Renault Meganes suspension problem?

[KRUSTYMAN]

I have one of the last Meganes before the newer shape (Y reg). I also have the misfortune to live in Portsmouth where motorists are almost classed as the enemy. All but arterial rds are 20mph and virtually every other road with a 30mph limit is strewn with speed bumps. As a result people are constantly having to replace exhausts, hangers etc. Now to my problem - the other day going over one of these speed bumps I developed a really loud banging sound similar to the noise an exhaust makes when it has broken loose and you go over bumps/dips. My brother and I did a little detective work today, we checked the exhaust, checked there was nothing else loose on the car or inside and pinpointed the noise to come from the rear shock absorber (which to be quite honest appear to be very puny for the size of the car). Does anyone think this could make such a noise and if so what can I expect to be charged by a small garage to have it replaced. This is a rear drivers side suspension 'unit' To be honest, looking at the mechanics I could probably do the job myself if I was a bit younger, fitter and slimmer (I would also take about ten times the time a proper mechanic would take and the result might not be quite so safe). TIA

[TWR]

Hi, as you are aware there are a lot of these Speed Bumps up / down the country with damage to Vehicles suspensions / Exhaust etc, I have taken on and won a case from Network Rail with the condition of a crossing that is in our town a broken rear spring, the paid for the job to be done. a lot of motorists except the damage done by these bloody bumps! why? are these bumps the right height? Width? Length? Dimensions? yes they are there to slow you down not to damage your car when shockers are checked they are checked by a machine constantly pounding the up/down movement of a coil / spring not the Angle that these humps are laid down at, It would be very interesting if the likes of Clarkson did a survey on these instead of coming out with the cr@p that he keeps coming on the box about even Quintin ( Motor Columnist) if every person that has damage done to his / her car through driving over these humps made a point of it to their local Highways Dept they would have to act & inspect, Try it in you area Krustyman, you may get some other people to back you up.

[chas2008]

checked the spring ? i assume its a coil spring, these breaking are more common than people think...

[KRUSTYMAN]

Unfortunately it's in a sleeve - even with the car jacked up we couldn't see. Cheers

[Toureman]

Hi Krusty, you will get an answer here......

http://www.renaultfor...ex.php?referrerid=599

[sigma]

I regard speed bumps as no more than inverted pot holes. Pot holes are recognised as causing damage to motor vehicles so why not speed bumps. Send the bill to the appropriate authority, you've got nothing to lose.

[KRUSTYMAN]

Yes, I was in the garage this morning to arrange to get the suspension looked and they'd just had a government inspection because they do MOT's and found all the paperwork was fine but they seemed to be doing an excessive amount of suspension repairs and wanted to know why in case it was a scam. They took the inspector outside and told hime to look up and down the road abd waht could he see - speedbumps. I know governments hate motorists but Portsmouth Council is one of the worst. Like I said if it isn't an arterial road it's 20mph. If the speed limit is over 20mph there are speed bumps and road narrowing and they're still looking at ways of imposing more restrictions it's ridiculous especially as the speed humps appear to being built quicker than some of the pothole repairs still left from the winter or deteriorating because they were filled cheaply and quickly!