A Tale of Two Springs

Poggit · 16th July 2016, 16:12

As Im doing a bit of work on the front suspension of NT04 i thought now would be a good time to drop a couple of new springs in. Ive had a pair knocking around the garage i got cheap off ebay some time ago. Imagine my surprise when ,as you can see in the pic, one of the springs( which were sold as a pair) is longer than the other! Also the profile at the top of the springs are not the same-one being more 'open'.
It looks like if I am going to have purchase another spring to match ONE of these-but which is the correct length? One spring measure 355mm While the other is approx 385mm . The springs are both marked with green and yellow dots. Does any one know which of the two measurements is correct for a 1.8 saloon?

chris75 · 16th July 2016, 16:37

The longer one of the two looks "unfinished " to me , and rather dodgy

There are some seriously rubbish parts for sale these days ! I bought springs from a local factor a while ago and the top of one of them was bent too tightly to fit onto its seat at the top ; I took them both back and changed for another make .

minimutly · 16th July 2016, 17:17

I agree, hardly any known makes left to make a choice - you're left trying to judge quallity without history. Springs are a classic (one size fits all), but we all know thats wrong.

Poggit · 16th July 2016, 19:15

OK, so Ive taken one of the springs off and have identified the smaller of the two new ones being the correct length BUT much to my dismay they have different colour dot code; the one off the car is green brown and the one I had interned to replace it with is greenyellow

SD1too · 16th July 2016, 20:43

What's wrong with your original springs Nick?

Simon

Poggit · 17th July 2016, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD1too

What's wrong with your original springs Nick?

Simon

I got an advisory on the MOT for corrosion, and as I had them to hand thought it would make sense to replace them.

SD1too · 17th July 2016, 09:53

If you look at the springs of most cars over a few years old you'll find surface rust, but that doesn't mean that they are dangerous. If they were, an MOT certificate would be refused.

An 'advisory' is just an observation for your information. The problem is that too many owners misinterpret them as an instruction that something needs replacing. Of course, that's good for the garage's business but not good for the owner's pocket.

I would leave your originals in place Nick. My 32 year old SD1 still has its original springs and so does my 17 year old Rover 75. I'm certain that yours are fine too.

Simon

T-Cut · 17th July 2016, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poggit

the one off the car is green brown and the one I had interned to replace it with is greenyellow

The Green/Yellow is the correct code for a 1.8 saloon. The 1.8 model range has three spring variations, which might explain the ones on yours.

You can get genuine OEM springs here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROVER-75-1...item3cf8c2ee05

chipsceola · 17th July 2016, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poggit

As Im doing a bit of work on the front suspension of NT04 i thought now would be a good time to drop a couple of new springs in. Ive had a pair knocking around the garage i got cheap off ebay some time ago. Imagine my surprise when ,as you can see in the pic, one of the springs( which were sold as a pair) is longer than the other! Also the profile at the top of the springs are not the same-one being more 'open'.
It looks like if I am going to have purchase another spring to match ONE of these-but which is the correct length? One spring measure 355mm While the other is approx 385mm . The springs are both marked with green and yellow dots. Does any one know which of the two measurements is correct for a 1.8 saloon?

Time was when all road springs were finished as in image 1 - modern cars often have all springs simply cut from a longer length (as image 2) without the 'tang' end leading to earlier corrosion and failure, not just MGR but most
makes /models.

trikey · 17th July 2016, 14:58

Probably best if you just order two new ones quoting your reg number. It will save the guess work.

16th July 2016, 16:12	#1
Poggit Gets stuck in Nissan Leaf Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lancashire Posts: 581 Thanks: 88 Thanked 66 Times in 57 Posts	A Tale of Two Springs As Im doing a bit of work on the front suspension of NT04 i thought now would be a good time to drop a couple of new springs in. Ive had a pair knocking around the garage i got cheap off ebay some time ago. Imagine my surprise when ,as you can see in the pic, one of the springs( which were sold as a pair) is longer than the other! Also the profile at the top of the springs are not the same-one being more 'open'. It looks like if I am going to have purchase another spring to match ONE of these-but which is the correct length? One spring measure 355mm While the other is approx 385mm . The springs are both marked with green and yellow dots. Does any one know which of the two measurements is correct for a 1.8 saloon? __________________ *Love my electric car but miss my 75* Last edited by Poggit; 16th July 2016 at 16:21..

16th July 2016, 16:37	#2
chris75 same car since 2005 2001 Rover 75 2.0 v6 Connoisseur Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ellesmere Port , Cheshire Posts: 3,811 Thanks: 379 Thanked 549 Times in 466 Posts	The longer one of the two looks "unfinished " to me , and rather dodgy There are some seriously rubbish parts for sale these days ! I bought springs from a local factor a while ago and the top of one of them was bent too tightly to fit onto its seat at the top ; I took them both back and changed for another make . __________________ Who said it was simples ?

16th July 2016, 19:15	#4
Poggit Gets stuck in Nissan Leaf Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lancashire Posts: 581 Thanks: 88 Thanked 66 Times in 57 Posts	OK, so Ive taken one of the springs off and have identified the smaller of the two new ones being the correct length BUT much to my dismay they have different colour dot code; the one off the car is green brown and the one I had interned to replace it with is greenyellow __________________ *Love my electric car but miss my 75*

16th July 2016, 20:43	#5
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,345 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	What's wrong with your original springs Nick? Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

17th July 2016, 09:53	#7
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,345 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	If you look at the springs of most cars over a few years old you'll find surface rust, but that doesn't mean that they are dangerous. If they were, an MOT certificate would be refused. An 'advisory' is just an observation for your information. The problem is that too many owners misinterpret them as an instruction that something needs replacing. Of course, that's good for the garage's business but not good for the owner's pocket. I would leave your originals in place Nick. My 32 year old SD1 still has its original springs and so does my 17 year old Rover 75. I'm certain that yours are fine too. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

16th July 2016, 17:17	#3
minimutly Posted a thing or two mg zt Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: cardigan Posts: 1,087 Thanks: 28 Thanked 187 Times in 158 Posts	I agree, hardly any known makes left to make a choice - you're left trying to judge quallity without history. Springs are a classic (one size fits all), but we all know thats wrong.

17th July 2016, 14:58	#10
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,765 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Probably best if you just order two new ones quoting your reg number. It will save the guess work. __________________ Lest we forget..