Coil Spring Bunching

[Keith M.]

Just discovered this coil spring situation on the RH coil spring of my 69 L46 4spd vert. I have attached pictures of both LH and RH coil springs, one from front view looking back and one from rear view looking forward. You will see on the RH spring the coils are almost if not in fact touching in one inboard spot. This looks very abnormal and is not nearly the case on the LH spring. The car is n jack stands with suspension hanging. Stands are just rear of the front wheels and just forward of the rear wheels, all under the frame. Hanging A-arms would at least in theory account for some differential in coil spacing inboard vs outboard on the coil....but not like this. Would welcome any thoughts on causes or things to check. These coils were replaced 2,000 miles ago which also happens to be 24 years ago. I can't think of much other than defective coils to begin with. If there were something funky going on with A-arm geometry would think coils would unduly bunch equivalently. I am aware that there is only one correct vertical orientation..tighter coils on top. Am not aware of any requisite rotational orientation...dunno if there is only one seating orientation for that which would preclude getting it wrong...I think. I will be pulling it apart at some point for restore but was thinking that was a year or two off. But now potentially driving it like this has me a bit concerned. (Sorry for picture orientation. They are fine on my computer and seem to get rotated 90 degrees on import.)

[Mark E.]

Re: Coil Spring Bunching

You're right, this looks like a bad spring. Look for a fatigue crack or other defect when removed. It's best to replace both front springs.

Edit: I saw your post on CF also, so you should get plenty of help there.

[Keith M.]

Re: Coil Spring Bunching

You're right, this looks like a bad spring. Look for a fatigue crack or other defect when removed. It's best to replace both front springs.

Edit: I saw your post on CF also, so you should get plenty of help there.

I think you are spot on. Saw the replies so far on CF...and appreciate the input....but none resonate yet with me more than defective spring. Here's why. When pressure is applied to the spring one coil knows or does nothing more or less than any other coil. The compression force is absorbed equally across all coils (at least for all practical purposes). They compress proportionally which is close to if not completely equally. So to me there really can't be ANYTHING going on in the upper or lower pockets, nor anything to do with installation, that causes ONLY these two coils ONLY on one side to basically touch while all the others still have lets say an inch or so spacing INCLUDING the opposite side of the coils in question. Only way to know is pull it apart which I shall do. Perhaps I am then proven wrong...or not.

[Owen L.]

Re: Coil Spring Bunching

That's why I suggested that someone used heat to soften the coil and lower the car - it appears local rather than the entire spring being affected. (Perhaps I'm mis-remembering, as I've never had any direct experience, that heating a spring coil is/was used to lower a vehicle.) I suppose it could have been a poorly heat-treated part when new that didn't receive consistent hardening but that seems unlikely given the automation and batch sizes that spring manufacturers use.

[Edward J.]

[Keith M.]

Re: Coil Spring Bunching

Well...check it out. Turns out the spring in question got a dogleg bend in it. In the picture of 4 springs it is second from the right. The outside springs in the pic are what I believe are used service replacements that I plan to install after cleaning up. Sorry the pix are not that great with the other springs in the background. But pretty clear the problem here.