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[BILL0BLU]

Hi guys, I run a 95,V6,2.5 saloon and I've found that I have a broken rear spring. From what I've been told it seems to be a common problem.
My question is will the rear spring off an estate fit the saloon and is this a worth while mod

[Matchless]

Estate springs are same shape as saloon so will fit but presumably the estate has higher rate springs so ride height on saloon would be too high.
You should replace as a pair.

[jonathanh]

Just replaced one on mine...

vx wanted £180 for a pair.  Got KYB for £36.

Instantly corrected the nagging pulling to the left that I'd had for 3 years (why hadn't the MOT picked this up...)

I agree they should be replaced in pairs, but on the grounds that the car was drivable with 1 broken spring and a new one made it 99% better, I saved £36 for then next 1%

Mine is a saloon so I am not sure of the process is the same for the estate but I would not take too much notice of the Haynes book of lies.  Particularly the bit about removing the brake hoses from the underbody.

For me a combination of dropping the rear subframe by as far as I could without overstressing the flexible brake hoses and winding the spring in with a set of spring compressors did the trick.  No need to bugger around with brake hoses......

Also be careful when dropping the exhaust down particularly if it is old.  Did that on mine and it fell apart - guess it was on its way out but I don't like creating work for myself....

Also I'm not sure who made the original spring.  I know the front shocks are Sachs so the springs could be the same.  If you want to google about, try the UK importer's website: search for ZF trading - they have a decent catalogue.  Then its off to a motorfactor with the part number... ZF will tell you where a stockist is

Good luck

[Matchless]

You dont need to disconnect the brake hoses, just knock out the securing clips where the flexi pipe joins the metal pipe on the trailing arm. Only takes a couple of seconds.
You also dont need to bother with spring clamps if you are lowering the subframe rear, spring comes free without.

[Admin]

I have to say I would not want to be driving your car!

While the replacement spring has cured your problem, it has also created another potentially very dangerous one.

The rear is now very unbalanced with regards to how it handles the loads of driving.

1 nice new spring, handles the energy loaded into it in the way a new spring should....

1 old, worn spring. Completely different set of characteristics and will not be anywhere near as efficient in handling the load placed on it!

For the sake of £36.... change it!

This is why all springs and shocks should be changed in pairs.

[jonathanh]

Thanks for the advice - I guess I'll change the second spring next time I feel like getting my hands dirty!

Trouble is, it seems like it is driving normally - like new!

As for releasing the brake pipes.  I completely agree that I should have been able to take the clips out to release the brake pipes.  When I tried I must have been having a bad day 'cos I couldn't shift them so reached for the spring compressors....... only had to squeeze an inch or two.

[nixoro]

You dont need to disconnect the brake hoses, just knock out the securing clips where the flexi pipe joins the metal pipe on the trailing arm. Only takes a couple of seconds.
You also dont need to bother with spring clamps if you are lowering the subframe rear, spring comes free without.

What I found when changing the damaged spring on the Black Omega I have, was the flexihose clips came out but the pipes themselves were held in place at the join, the bracket itself seemed to retain the pipe in place meaning the only way to remove the brake pipes would be to disconnect them.  Hope this makes sense.

Whether they changed the design on them i dont know being that its on a 94M plate.

[Matchless]

Tap clips out with drift or screwdriver, body of flexible is close fit in bracket so will be stuck / rusted in, use a drift to get it moving then wriggle out until metal pipe can be slid through slot in bracket

[BILL0BLU]

Well I've just changed the rear springs on my Omega saloon and here's how I did it. With out touching the brake pipes or lowering the exhaust or subframe.
first jack up the car and suport on axel stands under the sills. Remove rear wheels and while the axel is still jacked up and the springs compressed, using 2 pieces of strong wire on each spring wire the spring coils in the compressed position. Next remove the bottem shock bolts and the bolts that connect the antiroll bar link to the axel.
Now you can lower the jack under the axel.
the next part is where a helper comes in handy although I managed on my own.
You need to use a metal bar to lever down one end of the axel and the spring can be lifted out. Same on the oter side
always replace as a pair.
To replace the new springs, again compress the springs using either a spring compressor or a hydaulic press and again wire the coils in the compressed position.
Pop the new springs in position and reasemble.
Remember to jack up the axel to compress the springs before removing the wire ties.

I hope this is of use to some body