Thought I'd get this started. Got My 2003 with Dinan stage 2 suspension out for the summer. Lights for flat tire, abs, etc. came on. Needed tires anyway took it "belle tire." Found out I have a broken rear spring. OK, guys let's start the suggestions. Oh yeah, out of warranty. Mark (guy with the sound module problem. Works now but that's for another thread.)

 

buy new springs!

 

Yes, I need at least one new rear spring. I suppose I need to change both. I can't just buy one spring right? Do I buy the dinan set with all four? That's $300. Anybody got a better idea? I live on a dirt road and was trying to make the car tougher but broke a spring. I've never broken a spring in my life.

 

Since springs are matched sets...you need to buy a new set. IMO it is likely the spring was defective, or had a weak spot. Any road bad enough to break a spring should have blown a tire...and maybe even destroyed a rim!!

 

My thinking exactly, it was a bad spring but jeesh for what you pay for the damn thing seems like they ought to get it right. Didn't even know I broke it. No big pot hole, no big nothin. It has to be fatigue. OK, anybody got spring suggestions? A whole set of Dinans is $300. I suppose I'll start complaining to them. Nothing like ****ing up your car by spending a boatload of money at the dealer only to have this kind of thing happen.

 

Odd. Won't Dinan replace the spring? I'd expect them to be worried about a possible issue with their parts.

 

Tried to post a picture of it with a sarcastic description on the Dinan website.
Let's see what happens. I have been a real pain for the dealer but I mean-WTF?

I'm going to get the thing off, find out what is broken and take a bunch of pictures. Frankly, I really don't want another spring from them unless I get it for free. I put that junk on my car to toughen it up for my dirt roads not to experience my first spring failure. Anybody know a good spring for handling and won't break?

 

Broken springs are pretty rare..heck, do a quick search...I'm not sure you will find many others.
Just try to find new ones with a similar spring rate to the ones you removed, and similar lowering amount...if the dinin kit lowers a car by about an inch..do the same level again...but you might be happier just buying a full set...trying to match the spring rate of 2 differnt brands might be hard..if you are wrong, the ride will be pretty bad.
I would call dinin directly...they might work with you...they are no longer activly devolping mini parts...maybe they will sell the slings cheap since they have been discontuned....

 

Yeah, I'll call Dinan now that I have a phone number. I might call the dealer just for laughs, although they did fix my sound module. After I leave a nice post about that I will Tiffany a call/email. Since I'm at it anybody got brake pad ideas? Oh, then there is the AC...

 

Since you drive on gravel/dirt roads, the condensor is most likely toast...and the car is oldenough, the compressor is likely weak...people rip lots of systems out when converting their cars to track cars...buy some used parts on the marketplace....
Brake pads...no dust worries!! Just match your driving style...have fun!!

 

AC for later. Got the rear shocks off, Don't know about additional damage yet. Drivers side was cracked right where the the last coil contacts the base of the coil on the spring. So, is it binding on that last bit of coil and cold working itself until it breaks? That's my idea right now. Pictures at 11.

 

If you look real close you can see where it was rubbing on the base coil.

 

Time to go with a set of TSW springs.

It's really rare to break a spring, let alone hard to do.