MMK110464

I took my 2012 997 4S to the shop because of a clanking noise in the left front axle. After they inspected the car, I received a picture from my mechanic showing that the H&R spring on that side has corroded. The springs are 7 years old, bought new and this is an FL car. He contacted H&R who basically denied any responsibility but as a "gesture" told my mechanic that once we replace it to send it to H&R and they will inspect it. My mechanic told me that the spring can snap (a google search showed some cases where it did) so I have decided to replace all 4.
Have you guys experienced anything like this?
Maybe the initial installation was not done correctly?
Do you agree that this is the source of the clanking noise? I know it seems obvious, but it wouldn't be the first time that fixing the obvious guilty part has not solved the initial problem.
TIA.

Rico

I have had H&R springs in my previous 996.1 for 7 years as well with no issues before I sold it.
My current 997.2 has had H&R springs for the past 5 years, no problems.
I love them!

Iceter

They can't be too corroded as i can still see the markings on them. They don't look new but a thin layer of surface corrosion won't affect their function in any way.

That torn isolator is more likely to be the cause of your clunk--or any number of other possibilities in the front suspension. But surface rust on a spring isn't the problem.

As for breaking,, springs occasionally break, but if yours were broken, your mechanic would be able to see that very quickly.

mbatarga

I'd expect when that coil is compressed and returns it would most definitely make noise. I wouldn't be surprised if you might even be able to feel it in the steering wheel. I'd think the mechanic is correct - it could snap at any time. With it being near the bottom, I wouldn't think it would cause a loss of control though.

TheTorch

That spring looks compromised in the picture. Unless the photo is misleading, I would not call that "surface rust" @Iceter ?

Iceter

Looking at the arrow in the last pic, I saw that as the edge of the rubber insulator. If it is the spring that has peeled apart, then yes, its broken. But I've never seen a spring peel a layer like that.

Do you have a pic that shows the spring and spring perch a little better?

TheTorch

that's exactly what I'm wondering -- did the spring delaminate? if it's just rubber, I would tend to agree with your first thought. But it looks deep to me. Just a picture though, so maybe I am mistaken.

Petza914

That spring is done. It also looks like it wasn't intexwd correctly on installation. Below the arrow, see the little hump in the spring support plate? The bottom end of the coil should sit in that hump to keep the spring from rotating and so the bottom of the spring is more supported by the plate. If it's indexed incorrectly, the aping isn't properly supported and the end has more load on it which can cause it to fracture over time.

I also don't know why it would have surface rust. Are they just painted when you get new ones? If so, before they install the new ones, take them to be sand blasted and powdercated so the surface holds up better. You cns also make them any color you want - maybe have them match the calipers.

MMK110464

That is the only picture I got from the shop.

MMK110464

Thanks to everyone who replied to my message. I will go ahead and change the 4 springs and send them to H&R.
If anything interesting develops, I will report back.

sandwedge

Same here. H&R's on three 997's with the miles on the springs as stated.

-06 C4S: 41,000 miles. No issues.
-09 C4S: 43,000 miles. No issues.
-11 GTS: 45,000 miles. No issues.

I think there are good and bad installs of these springs which has to make a difference. All three of mine were done by my dealer. "We do em' nearly as often as we change spark plugs" was the answer when I expressed some concern about proper installment the first time around.

Iceter

If you would do us a favor, please post pics of the affected springs. If that fractured area is actually the spring, I'd love to do some post-mortem forensics.

MMK110464

Hi everyone. It only took 6 months to solve this one but It seems that it was fixed.
I am posting all the following info to help anyone else who might encounter the same issue I had: a very loud clanking noise when turning sharply to the right and going over a small incline (this was my routine every day arriving home and parking).

Struts, sway bars and mounts and control arm bushings were checked and no issues found.

After 2 additional trips to the shop, they spotted a craked and out of position "lower brake duct" which was making contact with the wheel.
hey told me about it and I authorized the repair but with no hopes to resolve the issue, mostly because this is a plastic part and I could not imagine a plastic part making contact with the wheel and producing the distinctive metallic clank I was hearing.
Well, it did solve my issue and the clanking noise is gone.

Thanks again to everyone who stepped in to help. This is a great community to be a part of.

caitov

Glad you got it resolved, but what happened with the springs you replaced and sent to H&R??

Sporty

Yea, what about the friggin spring??