Coil Springs

• The coil spring is an essential component of your vehicle’s suspension system.
• This helix-shaped metal helps absorb vibrations from the road, minimizing the impact of driving over bumps and uneven terrain on the vehicle cabin.
• Most vehicles have four coil springs in total—one near each wheel.
• The coil springs that are typically used in vehicles are classified as compression springs.
• Coil springs provide tight tolerance to help maintain vehicle height.
• At the same time, they can compress within a safe and pre-determined range to absorb shock, preventing harsh vehicle bounce.
• The cost of replacing your vehicle’s coil springs may vary depending on your car’s specific make, model, and year. In general, an OE replacement coil spring may cost you anywhere between $34 to $395. You may purchase them individually, in sets of two to four, or as part of a kit.
• Most coil springs are designed to last for the entire service life of your vehicle. Unfortunately, there are several ways they can break or fail sooner than you expect.
• It is strongly recommended to replace coil springs in pairs, even if only one is damaged or faulty. This will ensure that your vehicle stays on a level height and the springs can absorb shocks and resist vibrations equally on each side of your vehicle.
• A damaged coil spring not only makes riding your vehicle uncomfortable, but it can also make it unsafe for you and your passengers.
• A faulty coil spring has a reduced ability to prevent body roll while performing sudden changes in direction.
• Uneven weight distribution may result in improper wheel angles and misalignment, causing poor traction and stability.
• CarParts.com can help you get your vehicle on the road in a snap with our selection of durable coil springs at prices that can’t be beaten.

The coil spring is an essential component of your vehicle’s suspension system. This helix-shaped metal helps absorb vibrations from the road, minimizing the impact of driving over bumps and uneven terrain on the vehicle cabin. These springs are either installed as part of a shock and strut assembly or separately on its own. Most vehicles have four coil springs in total—one near each wheel.

The coil springs that are typically used in vehicles are classified as compression springs. These components are installed vertically on each corner of the vehicle and provide tight tolerance to help maintain vehicle height. At the same time, they can compress within a safe and predetermined range to absorb shock, preventing harsh vehicle bounce and making driving over bumps smooth and comfortable. They also offer resistance that dampens vibrations and provides much-needed stability for spring-supported suspension systems.

One type of coil spring is the helical spring. Helical springs are helix-shaped wires used for compressive or tensile loads. They are easy to install, assemble, and they are available in different dimensions and diameters. Because of their accurate performance and constant spring rate, many car owners buy helical springs.

Another type of coil spring is the progressively-wound spring. This kind of coil spring is used for different road conditions or applications. It's called a progressively-wound spring because its coil pitch gets tighter as it reaches the top. Car owners upgrade their OE springs to progressively-wound springs for better traction, handling, and control.

Most coil springs are designed to last for the entire service life of your vehicle. Unfortunately, there are several ways they can break or fail sooner than you expect. This can be due to several factors such as varying road conditions, driving style, frequent hauling of heavy cargo or payloads, and more.

Corrosion is one of the most common reasons why coil springs break. This problem is often characterized by loud popping noises as your vehicle moves. An older coil spring can also sag over time and compress beyond the limits intended by the automaker. This will result in your ride height being lower than usual, especially when your vehicle is under load.

It is strongly recommended to replace coil springs in pairs, even if only one is damaged or faulty. This will ensure that your vehicle stays on a level height and the springs can absorb shocks and resist vibrations equally on each side of your vehicle. To prevent any suspension issues in the long run, it is best to have either both rear or front coil springs replaced at a time.

Due to the compressed energy absorbed by the coil springs, replacing this part is best left in the hands of professionals. A licensed mechanic will be able to safely raise and support the vehicle while they work on removing and replacing the faulty coil springs. You can expect this job to be completed in a couple of hours or an entire afternoon.

A damaged coil spring not only makes riding your vehicle uncomfortable, but it can also make it unsafe for you and your passengers. You may notice excessive sway from your car or truck while making sharp turns or while pulling into your driveway. This is because a faulty coil spring has a reduced ability to prevent body roll while performing sudden changes in direction.

At the same time, broken coil springs may also contribute to uneven tire wear and alignment issues. A functioning suspension system should be able to support the weight of the driver, passengers, and any load carried by the vehicle. When a coil spring is worn out, the burden of carrying all this weight is transferred onto the axle and the wheels. Uneven weight distribution will result in improper wheel angles and misalignment, causing poor traction and stability.

Not only do weakened coil springs result in handling problems, but they may also put other critical parts of your vehicle at a higher risk of getting damaged. The oil pan, transmission, and other exhaust components that are mounted underneath the vehicle can get punctured and parts may come loose as the coil springs lose resistance and allow the underbody to sag and hit the speed bumps on the road.

Looking for the right coil spring can be very troublesome. In order to choose the perfect replacement coil spring you have to remember these pointers:

Just like damaged coil springs, buying ill-fitting springs will result in excessive vehicle bounce, tire wear, and misaligned vehicles. So when looking for replacement springs, always take note of your vehicle's make and model.

Many car parts manufacturers sell coil springs, so you'll be bombarded by numerous brands if you're in the market for coil springs. Remember that you should only buy from brands known not only for their affordable prices but also for their products' quality.

Make sure that the coil spring that you'll buy won't settle in the future. Quality coil springs should be made from high-quality chrome-silicon or chrome-vanadium, mandrel-bent, and have high diameter tolerances. If you're eyeing a coil spring that has all these, we recommend that you buy it ASAP.

The cost of replacing your vehicle’s coil springs may vary depending on your car’s specific make, model, and year. In general, an OE replacement coil spring may cost you anywhere between $34 to $395. You may purchase these suspension springs individually, in sets of two to four, or as part of a kit.

Looking for a quality coil spring replacement that won’t break the bank? CarParts.com can help you get your vehicle on the road in a snap with our selection of durable coil springs at prices that can’t be beaten. To get started, simply plug in your vehicle’s correct year, make, and model on our website’s built-in vehicle selector to browse through all compatible parts.

Car owners not only want faster engines-they want precision handling as well. One modification that car owners do to improve their vehicle's handling is to change the coil springs in the suspension system. If you want to replace your car's coil spring, this guide will teach you how you can do it in your own garage.

Difficulty level: Difficult

Tools Needed:

• New coil spring
• Coil spring compressor
• Socket wrenches
• Ball joint tool
• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Tire iron

Step 1: Park your car on a level surface. Once your car is secured, lift the front of your vehicle with a jack. Place jack stands at both sides of your car to make sure that your car will hold up.

Step 2: Connect the coil spring compressor to the old coil spring to hold it in place. Do this by securing the hooked section of the compressor on the top and bottom of the old spring.

Step 3: Remove the lug nuts on the front wheel with your tire iron. Then, pull the wheel off.

Step 4: If you'll notice, the strut tower is extending through the old coil spring. To pull this out, use your socket wrenches to remove the nut at its top.

Step 5: To remove the control arm and ball joint from the lower strut, use the ball joint tool. Then, pull the strut tower out of the engine compartment. Once it's removed, slide the coil spring off the strut tower.

Step 6: Attach the new coil spring to the strut tower. Afterwards, slide the strut tower back in the engine compartment.

Step 7: Tighten the nut on top of the strut tower, and reattach the ball joint.

Step 8: Put the wheel back, and lower the car. Your car now has a new coil spring!