CARspec had an interesting issue today, something we’ve seen a few times in the past: a broken front suspension spring on a 2006 Toyota Camry.  The 2002-2006 Camry seems to be the most common vintage that suffers from this problem.  The spring simply rusts through and seperates, leadig to a loud clunking noise from the front suspension:

Broken Camry Spring

Broken Camry Spring

The repair is straightforward: remove and disassemble the strut, replace the spring, reassembly and reinstall the strut.  An alignment is required afterwards.  There is the potential for the front swaybar link to require replacement in the process, as the stud that attaches to the strut can be damaged beyond repair during removal.

As Eden Prairie and Chanhassen’s independent Toyota and Lexus repair specialist, we recommend if you suspect you have a broken spring you have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.  A broken spring can puncture a tire or tear a brake line and is a safety issue.