A lucky escape!

[Alfamuppet]

164 Q4 Down!
Driving at about 20mph and I hear a massive bang from the rear, it turned out to be a snapped coil spring and collapsed lower spring pan luckily only a 1/4 of a mile from home. I limped her back to my garage with no further damage. I hate to think what would have been the outcome at high speed!
I had a chance to buy two brand new old stock struts late last year and the springs as well, even though at the time all seemed fine and I am very glad I did. As you will know the electronic struts for the rear are different to the standard Q.V. and so completely unique to the Q4 and not easy to find. She should be back in service soon after replacing both rears and replacing the front springs!

[Alfan]

That was lucky!!! Also good that you have parts

One thing you have to look at is the top strut mount, I have taken that apart and since yours look rusty, you definitely need to look closer at it!

I can send some photos later of what it looks like. And don't expect to find new samples of those...

[Alfamuppet]

The top mount looks to be OK and only appears to be surface rust on the base.

I’m checking the other side and the fronts as well

[Alfan]

You can take it apart at the bottom, there are metal taps folded around the top part. Since the spring pan could break, more can happen...

The top part of the mount on the one in these photos, was rusted apart when disassembled - though that was after 400.000km.
And even though the old shocks look really bad, don't throw them out - they might be possible to restore and finding new ones really is difficult!

Q4 rear strut mount

Q4 rear strut mount

[Alfamuppet]

The top mounts look nowhere near as bad as yours, but I will take them apart de-rust and paint. Thanks for sharing the pictures for reference. Mine is on 200,000kms only

Plan is to refurb the old ones by replicating the spring pan and getting it welded on to the old body after a de- rust and paint as they are stil functional

I know how hard parts are to find and was very luck with the new old stock shocks!

[164EVER]

Lucky you !
A common issue on 164 with strong milage.
Nowadays it happens at 15000km on Pe...ot 5008 with chi...se springs mount on front wheels
it breaks suddenly to show a straw in the middle of the thread.
Tell us there is a MOT in UK ??

[Alfamuppet]

Yes the UK has an MOT every 12 months. The spring was also broken!

[Alfan]

Here are photos of a complete one I took apart. There is a (drain?) hole in the bottom part.

Good thing you are able to get the original ones fixed

Q4 rear strut top 01

Q4 rear strut top 02