Advisory item on MOT certificate, worth getting looked at?

Question

I recently put my 1995 Peugeot 405 in for the MOT and on the advsiory notice there is an item that states "Front coil springs starting to corrode"  I have to confess that I'm not mechanically minded so not sure what it's trying to tell me in simple terms. What do the coil springs do?

Given the age of the car, and that I'll probably replace it within a couple of years, is it worth the money to get it fixed or should I leave it?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

To be honest I wouldn't bother. 
They'd have to be really badly rusted all the way through to be a danger, and usually on springs it's just a bit of surface rust.
Take a wire brush to it and see how much rust comes off before you get down to solid metal, I bet it won't be much.

creviazuk · Answer

The front coil springs are what gives the front of your car 'bounce' in simple terms.

corroded does not mean broken or faulty - just that in the future (a day or ten years) they may fail as a result.

It's NOT a dangerous issue by any means. it's a fairly cheap part to replace (both at same time)...so if you want, leave it until you gave some spare cash...or at the first sign it has broken.

An advisory means simple that - advice. There is NO time limit or the advice...you could get the same advisory ten years running . You DO NOT have to fix by your next MOT.

Pepper of the Moon · Answer

They would take years to corrode to the extent that they became dangerous. I know your car is pretty old, but you are not going to have a problem with the suspension collapsing in the next couple of years. I'd bet you that if you take the car to a different testing station next year, they won't even mention it!

muley · Answer

Your car has passed the MOT so it is road worthy. If a front suspension spring breaks it can pierce your tyre, not good at high speed. Oh I do know.

Anonymous · Answer

Don't worry about it, an advisory is exactly that, just advising you that something is starting to show wear or corrosion etc.  Give it another 10 years and it might be bad enough to warrant replacing them.

Chris · Answer

If one snaps whilst driving it's common for the spring to drop a little & stab into the moving tyre, which could then wrap it around your brake pipes or do damage to anything around that area, especially if you're sat doing 70mph+ on the motorway.

Anonymous · Answer

And you drive a car? If you had no spring, you would have no comfort whatsoever You would have a solid ride.

Sal*UK · Answer

It has to be done before you next MOT as it is an advisory - but not urgently. Its something that will get progressively worse but not urgent.

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Advisory item on MOT certificate, worth getting looked at?

8 Answers