Speed Bumps

[James3]

I have just had to have the front springs of my estate renewed as they were both broken !

I would add I am very careful when going over speed bumps etc. however the garage did come up with some interesting facts. They say that there has been an increase in the number of broken springs on cars and that some manufactures are asking their dealers to collect data. There are indications that this has occured due to the increase in the use of speed bumps. The work was carried out by a Vauxhall main dealer. My car a 54 reg has done 60,000 miles. I am not saying that speed bumps caused the problem but it does make you think. Anyone had similar problems ?

 

[leefaz1797]

I have had the same issue with my wifes car. An 02 VW Golf 58,000 miles has had both front springs replaced in the last 6 months. It is no coincidence that in the last 3 years the speed bumps has been installed and i am now having these repairs. It never happened on any of my previous cars that i had prior to the speed bumps. In my experience i have found the speed bumps to cause more of a hazard, people either seem to speed up to go over them or worse, swerve into a cycle lane to try and go around them.

 

[ProfJohnL]

My brother in law runs an independent garage, and he has observed to me on a number of occasions there has been a significant increase in number of repairs necessary on suspension systems and tyres. (and sumps and exhausts) He believes that the number of speed bumps are responsible for the major part of these problems. He has also had the opportunity to compare clients repair history from different localities, and where speed humps are more prevalent the same types of cars do suffer more suspension damage.

 

[Lutz]

If there is a correlation between speed bumps and suspension failure then this is due to material defects and not to suspension design. Suspension systems are designed to cope with much more severe road conditions than speed bumps. Failures under extreme conditions that I am aware of were to the vehicle structure (sheet metal cracks in the underbody due to bottoming out of the suspension) rather than to the springs.

 

[Gumbo]

Just got the bill