Help Identifying Stray Bit

[Beach Person]

Hi, All.

Parked up today afer a short drive and after about 30 second stationary there was a bang like a can of something had exploded at the rear of the car immediately by a small clang. On examination I found this bit in the photo on the ground under the driver side rear. The car drove the 1 mile home fine afterwards. My first thought was that this bit is part of the rear anti-roll bar but it seems a more rounded section than examples I can find on the Web - any ideas what it is ?

[Dancake]

That's a part of one of your springs

[ITSv40]

Yes, as above. Happens quite frequently and needs new springs fitted before it is driven again.

[SwissXC90]

Wow, broken spring !

Instant MOT safety fail - you need new springs, do left and right at the same time as both are equally old.
Consider doing front springs as well, as they are also equally old.

[Beach Person]

Thanks for the quick and very helpful responses, folks. Looks like it is pocket squeezing time for me again but it must be done.

Thanks again

DAVE.

[Beach Person]

Actually, looking at this bit of spring - it is broken at both ends, one end is a fresh, clean break but the break at the other end is old and rusted/tarnished so it looks as though it had broken once before and I just never knew about it, no symptoms I could detect and been through MOTs. Strikes me this can happen any time whether one is in the car or not and I was lucky to have witnessed it and found the bit. As SwissX90 advises I will be getting separate quotes for the back pair and all four and see what the expense comes to - I would certainly prefer all four.

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by Beach Person

Actually, looking at this bit of spring - it is broken at both ends, one end is a fresh, clean break but the break at the other end is old and rusted/tarnished so it looks as though it had broken once before and I just never knew about it, no symptoms I could detect and been through MOTs. Strikes me this can happen any time whether one is in the car or not and I was lucky to have witnessed it and found the bit. As SwissX90 advises I will be getting separate quotes for the back pair and all four and see what the expense comes to - I would certainly prefer all four.

Certainly get a quote for all four, but in reality the fronts are much more robust and last better than the rears. Personally I would fit two new springs and possibly shocks on the rear and then check/keep an eye on the fronts.

My V40 had two new rear springs fitted by Volvo at 60,000mls, the fronts are still the originals at 137,000mls.

The C70 had one new rear spring at 35,000mls and another rear spring on the other side at 40,000mls - it previously lived in the Fens so the suspension got a pounding. The fronts are still original with no issues at 57,000mls

[clarkey1984]

Mines the same, one coil has gone off the bottom on one side, no symptoms or anything to suggest it's broken but it is, I only spotted it because I happened to have my tyres swapped over and saw it when it was jacked up with no wheel on, it did sit ever so slightly lower that side but i put it down to having some of my tools in the boot on that side.