Both front springs broken.

95-stang · Nov 17, 2010

Here's what i posted on Steeda's own forum:

The 95 mustang has been handling badly for the last month or so, but have been using my trans am so not a problem, decided to lift it up yesterday to see why, BOTH front Steeda Sports springs had snapped on the lowest coil nearest the lower front suspension arm. Literally a coil each side had broke, one a while ago, the other recently. part number is 167559 for the fronts and the rears which are perfect are 167504. I'm assuming i was supplied with the correct springs as these part numbers seem unavailable?
I used Eibach pro shocks front and rear, Ford racing castor\camber plates, and a bumpsteer kit.
Any ideas why this might happen?

Reply From SteedaGus sales manager:
Neither one of those spring numbers corresponds to a Steeda spring. At least none that have been produced in the last 10 to 11 years or so. If they are older than that I dont have any info to properly identify them. If they are not older than that then they are not Steeda springs.
As far as springs failing, that is possible if they are very old. Even stock springs can fail with age. Especially if the car is a northern car where enviromental exposure takes its toll over the years. If they are fairly new springs then a failure without some kind of outside influence, like an accident or other damaging impact is extremely unlikely.

Back to me:

Thanks for the quick reply, the springs are powder coated blue with STEEDA and those numbers above on them , i have the invoice from California Mustang dated 06\06\06, and it says:
88L039 STEEDA SPORTS SPRING SETS
1979-2004 V8 1984-2004 V6 price $229.95
Although i bought them all that time ago the car has only done about 5k on them, from what you say it looks like California Mustang have sold me counterfeit goods?
And if they are counterfeit why did'nt someone do a better job and use correct part numbers?
Obviously if they are inferior quality this might explain the breakages.

Sorry if this a long read but had no further replies, anyone got any ideas on why both have broke?

CC'S95GT · Nov 17, 2010

Probably a bad heat treat job when ther manufactured.

Demented4.6 · Nov 17, 2010

probably cuz you got them on 06/06/06 LOL

did you try contacting who you bought them from?

95-stang · Nov 17, 2010

Lol, yeh 666 thought it looked funny.
Well i was going to e-mail Cal Mustang but i bet they will say they are old or i have been going off road or something so they can bail.
What worries me is steeda seem to think they are'nt theirs so why dont they come out and say that they are fakes, and even if they
are "fakes" Cali Mustang might say those are'nt what i bought etc etc etc..

I know people who buy the cheap ones off e-bay and dont get 1 broken spring nevermind 2.
Fortunately my friend had a set of Cobra springs, so now it looks like its launching off the line standing still, however its put me off lowering it again atm.
As mentioned it could well be crap manufacture, must take a pic.

vermilion · Nov 17, 2010

i have steeda sport springs on mine since 07 and 20k miles without issues.

vermilion · Nov 17, 2010

by the way they were used. i have Granatelli coliovers in the front and have not had issues neither. they were used. something seems fishy.

95-stang · Nov 18, 2010

Well there are some more numbers lower down but they dont match the numbers "SteedaGus" has pointed out.
Would anyone go to all this trouble to counterfeit springs ??
And why such a good job and not use Steeda part numbers?

Demented4.6 · Nov 18, 2010

from searching around i see the lower number (5558200EF) should yield some sort of result from steeda. did you give them that number? I been looking and i found alot close to it but not that actual number. so as it looks to me they probably are steeda springs but maybe they were old stock. Maybe some custom spring rates that got thrown into wrong box. who knows

Venomous96Cobra · Nov 18, 2010

wow! I gotta say those springs look like my original set that was installed in my car in 96 :wink: I just find that the rust near the failure point is odd! was this an outdoor car! or did you garage it? I know you said you barely drove it, but im just curious what other factors may have led to failure such as yours...

95-stang · Nov 18, 2010

Well Gus says they are their springs, everyone seems to think it was a fault in the manufacture and are prepared [even after all this time] to replace the broken springs for free.
However as i live in the UK they are talking $112 to ship 2 front springs, and if they cant mark as warranty items, Customs will want to charge me all over again.
It's really great of them to offer new springs but not if its going to cost almost as much as if i bought 4 new ones here.

Well i do drive it, but its not a daily driver until recently, it lives outside but is covered during non use, its well looked after but i share the mileage with my 94 Trans Am as my main daily is my Focus.
Possibly they might not be the correct springs but its crazy they both broke at the same point, and i noticed it felt weird at the front with a slight groaning and loose feel on full lock, just didn't expect to find that, my friend just lent me his 14 year old Cobra springs so now at least its driveable.