in the Passat. Handling was terrible, such as over expansion joints on roundabouts, and traction was appalling. It would readily wheel spin in 3rd in the wet. I certainly noticed the difference when they were replaced! Unfortunately, the replacement ones seem to be deteriorating already after 15k miles. Maybe time for DCC delete and some Koni Actives!!
Saw your van when I popped in today. Let’s have. A chat Monday. Have a great weekend.
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