Picasso broken spring - common?

[mattie]

My garage has informed me a spring on the front of my 2002 Picasso 1.8 has broken, apparently it's now in two pieces!  For some reason they don't consider it dangerous enough to ground the car, but warned me it could puncture the tyre if it shifts - which isn't something I like the sound of!

They mentioned that it was a problem they have seen on a few other occasions, and suggested I investigate to see if it is a known fault.  Has anyone else suffered this?  If it's a known problem, have citroen indicated they will do something about it - and are they likely to do it for a 6 year old car?

I'm surprised it's gone, the car (although ageing) is in perfect running order with only 45,000 relatively sedate miles on the clock.

Is changing the spring a difficult job?  The garage reckon around £130 for a single side, I'd prefer to replace as a pair so I'd rather save the pennies and do it myself if reasonably straightforward.

All advice gratefully received.

[RED VAN MAN]

COMMON ENOUGH.
THE MAIN THING YOU NEED IS A GOOD SET OF COIL CLAMPS.

HAUL OUT THE STRUT GENRALY TWO BOLTS ABOVE THE HUB AND A SETUP UNDER THE BONNET ABOVE THE STRUT.

 COMPRESS THE SPRING AND SEPERATE THE TOP OF THE SHOCK FORM THE BEARING/BUSH ON TOP.

EASE OF THE COMPRESSED SPRING, AND COMPRESS THE NEW ONE MAKING SURE TO LEAVE JUST ENOUGH ROOM AT EITHER END TO LINE IT ALL UP, BEFORE REPLACING THE TOP AGAIN.

SPRINGS COST FROM £30 OR SO AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO BOTH SIDES FOR LESS THAN GARAGE QUOTE, EVEN WITH BUYING A SET OF COIL CLAMPS.

[mattie]

Thanks mate, I'll give it a whirl!

[DocBrown]

Seems to be a common problem on most makes of car. I've lost count of the number of snapped coils I've had to replace over the last ten years or so. Either spring quality is poorer or roads are getting worse.

If you do change the springs yourself, make sure you have the correct strut release sockets and - this is important - buy or borrow a proper quality set of spring compressors. Please don't buy cheap from car boot sale or market. Springs are under huge force and will make mincemeat of cheap tools or anyone standing in their way if the spring makes a bid for freedom - and I've seen it happen.
You may have to use a pre-compressor to get the coils of the new spring together enough to get the main compressor on. This is often the case when using hydraulic spring compressors or inline mechanical compressors with detachable yokes.
Without the pre-clamp it can be frustrating when you find the main compressor won't get enough contraction on the spring to enable top nut to be removed.
Apart from hitting speed bumps, kerbs and potholes, most snapped springs can be attributed to rust corrosion under the protective sleeve of the spring or failure of the paint/powder coating. It doesn't hurt to spray anti-rust wax or similar around the bottom and top coils (where they tend to let go) after fitting. Just make sure no wax drops onto brakes etc. You don't need much, just enough to see off road dirt etc.
I also have a theory that since car tyres are a lot more advanced and 'grippier' than a decade ago, there's extra strain on mcpherson strut suspension especially if the driver uses power steering while stationery instead of letting the car move slowly before turning the wheel. (Not always practical - I know)