If you’ve driven around Hamilton for a while — whether you’re heading up Ulster Street, navigating the speed bumps in Rototuna, or dodging potholes in Morrinsville — you know your car takes a beating. Coil springs are one of those things under your car that most folks don’t give a second thought to, but they absolutely cop it when it comes to NZ roads and our up-and-down weather. If you want to pass your Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and keep things safe, here’s what you need to know about looking after your coil springs, Kiwi style. Here’s the top five repairs and checks we reckon every driver should know.
1. Full-on Coil Spring Inspection
Pick up problems before they get pricey
Down here at Grimmer Motors, we see a mix of everything from Toyota Estimas and Subaru Foresters to those Suzuki Swifts you see everywhere — and even the odd Peugeot 308 or Kia Carnival straight from Te Awamutu. No matter what you drive, a proper coil spring inspection is crucial. Rust, cracks, or sagging bits are more common thanks to Hamilton rain, those dewy Waikato mornings, and the odd summer drought. We’ll spot the nasty stuff early, like if you’ve hit a pothole too hard on Peachgrove Road and bent things out of shape. Sorting it now means you’re not up for a way bigger bill down the track.
2. Replacing a Dodgy Coil Spring
Getting back that comfy, safe ride
Sometimes, there’s no fixing a busted spring — especially if it’s snapped or so rusty you wouldn’t trust it over a speed bump in Dinsdale. If you need a coil spring replacement, we match the right one for your specific car — whether you’ve got a Honda CRV from Ngaruawahia, a Mazda 2 from Cambridge, or a VW Tiguan. Fresh, properly-fitted springs keep the car level and stable, so you’re not bouncing around the Waikato Expressway or getting a rough ride on Ruakura Road. Fix it properly and you’re sweet for WOF, with a car that feels right on the road again.
3. Sorting Out Spring Rust
Make your parts last through all sorts
Nothing ruins coil springs in Hamilton quicker than a combo of winter drizzles, puddles up Killarney Road, and the salt spray if you head out to Raglan. That’s why a corrosion protection treatment makes sense — it’s like giving your springs a raincoat. We put on a proper coating that fights off damp, salt and whatever muck you pick up around town. Means your springs will last longer and you’ll save yourself another trip in for rust repairs when WOF time comes around.
4. Checking Your Suspension Alignment
Stops your tyres wearing weird
If your car’s always leaning to one side when you’re turning onto Victoria Street, or you’ve noticed one tyre’s going bald faster than the others, it might be time for a proper alignment check. No matter if you’re in a Hyundai Santa Fe or a Nissan NV200 van — alignment is key. Proper suspension geometry means a safer drive, no weird handling, and tyres that actually last. Good for your wallet and keeps you onside for the WOF.
5. Giving It a Road Test
We make sure it’s sorted before you go
Once any work’s done, we always take your vehicle out for a proper road test. One of our techs will drive it — over a few bumps or roundabouts near Grandview Road, or down to Hillcrest — double-checking everything feels right. If anything feels off, we pick it up straight away. Means peace of mind for you — your car is genuinely ready to pass that WOF, not just on paper but out on Hamilton’s real roads.
Why do so many locals (from Glenview to Horotiu and everywhere in between) trust us at Grimmer Motors?
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Experience: We’ve seen every car problem under the sun, seriously — nothing much surprises us anymore.
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Good parts: We only use quality gear, not that cheap stuff that barely lasts past the next service.
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No stress: We keep you in the loop and try to make things easy as. You’ll always know what’s happening with your car.
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Local reputation: Been fixing cars for years, and folks from all over Hamilton and outlying towns know we’ll do the job properly.
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Easy booking: You can book online anytime — too easy. And we handle everything from car service Hamilton right through to tricky hybrid repair or complicated NZ car problems.
Want to find out more? Check our About Us page or just flick us a booking online. We’ll help get your car safe, WOF-ready and cruising comfy again, no matter what the Waikato throws your way.