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Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 701
Checking the van
« on: June 05, 2025, 04:05:26 pm »
Yesterday my van made a bang and I thought a bolt had snapped. Had a look at my next window clean and noticed one of my leaf springs had snapped. I swapped both 3 years ago so didn't think it would happen till another 7 years. Changed it over today and I found out why. The strut bolt had fell out and the strut was wedged under the floor. If I had noticed it, it would have been an easy fix.

Will be giving the van a monthly check from now on.

Tam1872

  • Posts: 114
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2025, 05:34:21 pm »
Think that was meant for your diary and you've posted it on here by mistake.

dazmond

  • Posts: 24372
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2025, 06:58:55 pm »
Yesterday my van made a bang and I thought a bolt had snapped. Had a look at my next window clean and noticed one of my leaf springs had snapped. I swapped both 3 years ago so didn't think it would happen till another 7 years. Changed it over today and I found out why. The strut bolt had fell out and the strut was wedged under the floor. If I had noticed it, it would have been an easy fix.

Will be giving the van a monthly check from now on.

How do you break a spring?

I've never had to change one on any van I've ever had,even the old bangers I used to drive.
price higher/work harder!

colin bird

  • Posts: 1239
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2025, 07:17:51 pm »
Yesterday my van made a bang and I thought a bolt had snapped. Had a look at my next window clean and noticed one of my leaf springs had snapped. I swapped both 3 years ago so didn't think it would happen till another 7 years. Changed it over today and I found out why. The strut bolt had fell out and the strut was wedged under the floor. If I had noticed it, it would have been an easy fix.

Will be giving the van a monthly check from now on.

How do you break a spring?

I've never had to change one on any van I've ever had,even the old bangers I used to drive.

I had one break on 1970 escort van (showing my age ) it was an ex gas board van  it was approx ten years,back in the day that was quite old for a van

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 701
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2025, 07:35:57 pm »
Yesterday my van made a bang and I thought a bolt had snapped. Had a look at my next window clean and noticed one of my leaf springs had snapped. I swapped both 3 years ago so didn't think it would happen till another 7 years. Changed it over today and I found out why. The strut bolt had fell out and the strut was wedged under the floor. If I had noticed it, it would have been an easy fix.

Will be giving the van a monthly check from now on.

How do you break a spring?

I've never had to change one on any van I've ever had, even the old bangers I used to drive.
Carrying heavy loads. 650l tank and other stuff in my van. I think its to do with all those speedbumps and potholes. Mechanics are busy now, repairing suspension failures and saying its to do with potholes. I don't know how the strut bolt came out but the new one won't. Parts cost £200 (lucky I can do it myself) so if anyone queries how much we charge just tell them a mechanic is £100 an hour now and parts have doubled since covid.

Col

  • Posts: 85
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2025, 10:09:21 pm »
Yesterday my van made a bang and I thought a bolt had snapped. Had a look at my next window clean and noticed one of my leaf springs had snapped. I swapped both 3 years ago so didn't think it would happen till another 7 years. Changed it over today and I found out why. The strut bolt had fell out and the strut was wedged under the floor. If I had noticed it, it would have been an easy fix.

Will be giving the van a monthly check from now on.

How do you break a spring?

I've never had to change one on any van I've ever had,even the old bangers I used to drive.

I had one break on 1970 escort van (showing my age ) it was an ex gas board van  it was approx ten years,back in the day that was quite old for a van

Snap .
I had one break on an old Escort van years ago.
Ex Post Office van in a rather appealing shade of red.
Must have overloaded it with the ladders in those days rather than water.
Glass windows in the rear doors at least were a great security device as no wee thieving rats were going to break in for a bucket of soapy water,a extension pole and some scraggy scrims.
Happy days.

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26470
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2025, 11:17:37 pm »
I had a leaf of a rear spring break on my current Hyundai Van about five years ago. I don't recall when. Probably hit a pothole hard with a full tank.
It's a game of three halves!

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4096
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2025, 11:41:44 pm »
I had my coil spring snap on my Custom.

Slacky

  • Posts: 8411
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2025, 04:29:37 am »
Yesterday my van made a bang and I thought a bolt had snapped. Had a look at my next window clean and noticed one of my leaf springs had snapped. I swapped both 3 years ago so didn't think it would happen till another 7 years. Changed it over today and I found out why. The strut bolt had fell out and the strut was wedged under the floor. If I had noticed it, it would have been an easy fix.

Will be giving the van a monthly check from now on.

How do you break a spring?

I've never had to change one on any van I've ever had,even the old bangers I used to drive.

I’ve broke a spring on my custom about two years ago. I was about 12 miles from home. Phoned the garage, they said empty out all the water and drive home, slowly, at 10mph. New spring sorted next day.

NBwcs

  • Posts: 973
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2025, 07:23:57 am »
Me too, 3 or 4 years ago in a transit,  hazards on a 10 mph crawl home, luckily was only a mile from home.

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26470
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #10 on: June 06, 2025, 02:30:31 pm »
I didn't even know that I'd done it! Got picked up on the MOT.

One leaf out of about five I think.

Just a bit wallowy in hindsight.

 ;D
It's a game of three halves!

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 701
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #11 on: June 06, 2025, 04:38:40 pm »
MOT,s are good for picking most things up. Don't think they noticed my strut because it looked at the correct angle with the wheel on. It was only when I took the wheel off and got down to eye level I noticed it wasn't connected to anything. Went right round to other side and checked if it still had a bolt in it. Ordered another 2 bolts as spares for my leaf springs. 175mm long with nut and cost £12 each, nought cheap now.

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4096
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #12 on: June 06, 2025, 07:31:52 pm »
MOT,s are good for picking most things up. Don't think they noticed my strut because it looked at the correct angle with the wheel on. It was only when I took the wheel off and got down to eye level I noticed it wasn't connected to anything. Went right round to other side and checked if it still had a bolt in it. Ordered another 2 bolts as spares for my leaf springs. 175mm long with nut and cost £12 each, nought cheap now.
Thought you said you were gettin a new van?

Spruce

  • Posts: 8610
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #13 on: June 06, 2025, 10:59:25 pm »
You can do a check of your vehicle and not discover a spring about to break.
I took our Citroen Xsara in for mot a number of years ago. I did a full inspection before the car went in.
I always check all the bulbs, wiper blades, hooter and the front coil springs. Brakes pad and discs are checked and replaced when I do the annual service. I drive the car at least once a week and an very aware of an issues when they start. I regularly watch the tyres for any wear.
Very really does the car pick up an advisory at mot.
This one time I parked the car in the mot parking area and gave the keys to the mot inspector. There was a bang which came from the car and immediately the mot inspector said, "that's failed." The front spring broke.

Last MOT the car passed no issues, only for the front coil spring to break a week later.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26470
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #14 on: June 07, 2025, 07:11:19 am »
You can do a check of your vehicle and not discover a spring about to break.
I took our Citroen Xsara in for mot a number of years ago. I did a full inspection before the car went in.
I always check all the bulbs, wiper blades, hooter and the front coil springs. Brakes pad and discs are checked and replaced when I do the annual service. I drive the car at least once a week and an very aware of an issues when they start. I regularly watch the tyres for any wear.
Very really does the car pick up an advisory at mot.
This one time I parked the car in the mot parking area and gave the keys to the mot inspector. There was a bang which came from the car and immediately the mot inspector said, "that's failed." The front spring broke.

Last MOT the car passed no issues, only for the front coil spring to break a week later.

Hooters should be checked regularly. Good advice as always, Spruce.
It's a game of three halves!

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 701
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #15 on: June 07, 2025, 09:42:41 am »
MOT,s are good for picking most things up. Don't think they noticed my strut because it looked at the correct angle with the wheel on. It was only when I took the wheel off and got down to eye level I noticed it wasn't connected to anything. Went right round to other side and checked if it still had a bolt in it. Ordered another 2 bolts as spares for my leaf springs. 175mm long with nut and cost £12 each, nought cheap now.
Thought you said you were gettin a new van?

Yes, Next year I am debt free so will be happy to take on some debt. Getting a new van means moving everything over to the new van. Far too busy at moment but my van and system runs great at the moment and the only problem is the rust. Starting to save up now so next year I may be able to pay cash for it.

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4096
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #16 on: June 08, 2025, 12:25:24 am »
MOT,s are good for picking most things up. Don't think they noticed my strut because it looked at the correct angle with the wheel on. It was only when I took the wheel off and got down to eye level I noticed it wasn't connected to anything. Went right round to other side and checked if it still had a bolt in it. Ordered another 2 bolts as spares for my leaf springs. 175mm long with nut and cost £12 each, nought cheap now.
Thought you said you were gettin a new van?

Yes, Next year I am debt free so will be happy to take on some debt. Getting a new van means moving everything over to the new van. Far too busy at moment but my van and system runs great at the moment and the only problem is the rust. Starting to save up now so next year I may be able to pay cash for it.
I don’t understand why you would feel the need to buy 2 spare bolts if you are considering changing your van next year.

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 701
Re: Checking the van
« Reply #17 on: June 08, 2025, 09:14:08 am »
MOT,s are good for picking most things up. Don't think they noticed my strut because it looked at the correct angle with the wheel on. It was only when I took the wheel off and got down to eye level I noticed it wasn't connected to anything. Went right round to other side and checked if it still had a bolt in it. Ordered another 2 bolts as spares for my leaf springs. 175mm long with nut and cost £12 each, nought cheap now.
Thought you said you were gettin a new van?

Yes, Next year I am debt free so will be happy to take on some debt. Getting a new van means moving everything over to the new van. Far too busy at moment but my van and system runs great at the moment and the only problem is the rust. Starting to save up now so next year I may be able to pay cash for it.
I don’t understand why you would feel the need to buy 2 spare bolts if you are considering changing your van next year.

I changed the leaf spring without removing the bolt as I couldn't get it out. Its a strange setup, its like a horse shoe. I manage to get the top bolt out and spent a few hours getting the new leaf in and bolted. If you do your own repairs then you will come to realise that all the time taken is by removing the bolts. When one can cut/grind them out and fit new bolts and nuts then its far easier. So I'm thinking the other side might snap and I will be prepared. Nothing better than having a stock of nuts and bolts when having a 15 year old van.