First time a coil spring broke on me..

[GEN3CAM]

Yesterday on my way home from work I noticed my car was very wobbley when it came to the dips in the road. I got home and pushed down on the right front of the car and sure enough I had blown the front pass. side strut. Of course this happens now since I started looking into suspension upgrades, but I am not ready to buy yet.. I went to Napa this morning and got a deal on a cheap replacement strut. I got home and about 10-15 minutes later I had the strut out. I didn't have a spring compressor so I usually take the impact to the top nut and let it fly for a couple of feet. When this happened half of a coil on the spring snapped off! Nobody was home at my dads house and I was stranded. A friend picked me up and I couldn't find a new coil anywhere.. So then what were we to do? Get out the cut-off wheel! So on the right pass. side of the car there is 1 coil missing from the assembly. I feel like such a hack but I had to get back on the road. Now I have to get springs and struts much sooner than I thought.. Has this happened to any of you too?

[Nick]

it was probably already weak, i guess it didn't like the rapid extension

that's why you need a spring compressor (how were you planning on putting it back together anyways?)

you can rent a spring compressor at some parts stores (autozone or pep boys) i don't know which one does it, but some do

[GEN3CAM]

I did end up buying one after I got it off. I never put a stock coil back on a car before, and with performance springs I was always able to push the top mount down enough to get by without one..

[BLUEMEANIE]

the term "shadetree" comes to mind

[Stealth]

Curious as to how many miles are on your suspension?

[GEN3CAM]

167,000 miles.. I don't know if the struts are all original or not. if so they did hold up pretty well!