Top coil on RF spring broke – maybe this one was not a fluke.

Holy broken strut spring batman!




There were ball bearings everywhere too.

I’m guessing the bearing might have gone first. The wife said it started making a loud pop when you turn the wheel.
When I drove it a few days earlier, a couple times it kind of felt like the intermediate shaft problem was returning.

I popped a new spring & bearing assembly in to keep the car on the road with the intention of changing the other side later.
Now I’m thinking I don’t need to since there are no issues with ride height or handling.

This was more of a than a cuz it'* not something I was expecting on a car that hasn't been abused – but it wasn’t too bad a job to do and GM spring was in stock / not too $.

Do you have to change the spring and the strut at the same time?

I must say that is the first broken spring I have seen on these cars.

I'm no metallurgist, but looking at the broken spring, it looks like it might have been a bad forging job with the metal. Can you see what looks like the metal striations from a dark spot..they kind of look like grains going from the dark spot to the outside edge of the spring. Very rare occurrence for most vehicles!

I'm with you, P.Hazier. Certainly looks like the striations go out from that dark spot. It was probably a fluke R.Runner. One in a Million springs type of deal, I wouldnt worry about the other side. I can not recall a broken spring post here before.

WOW!!! My 2000 just broke same spring!!! 2 in a million...

Three in a million now, my 2000 broke the right front spring at the same spot last month.

So i did the brakes this weekend and i have the strut spring combo ready to install but I cant get the lower bolts off. Any ideas on how to get the bolts out? The nuts came off easy. Are those bolts threaded in?

I think I may have this problem. I thought mine was the intermediated shaft, I grease that and its no better. Clunks and snaps when I turn sharp either direction and when I hit pot holes. I'll have to check this out.