Broken coil springs GTS

[russellp]

I fitted winter tyres today now I have Yet's tool (don't think about it)
I discovered offside front spring broken. Marshall Peterborough confirmed both have failed.
Car is 2013 with 17,800 miles.
I don't recall hitting a pot hole or any other obstruction.
The car was serviced recently so both failures have occurred in a short time.
Marshall are making a warranty claim.
Have any of you experienced this?
This could spoil my Christmas!
Russell

 

[conaero]

The GT is well known for its lack of underbody rust protection so I am not surprised.

You think you would be buying a quality car but the accountants have been pinching pennies underneath.

TBF, the GranSports do snap springs too but not until much older and higher mileage.

Its not just Maserati either, see my 10 year old 25k mile Alfa Spider suspension. No broken springs but I caught it just in time I feel:

 

[bigbob]

We have had three springs go on an Audi, all at five years or less but not on any other car. The strange thing for two of them was you could not tell when driving it! For the other you could as the car dropped quite a bit.

 

[Contigo]

British weather takes its toll on Italian Fair Weather cars. Makes you wonder whether all cars that come to the UK should be undersealed just like the Japanese Imports are.

 

[russellp]

Both springs have fractured at the same place on the first (lower) coil so I noticed no difference in the ride.
The car has only experienced two winters, both very mild with little salt used on the roads.
Given the age and mileage of some GTs I would expect this to be more common.
I will let you know the response from Maserati.
A happy Christmas to you all.
Russell

 

[StuartW]

Sorry to hear that Russell and surely that will be covered but good luck anyway - I'm sure Brian @ Marshall will do his best for you, one of the good guys

 

[murph7355]

I've had spring failures on an Audi and an Aston. And am hearing of plenty of cars suffer the same fate.

I suspect the issues are probably **** poor road surfaces these days (doesn't need big pot holes if the car is driven a lot over **** surfaces) and/or the materials used for the springs. It'd be interesting to know where the main manufacturers are sourcing their steel from... Can't/shouldn't be corrosion after so little use. Maybe it's also something to do with modern suspension design?

I've also found in both cases that a standard service might not find the issue. Cracks can start off very hairline and be round the rear of a spring that wouldn't be checked on a std service. When the spring broke fully it was very noticeable in both cars with unpredictable handling.

When you change them, you must change in pairs across an axle.

 

[ratbag]

I had a broken spring at 20k miles- and the car very rarely goes out in the rain/lives in a garage. Complications arose because the suspension bushes were siezed- This can easily turn into a front suspension overhaul, new springs, bushes, drop links, £3000 10 hour job.hope its under warranty....

 

[Wack61]

Speed bumps don't help with heavy cars, especially if you live somewhere there's a lot of them like London

 

[VMSRTI]

I had a front spring go on the GS at 29k.
Replaced all 4 with FD springs.

 

[russellp]

If the failed springs are not covered by the warranty I might replace them with performance springs.
H&R springs are available lowering the front by 15mm and the rear by 35mm.
They cost about £400. FD springs are about £1000 !!!!
Does anyone have experience with H&R or any comments about the lowering?
By the way I was quoted £2300 to extend the manufacturer's warranty for 2 years.
That's considerably less than W'wise or W'direct.
Happy New Year, Russell

 

[conaero]

If the car is a keeper then the £2k to extend it for 2 years is worth it just for the peace of mind.

H&R are very well respected. The rear of the GT is way too high so the 35mm drop would be a good move IMHO.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Sorry to hear about the springs but standard Maserati replacements are cheap as chips and an easy fit. I thought I had one gone last summer but it turned out to be a bolloxed drop link. Anyhoo, advice from Autoshield is that if I want them to lower it they can but it'll "handle like a fish" and I shouldn't mess about with it. In any case, with spacers there's an appearance of it having been lowered, which suits me.

The other thing to remember is that cars are long and low already. Do you really want it more vulnerable to scraping and grounding?

 

[russellp]

Thanks for the comments.
I wouldn't normally consider lowering the car but the H&R springs seem not to be available as standard replacements.
I really wanted a better quality spring but there seem to be few options.
On the other hand, if the warranty covers the springs, I won't worry too much.
Russell

 

[Doohickey]

In any case, with spacers there's an appearance of it having been lowered, which suits me.

Have you got spacers on yours Adam? If so what size are they and where did you get them from? I'm thinking about putting some on mine.

Cheers.

 

[StuartW]

I do like the stance of yours Adam - very nice

 

[Felonious Crud]

Have you got spacers on yours Adam? If so what size are they and where did you get them from? I'm thinking about putting some on mine.

Cheers.

Hi David - 18mm rear and 12mm front, if I remember rightly. They're from FD, but in truth you can probably get them for less money and zero import duties if you buy from the UK. I *think* Hills or Sproggs will do them. It's one of the two.

 

[russellp]

Good news! The broken springs will be replaced under warranty.
They arrived on Monday which is pretty good as the problem was identified on December 23rd.
Thanks to Brian at Marshall, Peterborough.
Russell

 

[StuartW]

Good to hear Russell & another recommendation for Brian Crawford - when you see him, ask him if his ears have recovered from when he heard my exhaust!!