Coil springs are the major component of modern suspension systems that keep your vehicle “suspended” off the ground. These springs absorb impact from bumps in the road by compressing and expanding.
As these hardworking components age, they can deteriorate and fail, affecting everything from ride comfort to tire wear. By recognizing the early signs of coil spring problems, you may be able to save yourself from more expensive repairs down the road.
Let’s look at the most common symptoms of a failing coil springs and what you can expect as far as replacement costs go.
How Coil Springs Work
The compression and rebound of the coil spring, coupled with the damping from shock absorbers, work to keep each tire in contact with the road at all times. Coil springs are also a key factor in determining the ride height of your vehicle.
There are four coil springs to support the weight of your entire vehicle, which means each of these springs must be incredibly strong. From the factory, each spring has a specific spring rate that maximizes comfort and performance for your particular model.
Springs and shocks are the two main components that determine how your vehicle reacts to bumps. In some vehicles, shocks are mounted inside the coil spring. This is called a coil-over shock absorber setup, or “coilover” for short.
Many vehicles come with coilover suspension from the factory, but there are numerous aftermarket options available that allow you to lower your ride height or alter spring rates for better cornering performance.
The upper part of the coil spring is positioned below the spring perch (sometimes called a top hat in coilover suspensions) while the bottom part of the spring rests on the lower control arm, which helps keep the wheels securely held in place.
Because the spring is positioned above the lower control arm, it absorbs all the shock from down below. That way, passengers in the cabin to remain comfortable while driving over road obstacles.
Common Signs of Failing Coil Springs
If you have a worn-out coil spring in your car, you’ll likely notice some distinct symptoms. Recognizing these warning signs early can help you address problems before they lead to more extensive damage.
1) Bounciness
Coil springs are supposed to keep the vehicle from shaking and bouncing excessively on the road. When these springs weaken or fail, your ride becomes noticeably bouncy, particularly over rough roads or potholes.
This excessive bouncing makes the vehicle difficult to control and compromises your safety. The sensation is similar to riding in a boat on choppy water, with the car continuing to rock after hitting bumps.
Note that while bad shocks can cause similar symptoms, there’s a key difference: bad shocks typically can’t absorb the spring’s rebound, making your car feel like a trampoline after hitting bumps, while bad springs affect the initial impact absorption.
2) Uneven Tire Wear
Coil springs are supposed to keep the wheels and tires in contact with the road at all times. This allows the tires to receive an equal amount of wear and tear as they’re rolling down the road.
This irregular contact causes premature and uneven tire wear patterns, typically showing as excessive wear on inner or outer tire edges. Even with regular tire rotation, you’ll find yourself replacing tires much more frequently than normal, and may experience reduced traction and handling issues.
Related: Best Tire Brands (for each season)
3) Sagging Corner
If you have a worn or failed coil spring, that corner of the vehicle might sag or appear lower than the other corners. This uneven stance is often visible just by walking around your car and comparing the height at each wheel.
This symptom is particularly common in vehicles driven in areas with poor road conditions (e.g., pothole ridden areas or dirt roads) or those carrying frequent heavy loads.
4) Rattling or Clunking Noises
Failing coil springs frequently produce distinct noises as they deteriorate. You’ll typically hear annoying rattling or clunking sounds from the suspension area, especially when driving over bumps, potholes, or uneven surfaces.
These noises often increase in volume as you accelerate or travel on rougher roads.
The sounds result from the damaged spring moving incorrectly within its mounting or from pieces of a broken spring shifting during suspension movement. Never ignore these sounds. These really are signals that your vehicle needs some immediate attention.
5) Handling Issues
As coil springs deteriorate, your vehicle’s handling characteristics change noticeably. Increased body roll during turns, delayed response to steering inputs, and a general feeling of instability are some of the things you may expect to occur, especially during lane changes or evasive maneuvers.
This reduced handling precision is because worn springs can’t properly control the vehicle’s weight transfer during driving. The suspension’s ability to keep tires firmly planted on the road decreases, leading to reduced grip and compromised safety in challenging driving conditions.
6) Vehicle Pulling to One Side
When one coil spring is damaged while others remain intact, your vehicle may pull toward the side with the compromised spring. It’s similar to a bad alignment but more severe. This pulling sensation becomes most noticeable during straight-line driving on level roads, requiring you to constantly adjust the steering wheel to maintain your lane.
This symptom usually accompanies the sagging corner issue and creates uneven tire wear patterns. If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side and have eliminated tire pressure and alignment as potential causes, get your suspension components inspected for damage.
7) Warning Light
In newer vehicles equipped with electronic stability control and advanced suspension systems, failing coil springs may trigger dashboard warning lights. While few vehicles have dedicated suspension warning indicators, problems will often activate stability control, traction control, or ABS warning lights.
These warnings appear because sensors detect unusual vehicle behavior caused by the compromised suspension geometry. If such warning lights illuminate alongside any other symptoms on this list, a thorough suspension inspection is warranted, as the issue could (and likely will) affect your vehicle’s safety systems.
8) Knocking Sound Over Speed Bumps
A distinct, sharp knocking sound specifically when traveling over speed bumps, driveway entrances, or similar obstacles often indicates broken coil springs. This sound differs from general suspension noise as it occurs predictably with these specific road features.
The noise happens because a broken spring allows excessive movement in the suspension components, causing metal-to-metal contact that wouldn’t occur with properly functioning springs. This symptom typically appears in the later stages of spring failure and warrants immediate attention. In other words, do not continue driving.
How Long Do Coil Springs Last?
Since coil springs are made of thick, round steel, they generally last 8-10 years under normal conditions but can also easily last years longer (sometimes for the entire life of the vehicle. However, there are certain factors that can significantly reduce their lifespan.
Vehicles driven in the Salt Belt of the United States experience much higher rates of corrosion. Road salt usage during winter months can dramatically shorten the life of all external components, including coil springs. Regular undercarriage washing during winter can help extend their longevity.
Aftermarket modifications such as cutting springs or using spring clamps often reduce coil spring life. These modifications place constant, uneven pressure on the springs in ways they weren’t designed to handle by car manufacturers.
Other factors affecting spring lifespan include: frequent driving on rough roads or over potholes, regularly carrying heavy loads, and extreme temperature fluctuations in some areas.
Coil Spring Replacement Cost
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Coil springs themselves typically cost around $70 to $200 for each spring (multiply this by four if replacing all your coil springs). Labor costs range from $200 to $500, depending on the vehicle. Sometimes you can buy a pre-assembled coilover, which substantially reduces installation time.
Since it’s generally recommended to replace suspension components in pairs (left and right), the total cost will be higher if you’re replacing components on both sides of the vehicle. A typical front or rear coil spring replacement on both sides usually costs between $400-$900 for parts and labor combined.
Anytime you have suspension components replaced, a wheel alignment is necessary which will tack on an additional $100-$200. This important step ensures your vehicle tracks straight, handles properly, and prevents premature tire wear.
Luxury and performance vehicles often cost more to repair, with some models requiring special tools or extensive disassembly to access the springs. Always get multiple quotes from reputable shops, as pricing can vary significantly depending on your location and the specific vehicle make and model.
Can I Replace Coil Springs Myself?
While it is possible to replace coil springs yourself, you should really know what you’re getting into; this is a job that’s often best left to the professionals. Make sure you do plenty of research on your specific vehicle before you decide if attempting this job is right for you.
Even when your vehicle is lifted off the ground, coil springs are under a tremendous amount of force, which means they have a dangerous amount of potential energy stored. The larger your vehicle, the stronger the springs have to be. Many springs can only be replaced by using a spring compressor.
Use extreme caution when using a spring compressor, as misuse could cause serious injury or even death. Only compress the spring as much as is necessary, and wear gloves and eye protection at a minimum.
Most Common Causes of Failure
Though coil springs are designed to be durable (especially OEM quality), several factors can lead to their premature failure. Knowing this can actually help you take preventative measures to extend their lifespan.
1) Road Salt and Corrosion
The most common cause of coil spring failure is corrosion from road salt and other de-icing chemicals. These substances accelerate rust formation, weakening the spring metal over time until it eventually cracks or breaks completely. Vehicles in coastal areas and regions where roads are heavily salted during winter (namely the Salt Belt of the US) are particularly vulnerable.
2) Impact Damage
Severe impacts from potholes, speed bumps, or curbs can cause immediate damage to coil springs. Even seemingly minor impacts can create micro-fractures that gradually expand into complete breaks over time. The damage is often cumulative… what appears to be a sudden failure may actually result from multiple smaller impacts.
3) Material Fatigue
Coil springs work by constantly compressing and expanding. Over thousands of cycles, this repetitive stress causes metal fatigue, particularly in vehicles with high mileage. The spring material gradually weakens and becomes more brittle, eventually leading to failure even under normal driving conditions.
The quality of the springs plays a big role here. Those $30 springs you found on Temu are likely nowhere the same build quality as the springs that originally came with the vehicle. What may seem like a great deal can actually cost you far more over the lifespan of your vehicle.
4) Vehicle Overloading
Consistently exceeding your vehicle’s weight capacity puts excessive strain on coil springs. This mainly relates to carrying heavy cargo or towing frequently or beyond recommended limits. Springs subjected to weights beyond their design specifications will deteriorate faster.
5) Manufacturing Defects
Though less common, defects in material quality or manufacturing processes can lead to premature spring failure. This typically appears early in a vehicle’s life and often affects multiple vehicles of the same model, sometimes resulting in manufacturer recalls.
While stock coil springs (those that came with the vehicle) are generally free from manufacturing defects, the odds of defects increase when you go with cheap, unknown brand replacements.
6) Extreme Temperature Fluctuations
Dramatic changes between hot and cold temperatures can accelerate metal fatigue in coil springs. The constant expansion and contraction of the metal during temperature changes can create stress points that eventually lead to failure.
7) Improper Modifications
Cutting springs to lower a vehicle or installing spring clamps places uneven stress on the coil spring. These modifications alter the spring’s natural operation and often lead to premature failure and unsafe driving conditions. While it’s an inexpensive mod to lower your ride height, spend a bit more and do it the right way.
8) Age and Normal Wear
Even if you do everything right, springs eventually wear out through normal use. The constant compression and expansion during everyday driving gradually reduces the spring’s resilience and ability to support weight properly.
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I am replacing coils springs that dip too deep into the turns, although they seem fine otherwise. It was a used assembly from a junk yard my kid picked up to save money replacing only a spring seat on the existing set up that turned marvelously however a tad harsher when just travelling straight. I bought new springs and now to my horror I se the struts are leaking so I will go new struts, seats, mounts, etc., for all new.
Of the 2 springs I ordered from Rock Auto, one had a few deep scratches in the metal beyond just the coating. I painted it to prevent rust as it was not that deep to effect performance but I worry about rusting fast.
Another time time Rock Auto shipped tie rods in two different sized boxes but the parts were the same and they seem to have worked as far as I know so hopefully this scratch in the metal of the spring won’t be a big deal either. Maybe its a poorly inspected return which also begs the question why it was returned. Its a hit or miss with these guys.
Agreed that it can be very hit or miss with Rock Auto, but they have a decent return policy if you have an issue.
Some of the cheaper options on their site are aftermarket or remanufactured parts, which is OK if you know what you’re getting yourself into. Not all of these parts will fit correctly with OEM brackets or hardware. They may have damage or minor defects, as you’ve seen in your case.
Brake caliper dragging on your daily? No worries, you might just need a cheap rebuilt caliper and don’t care so much about looks. Rock Auto is good for this. The same is true for springs and shocks.
Rock Auto also has different tiers of parts. They send you higher quality parts when you pay for the more expensive options on their site.
2010 VW Jetta sports wagon, TDI was equipped with stock rear springs. is there an after-market spring with more spring to it? I don’t want to lower the rear end, but to raise it so it drives well with people in the back seat and luggage behind them.
Springs probably were ok for sedans but the wagon is just heavier with all that glass and steel above the rear axle.
thank you for this explanation, it has helped me avoid a crook
Happy we could help!