Suspension
Suspension Spring ReplacementThe extremely wet beginning of 2014 will have taken its toll on coil springs. Fully exposed to the elements, they come into contact with water, stones and grit, and without adequate protection, the springs and suspension system will fail, mainly due to rust. Selecting the right materials and the right manufacturing processes are crucial when supplying reliable coil springs – especially with the unpredictable weather we are experiencing. Reliable availability is also important when it comes to selecting the right supplier. Last year, Kilen increased its production capacity so it was better equipped to meet the peaks and troughs of market demand. Kilen soon benefitted from this investment when the battering winter continued longer than normal and they were able to react more quickly, maintaining availability where competitors couldn’t. By being more flexible to market demand, Kilen can ensure the supply chain has access to this crucial part. Rust and Creep Corrosion As corrosion is the most common cause for spring breakages, Kilen uses a multi-stage chemical process to efficiently combat rust. With Kilen’s springs, only the highest grade steel from selected mills is used to achieve the necessary surface and internal wire quality. Layers of protection are then added onto the spring to prevent creep corrosion taking hold. Usually, cracks and chips in the exposed paint layer allow water to penetrate and creep corrosion then spreads rapidly beneath the paint layer greatly reducing service life. Kilen uses electrostatics to apply a coat of epoxy powder resin paint, to all coil springs which is much more durable than standard paint practices. An additional layer of protection is applied between the coating and the spring via zinc phosphating, (rather than iron phosphating). Creep corrosion tests have revealed that zinc phosphate crystals are more resilient, less susceptible to rust and better at preventing creep corrosion from spreading. Binding the protection on a molecular level significantly increases the spring’s resilience. Kilen’s specially-formulated coatings provide more thorough protection against rust. Replacing in Pairs When a spring fails, drivers often request that only the defective spring is replaced. However, failure to replace axle pairs can have multiple negative consequences. In addition to likely financial costs – it’s cheaper to replace in pairs than to change two individual springs – there is also the inconvenience of vehicle off-the-road times, and the result of an imbalanced ride-height to consider. Other inconvenient/ hazardous factors to replacing springs one at a time include:
Axle pairs will degrade at similar rates (with normal usage). If one breaks, it’s fair to assume the other won’t be far behind. Replacing in pairs is not only a great upselling opportunity but it also ensures customer satisfaction. Warranty Kilen’s springs are covered by a 3-year warranty and are OE certified, which means they won’t restrict or impede vehicle manufacturer’s warranty schemes. |
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