How to Deal With Broken Rear Springs in Volkswagen
Volkswagens are reliable and affordable vehicles known for both durability and pleasing aesthetics. Volkswagen vehicles have a reputation for being highly sought after. A possible issue with VWs is faulty rear springs.
If you own a Volkswagen that is having issues, you don’t want just any mechanic to tinker with it. You and your vehicle are much better off visiting a shop that is specially trained to work on a Volkswagen’s rear spring problem. Read on as we discuss this part in detail and help you determine if this could be the problem in your vehicle.
What are rear springs?
The springs on your vehicle are pretty important parts of the suspension system. The primary purpose of your vehicle’s suspension system is to support weight and stabilize the vehicle. In other words, the suspension system keeps your car from jerking and bumping violently over road debris and imperfections, and it helps keep all four wheels firmly on the road.
Your Volkswagen’s suspension is made up of two parts: the front and the back. You will find springs in both parts which are also crucial as shock absorbers. The way these springs work is to basically pad any impacts from uneven road surfaces by expanding over dips like potholes and contracting over raised areas such as speed bumps.
What are the signs that your springs are not functioning right?
The suspension system on your vehicle is responsible for keeping your ride as smooth as possible. If the springs in your systems start going bad or break, you are most likely to feel it before you will see it. The change can be a subtle difference like uneven sitting or a drastic change like violent bouncing that occurs overnight.
- Bouncy Ride: If your springs have gone or are going bad, chances are high that the first time you notice will be hitting a bump or pothole in the road. A vehicle with faulty shock absorption will end up with very bouncy or jerky suspension. You can normally tell by feeling alone whether the bouncing is coming from your front springs or your rear springs.
- Loud Noises: Malfunctioning rear springs on your Volkswagen can lead to excessive noise for a couple of different reasons. The first reason is that your springs work with shocks to dampen any noises from driving across uneven road surfaces so if your springs are malfunctioning, then even the smallest pothole may sound like a very loud clunking noise. The other reason for the extra noises is that broken rear springs make extra loud noises themselves. If you hear the clunking, chances are you feel that things are off as well.
- Leaning Vehicle: The springs in both the front and back of your vehicle help to keep your vehicle level on the road. If the springs in your vehicle have gone out, then you may actually be able to see this just by looking at how it sits. If one of your springs has broken, your car will very likely sag or lean into that direction. Back springs tend to go out before the front ones so give your car a good glance-over and determine whether or not you can see your vehicle leaning back and towards one of the sides.
- Uneven Tire Wear: Uneven tire wear can happen with over-inflated or under-inflated tires, but also from issues in your suspension system. Damaged springs are a common cause of uneven tire wear as well. If you notice untimely wearing on your rear tires, then the chance is great that the rear springs are damaged. Likewise, faulty front springs can lead to accelerated wear on your front tires. This wearing pattern is due to uneven weight distribution caused by having one or more of your vehicle’s springs to falter.
- Swaying: The scariest, and possibly the most dangerous, symptom of damaged rear springs is when your vehicle sways (sometimes violently) when you are driving straight or around a corner. If you take a corner fast enough, your vehicle may sway so much that it can feel like you might roll over. More than just a scare, this swaying can make your vehicle difficult to control, especially on slippery pavement.
Munich West: Your VW Specialists
You don’t want to trust your Volkswagen to 
any old corner garage. If you live in the Decatur and Atlanta areas, then bring your car to see our Volkswagen specialists at Munich West. We look forward to earning your business and helping you maintain your VW for years to come. Call us today!
