Reset Springs Legal In Victoria?

[Grant]

I haven't been able to find an answer here on the forum, or on the Vicroads website. There are plenty of differing opinions on the matter, but I need to know the facts.

I've bought a second hand car from a dealer and subsequently discovered it has reset factory springs. My suspension shop tells me it isn't legal. The dealer says it is.

Is there a black and white answer, or is it conditional?

The suspension geometry was so bad that the (brand new) rear tyres were worn to the canvas in 4,000k's. The rear left toe was out by over 20mm, the right by 7mm.

The wheel alignment couldn't be corrected fully because the car sits too low (camber is still out front and rear). One of the springs has dislodged because it isn't held in place properly (too short). The original struts are compressed to their limit and the car frequently hits the bump stops. There has also been some damage done due to the reduced clearance. The car was scary to drive in the wet, even though its AWD.

The crux of the matter is I'm trying to get the dealer to replace the suspension under warranty because, so far as I can tell, the car is unroadworthy as it is.

[DCV1NU]

One word NO, doesnt matter if its factory or aftermarket springs. This is because once the springs are alterted they loose their strength.

[HSVQUE]

Plenty of things are not legal.. doesnt mean there actually dangerous.. I know lots of people with reset springs.. and they never had a problem.. I bet your suspension shops want to make a buck off you replacing your springs.. if there isnt anything wrong then dont fix it.. if the whole spring is re painted or sand blasted clean there is no way anyone will ever know there reset.. ever.

but if your worried that much just throw a set of kingsprings in? 100$ an end..

Rob

[Grant]

Plenty of things are not legal.. doesnt mean there actually dangerous.. I know lots of people with reset springs.. and they never had a problem.. I bet your suspension shops want to make a buck off you replacing your springs.. if there isnt anything wrong then dont fix it.. if the whole spring is re painted or sand blasted clean there is no way anyone will ever know there reset.. ever.

but if your worried that much just throw a set of kingsprings in? 100$ an end..

Rob

It's not quite that simple... the car has chewed out a set of rear tyres over just 4,000k's. Prior to a wheel alignment, it used to try and do a 180 every time I hit a decent bump and it launched itself of it's bump stops. It also drifted all over the freeway in the wet. It's also too low to get the wheel alignment within spec.

There are broken drive-shaft boots and other problems which appear to be directly related to how low the car is. I don't think it's actually a legal height. I've got one of the guys from StateRoads checking it out in the morning before I return it to the dealer.

And it's an Audi S6... getting springs and other parts is a pain.

[Steve'sR8]

This thing IS dangerous, a half decent bump with 4 people in the car causes the ass end to skip out a couple of inches, not what you'd expect from a Euro AWD, it gives a whole new meaning to bump steer.
Cut or heated coil springs were not roadworthy in Vic or NSW when I was doing inspections & I doubt they've gotten any more leanient in the last few years. If the dealer does their own RWC's then I'm sure they won't want to risk losing their license. VIC Roads have people to deal with this type of problem, I've been on the wrong side of them when one of my techs missed something on an inspection. Ring VicRoads, describe your concerns & arrange for them to inspect the car, that should make the dealer a bit more cooperative.

Cheers, Steve.

Too slow, looks like your sorted & don't need big brothers advice.

[HRT 8]

Grant your big bro is spot on. Cannot have reset springs.
Like he said, a suggestion to the dealer that a call to vic roads with the name of the dealer who signed off on the roadworthy, should help your cause.
As a guide to roadworthiness for suspensions mods.
Vehicle must maintain 2/3 or the original suspension travel
Vehicle must maintain 100mm ground clearance when loaded.
Tyres must not foul on any part of the bodywork thru full movements of both suspension travel and turning radius.

[vyssbeast]

Any more clarification on the "when loaded" point??

So if a car is legal, but on a given day with 3 blokes in the rear its under ... you still get done??

I mean the other day my STOCK exec was almost scraping its ass on the road as we were heading up to rosebud car fully packed boot and rear seat ... it woulda been under 100mm clearance easy ... could i have copped a canary for that? Seeing as it was a temporary thing not a mod?

[Grant]

Grant your big bro is spot on. Cannot have reset springs.
Like he said, a suggestion to the dealer that a call to vic roads with the name of the dealer who signed off on the roadworthy, should help your cause.
As a guide to roadworthiness for suspensions mods.
Vehicle must maintain 2/3 or the original suspension travel
Vehicle must maintain 100mm ground clearance when loaded.
Tyres must not foul on any part of the bodywork thru full movements of both suspension travel and turning radius.

I've been over VSI8 and VSI25 (?) a few times now. They do mention the travel and clearances above, but they don't explicitly state that resetting springs is unroadworthy, only that a certificate must be issued for any suspension mods, which wasn't. And I seriously doubt any suspension shop stupid enough to lower a car to that extent and not do a wheel alignment is going to.

I contacted the Tyre and Wheel Association of Victoria, but they haven't gotten back to me yet.


This thing IS dangerous, a half decent bump with 4 people in the car causes the ass end to skip out a couple of inches, not what you'd expect from a Euro AWD, it gives a whole new meaning to bump steer.
Cut or heated coil springs were not roadworthy in Vic or NSW when I was doing inspections & I doubt they've gotten any more leanient in the last few years. If the dealer does their own RWC's then I'm sure they won't want to risk losing their license. VIC Roads have people to deal with this type of problem, I've been on the wrong side of them when one of my techs missed something on an inspection. Ring VicRoads, describe your concerns & arrange for them to inspect the car, that should make the dealer a bit more cooperative.

Cheers, Steve.

Too slow, looks like your sorted & don't need big brothers advice.

Don't know if it's sorted, but the StateRoads guy is inspecting the car this morning, then I'm dropping the car back to the dealer. Will see how it goes...

[NefariousLS1]

So u buy a car that sounds as tho it was not inspected all that closely regardless of the fact that by what u are saying it sits on its guts rather well and now your pissed at the dealer because u didnt get it checked out in the first place and get the grey areas sorted?
:nopity:

When i bought my ss it was low (still is) but i agreed ith the stealership that they would have it sent to pedders and have everything aligned right once and from there on in it was my problem fot haveing sssl's and 20s. Unfortunately tyre wear and damage to the undercarage is all a part of drivig a low car without bags
:flame:

Not trying to be a prick but it sounds as tho u may have bought this on yourself somewhat and besides 99% of lowered euros i see have 45deg worth of camber on the ass once there lowered anyway lol

[SS-355]

dsdhyudhuifdhfuf

[macca33]

Got your miner's helmet on tonight SS-355 - good to see you using the search anyway.

cheers

:closed: for prosperity