broke a LF spring on the 5kq today

[Fred Munro]

I broke a chunk off the bottom of the LF spring on my '86 5ktq, Geo. The
break initiated at a rust pit on the spring and propagated via stress
corrosion cracking until the spring snapped off. Take a good look at your
broken spring when you get it off - a rust stain over part of the clean
surface of the break is a sign of the above-mentioned failure.
Every spring I now hose off the springs and hose the sand out of the lower
mounts. I also touch up the paint if the springs are getting a little rusty.

Have fun!

Fred Munro
'94 S4  127k km

----- Original Message -----
From: "GEORGE MILLS" <gamills at ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 5:53 PM
Subject: broke a LF spring on the 5kq today


> which is a testament to the shape of the roads here in beautiful Nova
> Scotia. Broke about four/five inches length of spring off the top. No
> sagging visible but the spring is moving on the perch to make a nice
> "sproing" sound on stop to stop. I sprayed some goo on there so it
> slips on the perch for now. Guess I'll get up close and personal with
> strut R&R when the weather warms. Might as well get new top strut
> bearing as well. At least it's on the corner where I have replaced
> nuts and bolts not too long ago.
>
> "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz. My friends all drive
> Porchies, I must make amends..." A sweet lament. I'm going to invite
> Janice over so we can commiserate...at least in spirit.
>
> Be careful out there.
>
> Geo