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Steve2020

Smart 450 vs Smart 451 front springs

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Hi,  just wondering is there any difference in the Smart 450 and smart 451 front springs? 

 

The only difference I can see is I counted one less coil on the 450 spring

 

Thanks 

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On 24/08/2020 at 10:28 AM, Steve2020 said:

Hi,  just wondering is there any difference in the Smart 450 and Smart 451 front springs?

 

gknautomotive.com market their aftermarket springs as Spidan. Suplex may be the same as Spidan as they always seem to have an exact copy with the same specifications. gknautomotive's online catalogue shows two standard front springs for the 450 and one standard front spring for the 451. There are also sports springs.

 

MK5 to MK6 450 (2001-2002)

This was the first front coil spring as earlier MK1 to MK4 450 cars had leaf front springs. This spring is 279mm long and 8mm thick with 6.25 coil turns. It is sold to replace OE numbers 0009249V002 and 0009249V003

 

https://web.tecalliance.net/gkn/en/parts/1/56802/detail?query=56802&numberType=0#@brc/search:Search%20by%20any%20number%2056802;mandator:gkn;query:56802;page:0/detail:56802;brandId:1;articleNo:56802;mandator:gkn;query:56802;numberType:0

 

MK7 450 (2003-2007)

This front coil spring is 310mm long and 8mm thick with 6.75 coil turns. This gives a noticeably softer ride than the previous MK5 to MK6 450 front spring. It is sold to replace OE number 0011569V001

 

https://web.tecalliance.net/gkn/en/parts/1/56803/detail?query=56803&numberType=0#@brc/search:Search%20by%20any%20number%2056803;mandator:gkn;query:56803;page:0/detail:56803;brandId:1;articleNo:56803;mandator:gkn;query:56803;numberType:0

 

451 (2007-2014)

This front coil spring is 315mm long and 8mm thick with 6.75 coil turns. It is sold to replace OE number 4513210104

 

https://web.tecalliance.net/gkn/en/parts/1/85533/detail?query=85533&numberType=0&groups=188#@brc/search:Search%20by%20any%20number%2085533;mandator:gkn;query:85533;groups:188;brands:1;pf:2;page:0/detail:85533;brandId:1;articleNo:85533;mandator:gkn;query:85533;numberType:0;groups:188

 

MK7 450 and 451 front coil springs are very similar and interchangeable.  Both of these front coil springs weigh about 750 grams each, not 700 grams and 800 grams as shown in gknautomotive's online catalogue.

 

There does appear to be one significant difference between 450 and 451 front coil springs, and that is the shape of the bottom pigtail finish. The bottom pigtail finish on the 451 front coil spring is flatter than the bottom pigtail finish on the 450 front coil spring. You can see the difference if you compare the photos of the MK7 450 and 451 front coil springs on the links above to gknautomotive's online catalogue. The result of this change may be to reduce the stress on the front coil spring in operation and thereby give a longer life between front coil spring breakages. For this reason, it may be a good idea to only use front coil springs that are based on the design of the 451 front coil springs whether you have a 450 or a 451.

 

451 front coil springs OE number 4513210104

 

Optimal AF-2932

Sachs 998 838

Spidan 85533

Suplex 19362

 

Bilstein 37-233877, Kilen 23706, and Lesjofors 4086006 front coil springs are the same as MK7 450 front coil springs, even though they are also marketed to replace 451 front coil springs. Because these front coil springs are the same as 450 MK7 front coil springs, they don't have the flatter bottom pigtail finish of 451 front coil springs. For this reason I would avoid these front coil springs as they may break sooner than 451 front coil springs.

 

MK7 450 rear coil springs OE number 0012187V001

 

Optimal AF-2855

Sachs 996 927

Spidan 56806

Suplex 19272

 

451 rear coil springs OE number 4513240304

 

Optimal AF-2934

Sachs 994 197

Spidan 85535

Suplex 19364

 

Edited by Big453
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On 24/08/2020 at 10:28 AM, Steve2020 said:

Is there any difference in the Smart 450 and smart 451 front springs? 

The only difference I can see is I counted one less coil on the 450 spring

 

The MK5 to MK6 450 front coil springs that gknautomotive market to replace OEM part numbers 0009249V002 and 0009249V003 have 6.25 coil turns, but the original MK5 to MK6 450 front springs only had 5.75 coil turns.

 

Aftermarket front coil springs for the MK5 to MK6 450 are being sold with either 5.75 or 6.25 coil turns.

Maybe gknautomotive gave their MK5 to MK6 450 aftermarket front springs an extra half coil turn to reduce front coil spring failure rates.

 

One of my original MK6 450 front coil springs broke after just 5,000 miles. These front spring breakages were very common. It was a case of when not if the breakage occurred. In some countries Smart would pay for replacement front springs under warranty. The replacement MK7 450 front coil springs that I fitted broke after 25.000 miles. If my current MK7 450 front coil springs break again I will replace them with aftermarket springs that match OEM part number 4513210104. These are 451 front springs. Up until now I have always used genuine OEM front springs, but I doubt that OEM springs last any longer than a good aftermarket make such as Sachs.

Edited by Big453

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ive used 451 lesjofors on a 450 coupe and 451 supplex on a 450 cabrio

 

never had problem with either fitment...gained slight height

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2 hours ago, LooseLugNuts said:

I've used 451 Lesjofors on a 450 Coupe and 451 Suplex on a 450 Cabrio

Never had a problem with either fitment...gained slight height.

 

Lesjofors don't make standard 451 front springs.

 

The Lesjofors 4086006 front spring is actually a MK7 450 front spring that matches OEM part number 11569V001.

 

Eibach R10200 matches OEM part number 4513210204

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/eibach/12831977

 

Eibach R10145 matches OEM part number 4513210104

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/eibach/11962856

 

Lesjofors 4086006 matches OEM part number 11569V001

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/lesjofors/2259608

 

Suplex 19362 matches OEM part number 4513210104

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/suplex/8312108

 

Edited by Big453

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got mine from carquest...asked for the 2008 ones 

 

installed whatever they got me and gained a bit of ride height 

 

i have no idea what the part number was

 

suplex ones i sourced from germanparts.ca

Edited by LooseLugNuts

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found a few picture of the front suplex ones id used 

 

one pic is old factory spring next to a new suplex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

suplex2.jpg

suplex 1.jpg

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