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hi everyone. bit of advice required please.

the coil spring on the rear suspension of my vectra has snapped today so i will have to get them both replaced. rather than fit the bog standard springs does anyone know if i can fit heavy duty type springs? i did put a post up a while ago regarding how much sag there was in car with the caravan on and was actually thinkng about fitting spring assisters then. with this repair now unavoidable i was hoping i could fit heavy duty ones so i wouldnt need the assisters, or do i go down the route of fitting the standard springs and still go with the assisters (the MAD type ones i was thinking of).

if anyone has any thoughts on this i would really appreciate your advice.

thanks,

simon.

I think this is a known fault with Vectra's.  I had a 04 reg estate as a company car a few years ago and I got informed both my rear springs were snapped when it went in for its annual service! 

I was a tenter at that point so car was only heavily loaded a few times per year.  Strangely I had no inclination the springs had gone, the car ride height was fine and no difference in the way it drove - if they had not shown me the broken springs I would have thought they were trying it on .... 

I sell car parts for a living and you can get heavy duty springs for some Vectras depending on the model, engine size, etc.

The ride would be better with heavy duty springs rather than with assiters

Even with new springs I have used assister springs from both Grayston and MAD over the years.

With these you are win-win.

When the car is solo or two-up the springs do nothing and have no real effect on the cars general behaviour. Once you start applying load they progressively bolster the original spring offering considerable support especially once the car is close to the axle limit. Having the rear additionally supported in this way is very useful on a front wheel drive car when towing, especially when getting of a damp grass field.

Also when accelerating hard they reduce the tail-sit of the car improving launch.

They do not increase noseweight limit.

Current tow car cannot have these assisters due to the rear beam design so I bought heavy duty springs for just over £40 each and some Koni adjustable dampers so they could be tuned to match the spring. We still have our old towcar and the MAD assisters are still in their, this car rarely tows now but as a product they are so unobtrusive why dig them out? And when carrying 8 bags of muck from the garden centre the rear of the car hardly drops. They are worth the money if you intend to keep the car.

I would replace them as a pair. If you plan on doing a lot of towing and they are available then go for the heavy duty ones,same goes when replacing shocks and bushes get the heavier duty and replace in pairs.The extra expense will be worth it.

thanks for all the advice, i have had both springs replaced today (the shock absorbers were both ok) and can feel and see the difference, it seems like they have been on the way out for a while!

i have a story regarding the repair but i am going to put it on a new post as it may open a can of worms so to speak.

again, thanks for the advice, i know i can trust it on here.

simon.