What is the best way to tell if coil springs (front or rear) need to be replaced? I am about to replace the ball joints and A-Arm bushings and need to decide if the coils should be replaced at the same time. I did the struts about 10,000 miles ago. I bought the bushings and ball joints about the same time but just now getting around to them since I am getting some steering wander. If I weren't out of work right now, I would just replace the coils anyway but don't want to do them if it really isn't needed. Will have to do the tie rods later. Car has 210,000 miles and is a V6 with manual trans. Thanks......

 

With that many miles on the car they most likely need replaced.

Are you bottoming out the front end on potholes/bumps?

Do you have speed bumps in a parking lot near you that you can test on? If you go over one as slow as possible and it bottoms out then you need them. If you don't hit the bumpstops till you're around 10mph or better you should be ok.

How hard are you going to be driving it? If you're going to be driving it like its a WRC car, then replace them. If you just plan on driving it "normally" then I wouldn't worry so much about it unless you answered yes to either of the first two questions.

 

I don't think I have been bottoming out on the A-Arms although my exhaust drags on speed bumps unless I go really slow. The ground effect nose bottoms alot on driveways but that appears to be normal. I bought it at 20,000 miles and it hasn't seemed to change much. It is my daily driver so mostly just routine street and freeway driving. I plan to restore it in the future but right now I am restoring my 67 SS/RS first.

Does anybody know anything about Coil Spring Stabilizers that NAPA carries? Do these adjust height slightly for weakened springs? I know there is a coil spring pad but hadn't seen these stabilizers before..

 

The exhaust dragging on speed bumps and the nose scraping everything are both very common and nothing to worry about. Besides the obvious scratches to the car.

If those Coil Spring Stabilizers are what I think they are, then they are meant to restore your ride height to its original level if your springs are sagging. They are at best a band-aid for worn springs. If you're not bottoming out on anything then they would be a waste of money in your case.

It sounds like your springs are ok to me.