Re: 87 4kq springs

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Huw Powell <audi@mediaone.net>
To: <auditude@neta.com>
Cc: <quattro-digest@audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: 87 4kq springs


> > I mean, what the heck causes a spring to break?  They are
> > intended to be at least a little flexible, right? <g>
>
> how about some goober trying to free up a tie rod end or adjuster with
> heat and not working neatly?  that might get it started.  otherwise I
> dunno.  Stray bullets?
>

    I had the end 3" of the bottom coil on the left front spring on my '86
5ktq snap off at 130 kph. It made very interesting noises as it rattled
around in the wheel well and finally spit out under the car. I went back and
recovered the piece to see what it was.
    The coil snapped off clean 90 degrees to the axis of the wire. It looked
like a fatigue fracture initiated by a rust pit. The spring rusted because
the drain holes in the lower spring mount were plugged with road sand from
winter driving. I now hose the mounts out every spring to clean them out.
    To break a spring, all you need is a stress riser and enough cycles to
fatigue the metal.

Fred Munro
'91 200q  280k km