07 XC70: broken suspension coil spring, shop wants $3K. Help?

[abscate]

You can replace both springs, leave the struts alone of if it rides well for under $1000.

Tough to call if it is safe to drive without pictures

[oragex]

The springs are back ordered at the main dealer because the XC70 has a tendency to break them. I have read more than one owner who replaced one, then a second failed months later. And you may be unlucky and have it break on the road, quite unpleasant not to mention not safe. Do you have to absolutely replace both at once ? NO. You risk having one spring lower than the other one, but there is absolutely no reason to replace both springs at once. What is really important to replace at all corners on the XC70 is all 4 tires, because of the AWD - but that's another story. To my knowledge, no need to replace anything else (shocks, brackets, etc) but the broken spring. By the way - strut in the front and shock absorber in the rear.

You may type local.google.com and search a garage who does european cars

That said, the rear springs are harder to replace, so more time to do this job.

Speaking of broken springs, almost all on the XC70 I've read about had the front ones break. So do a close inspection for deep rust at all 4 corners.

For us is hard to figure what 'broken at the very broken' really is - maybe a picture? I had front broken springs on a Honda, the very last half coil at the bottom was broken on both sides, never realized until I had to replace the tires.

[precopster]

Fix what's broken.....that has always worked for me. They don't USUALLY break in pairs or a few months later. In fact never heard of that. It was a casting fault with THAT particular spring.

[abscate]

If I read that post correctly it's an independent telling OP that no third party springs are available.

You should replace springs in pairs but if you don't drive fast or twisty you could cut a corner and then test how it handles before you spring for another one

[oragex]

Indeed, is not common to have a second one breaking months later, I just meant to warn that is not an isolated incident. Just posting a few links with similar incidents on the XC70

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthrea ... oil-spring
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/14 ... ng-issues/
there seems to be an aftermarket option http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... on-Refresh

[oragex]

From your description, since the spring is resting on suspension arms, I would have the car towed to a good garage if available. You may risk a damaged tire or shock and that may cost well more that a tow.

[tryingbe]

Well I know I *can* replace both springs, my question is if I actually need to.

The broken springs can leads to more damage, do you want to risk it?