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Presumably this guy would get the job of changing these springs in due course ?........
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If there's not any evidence of excessive corrosion, then your mechanic has designs upon emptying your wallet.
>>it passes the shock test.
What test is that? [I think I can guess]
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Just the crude bounce test. Well I asked him if it was urgent and he said no, I don't want to be spending any money in it, just see what the MOT says in May. He told me this has he had the car on the ramp and I was inspecting it, I ask what do you think of the condition of it. He said there was a little bit of rust underneath but nothing unusual for a 12 year old car and nothing that will cause MOT problems.
I think his logic was that the springs look old and they do snap.
I was thinking of taking to one of those free inspections the big fast fit placews do, but they would just find faults that don't exist anyway.
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>>I was thinking of taking to one of those free inspections...
Rattle!, be your age!
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Rattle find a new mechanic, is this a fast fit mechanic? from one of the large nation wide outfits?
A second opinion is worthwhile, springs snap or get weak you can't say it will need replacing in so many months.
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He is a local back street garage.
I will stop worrying about it for now and just drive the car more, if the suspension sounds like its getting worse I will investigate it. I paid £350 for the car expecting to spend around £200 on it per year in repairs.
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I doubt the springs will need replacing but if you strip the struts off to change them,it would be sensible to do shocks at same time.
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expecting to spend around £200 on it per year in repairs.
I hope you didn't tell your mechanic that!
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I have run some truly hideous old bangers over the years, and I have never changed a suspension spring. Shocks, yes, but not springs.
Just change the front arms if the bushes have gone (get the tracking checked afterwards!), and as long as it doesn't float or bounce excessively, leave the rest well alone.
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The only proper thing to do is to put it in for MOT at the correct time. The car may go straight through - thus ensuring you've spend the minimum on maintenance. If the car failes on a large number of things, then you know EXACTLY what needs doing and you can estimate whether it is financially viable to repair it. I've never heard of springs needing replacement just because they are 'dirty & rusty'.
Hope this helps
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Did a fairly long drive today over a lot of pot holes, there wasn't really any usual noises from the suspension just the usual slightly warn bushe sound all Fiestas of this type seem to make.It certainly wasn't bouncy.
Feel a bit happier now.
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Rattle
I think if it were my car, just bought for £350 - I would try not to worry about things until they happened. A haynes manual - oil and filter change - antifreeze up to strength and let the MOT sort out safety issues. (+ Basic AA membership)
Perhaps a peek at the Pads.. but keeping it away from mechanics.
The price of the car just doesn`t support other than DIY.
Good Luck with it. Hope things go well.
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When it`s MOT time, I would also give your local Council a ring. Where I live the Council Transport Department do MOT`s - with the obvious benefit of removing the link between assessment and repair.
Edited by oilrag on 27/10/2008 at 16:38
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