Front coil spring on 96 swb transit. How much should it cost

[freakyleaky]

To replace it? I will be getting quotes for this tomorrow as one has snapped:o on my van. I just wanted a ball park figure so I know I am not being .......erm......overcharg ed.
Oh and are they easy enough to do yourself? Any nasty surprises awaiting or is it as straight forward as Haynes suggest? I have the ball joint separate and spring compressors and can get it chocked up on axel stands.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Hobbie]

Ooooooh it's gonna cost yer.... (In true style of a grease monkey)

Sorry I couldn't resist, but I don't know either.

[saintly_1]

What have you broke now freaky !!!

[Conniff]

As you already have that type of toolset freaky then I would assume you are competant in doing your own repairs, so yes you should be able to change the spring yourself without any problem.

The only advice I would give you is, don't rely on the spring compressors alone unless they have a 'deep' loop that fits really well over the coil.
Compress them evenly and by the minimum amount required.
Once compressed, if in any doubt as to the stability of the compressors (a set of three is better than a set of two), tie the spring closed using a strong wire. Coathangers are good for this.

[freakyleaky]

Thanks for that Coniff. I am pretty sure it is straight forward. I just thought i'd ask if anyone knew of any problems that can crop up when doing these.
Thanks for tip on tying the spring. I imagine one of them could take your head off if it came loose.

[freakyleaky]

Originally Posted by saintly_1

What have you broke now freaky !!!

The front off side coil spring on my transit. Have you a suitable hammer for the job?

[Ell-enn]

Can I borrow your hammer Saintly - I've broken my washing machine - arghhhh

Ell

[saintly_1]

Ohhhhh looks like my hammer is in big demand

[Conniff]

Originally Posted by freakyleaky

Thanks for that Coniff. I am pretty sure it is straight forward. I just thought i'd ask if anyone knew of any problems that can crop up when doing these.
Thanks for tip on tying the spring. I imagine one of them could take your head off if it came loose.

It is straight forward and when you have done it, you will say to yourself, 'is that it!'.

[freakyleaky]

Originally Posted by Conniff

It is straight forward and when you have done it, you will say to yourself, 'is that it!'.

Oh yes I like jobs like that. Thanks friend.
I have just had a quote for a new spring. £32.50 delivered. That sounds fair enough to me.

[patdavies]

Erm.

Springs, like most suspension components, should be replaced in axle pairs.

[Hammy1962]

Well now. Springs must be replaced in pairs. A broken spring can also damage the damper.

Is the single spring you have ordered a genuine one? If not it's likely to be a slightly different height to the other side which is likely to be origional if it's not been changed before.

With a VIN I can get you a pretty accuate price but you'd be foolish to post it in an open forum.

Sadly, you/we are advised not to accept advice via PM.

Oh well.

Hammy

[freakyleaky]

Originally Posted by Pammy

Well now. Springs must be replaced in pairs. A broken spring can also damage the damper.

Is the single spring you have ordered a genuine one? If not it's likely to be a slightly different height to the other side which is likely to be origional? if it's not been changed before.

With a VIN I can get you a pretty accuate?? price but you'd be foolish to post it in an open forum.

Sadly, you/we are advised not to accept advice via PM.

Oh well.

Hammy

Well now. Springs should be replaced in pairs. Really. :o
I can't believe a mechanic would have told me differently. If a mechanic has told me it is ok to replace a spring on one side only, is he then telling me lies?:o I don't know. Ford main dealers eh.
OH well I suppose I should learn not to trust them. Thanks for the tip.

And why would you need a VIN number to ascertain the price of a coil spring? The guy at fords didn't want the vin number. Just shows you he hasn't got a clue.

OH and I will be contacting Haynes and suggesting that they may want to mention that springs MUST be replaced in pairs.

Glad to see you have taken on board the advice you were given about advice via PM. Keep spreading the word would you.

[Hammy1962]

Hmmmm

Was he a mechanic or a Technician. I think you will find any Technician worth the qualification would fit a pair. The choice is yours.

I don't think you spoke to anyone at Ford (Note the capitalisation as it's a manufacturer!) I think you spoke to a Parts person at a Ford Dealer. Now they might be good and know thousands of FINIS (Capitalised as it's an acronym) codes but I doubt it. I would hope they would have asked you for a reg or VIN to make sure they supplied the correct part. I would expect a Transit to have a varied selection of differently rated springs to cater for all the different applications that applies to Transit. Good luck with him picking the right one.

If you had risked me stealing your identity with a VIN in a PM I was going to offer you the listed FINIS for your vehicle plus the book time for fitting a pair of springs. That offer is still there.

I personally have never opened a Haynes manual but if I had I wouldn't admit to it on a forum.

Hammy

For those sad folks that are interested "FINIS" is Ford International Numerical Indexing System