Comp Cams 918 spring broke......
Originally Posted by 66deuce
..i took it to mean that some springs have to be shimmed a little to get the rated seat pressures,ie to get 120lbs he had to shim them a little bit,and reduced the installed height below 1.800"
In my opinion, if Comp were to determine there was an issue, it would be in their best interest to come forward and provide all the information so that we would know they found the problem and have corrected it. Otherwise, the confidence in their product will be on shaky ground going forward. This is what AFR did when they found they had a valve issue and I don't think anyone had second thoughts on buying AFR heads because they found a problem, alerted their customers on what happened, and then corrected the problem. Until recently there was a lot of confidence in the Comp 918 valve spring, I have recommended them many times.
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 63
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So far so good 224 with .581 cam. I got some used 918 2 years ago. It is a drift car so it is hard to gage miles but I guess in auto cross terms it has seen at least 100 take offs from 1st gear to 3rd with 7k red line and some times staying on rev limiter for 2-3 seconds, and at least 4 road couse weekends. Over reved it to 7,300 rpm twice on misshifts. The springs have no paint on them. I always warm it up and I have 0 issues so far. Knock on wood I guess.
I am divided, I have free set of comp 918s with this cam and push rods I bought on the way...they are brand new.....and I really feel like installing them...the cam is a lil 224 .563 cam...
thing is, its a friends T/A we are doing the work on as a SURPRISE! I DO NOT WANT a valve to drop because of these shitass springs then he disowns me forever!
E
thing is, its a friends T/A we are doing the work on as a SURPRISE! I DO NOT WANT a valve to drop because of these shitass springs then he disowns me forever!
E
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 23
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I hadn't started running my car hard at all yet. I let the engine warm up completely and then cool off completely after the first start-up. Then after a couple hundred miles I started pushing it a little harder but only in short bursts. Then it broke while I was on an exit ramp at about 1500 RPM's. So no I hadn't beat on my car, I'm WAY to **** for that! I'm the freak that always let's the car warm up, doesn't let it get below 1/2 tank, waxes once a week, etc.... I also have always followed every guideline there is about installs and proper procedures. If I don't know how exactly what I am doing I have a friend who is GM certified and I let him - While I watch of course....lol
oh damn, i broke a stock spring and lucky for me the valve didnt drop into the cylinder like that!, my valve spring broke on the bottom and luck for me, the keepers did their job
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,514
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From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by erikthegoalie
I am divided, I have free set of comp 918s with this cam and push rods I bought on the way...they are brand new.....and I really feel like installing them...the cam is a lil 224 .563 cam...
Take that for what it's worth. It's my opinion that the springs are not breaking simply because of too much cam.
I have TR's 227/224 .569/.563 114 LSA cam that was installed with 918's in early 05 so the springs would have maybe 28k miles on them. I don't intentionally abuse my car but I am not at all **** about it either - I wouldn't own a car like this if I had to baby it.
I have gotten on it many times before it was completely warmed up (although I live in Phoenix so my engine is usually at least a hundred degrees before I even turn the key) and the springs probably have at least 50 1/4 mile runs on them.
No problems at all!
Steve
I have gotten on it many times before it was completely warmed up (although I live in Phoenix so my engine is usually at least a hundred degrees before I even turn the key) and the springs probably have at least 50 1/4 mile runs on them.
No problems at all!
Steve 
Originally Posted by Reckless
Understandable Dave, but 5 broken springs out of 80,000 is a pretty good success rate
Got that stroker done yet?
Got that stroker done yet?
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 308
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From: worcester,ma
Originally Posted by erikthegoalie
hey I need to know something....how many people have the 918s that HAVE NOT Broken.....
****
****
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,055
Likes: 1
From: Hartsdale, NY
I've been a member on this board for five years or so.
I can't believe the posts that say, "the old Comp 918 springs were great and never had issues." I'm not here to flame Comp, but this simply is NOT true.
Since the begining from 2002 or so, these springs have had lots of breakage issues. My H/C swap is 5 years old now. When I was scouting parts for my work, the 918 was the hot set up. Unfortunately, people were reporting a high incidence of breakage with little or no customer support.
I went with doubles and never looked back!
I can't believe the posts that say, "the old Comp 918 springs were great and never had issues." I'm not here to flame Comp, but this simply is NOT true.
Since the begining from 2002 or so, these springs have had lots of breakage issues. My H/C swap is 5 years old now. When I was scouting parts for my work, the 918 was the hot set up. Unfortunately, people were reporting a high incidence of breakage with little or no customer support.
I went with doubles and never looked back!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2007
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Now that I've calmed down I realize that crap happens plain and simple! To my defense right after this happend I get a phone call stating that my grandmother was not going to live much longer so I had to go back to where I am from to see her. So added to my family situation is this with my car, I went off the deep end with the added stress. When I talked to Comp it wasn't very long after she passed away so I probably owe someone an apology, I was a complete DICK!
I have all my gaskets and bolts gathered, ordered a Patriot Gold dual spring kit and am picking my head up tomorrow from the machine shop where I had it checked and new valve installed. It'll go back together Friday when I get back to Georgetown.
Hopefully we can get all of this worked out with Comp or at the very least make the problem known so that people take the extra precautions in avoiding further occurances like ours. Sorry if any of my posts seemed dick-ish on here also.
I have all my gaskets and bolts gathered, ordered a Patriot Gold dual spring kit and am picking my head up tomorrow from the machine shop where I had it checked and new valve installed. It'll go back together Friday when I get back to Georgetown.
Hopefully we can get all of this worked out with Comp or at the very least make the problem known so that people take the extra precautions in avoiding further occurances like ours. Sorry if any of my posts seemed dick-ish on here also.
Originally Posted by robertbartsch
I can't believe the posts that say, "the old Comp 918 springs were great and never had issues." I'm not here to flame Comp, but this simply is NOT true.
Since the begining from 2002 or so, these springs have had lots of breakage issues. My H/C swap is 5 years old now. When I was scouting parts for my work, the 918 was the hot set up. Unfortunately, people were reporting a high incidence of breakage with little or no customer support.
I went with doubles and never looked back!
Since the begining from 2002 or so, these springs have had lots of breakage issues. My H/C swap is 5 years old now. When I was scouting parts for my work, the 918 was the hot set up. Unfortunately, people were reporting a high incidence of breakage with little or no customer support.
I went with doubles and never looked back!
But I agree, go duals and sleep soundly...
In respect to the post of 918's being a good spring that doesn't break. I beg to differ.
Pictures of the carnage:
This is a sparkplug
Note the Rod. Also block and head are cracked. Only thing slavageable was one head the rest was history.
Note the connecting rod and the valve stem. Also block and head are cracked. Only thing salvageable was one head the rest was history.
This was from a broken 918 spring with my car only going 70 mph, this past weekend. The cam I had/have is a C cam or Torquer 2 whatever you wanna call it with approx 5-8k on the cam since install. I have now upgraded to PRC Springs and rods oh and lets not forget a new engine.
And please this post is not to be a bashing but it should hopefully clear the air as to some peoples interpretation on a safe/quality spring. Oh and the good people at Comp said they would send me a new set free once they determine that the spring was faulty. These will be in the for sale section when I get them.
Pictures of the carnage:
This is a sparkplug
Note the Rod. Also block and head are cracked. Only thing slavageable was one head the rest was history.
Note the connecting rod and the valve stem. Also block and head are cracked. Only thing salvageable was one head the rest was history.
This was from a broken 918 spring with my car only going 70 mph, this past weekend. The cam I had/have is a C cam or Torquer 2 whatever you wanna call it with approx 5-8k on the cam since install. I have now upgraded to PRC Springs and rods oh and lets not forget a new engine.
And please this post is not to be a bashing but it should hopefully clear the air as to some peoples interpretation on a safe/quality spring. Oh and the good people at Comp said they would send me a new set free once they determine that the spring was faulty. These will be in the for sale section when I get them.
Wow...I had 918's on a 224/224 which have been on it for a year and 1/2 now with no problems. I'm going to be doing another cam swap soon and after reading all of this I won't be going back to the 918's ever again. 
My batch number for my 918's are 49826 
There has
been several reported failures under that batch number
Looks like ill be pulling my valve covers to see if there is any
broken ...
There hasbeen several reported failures under that batch number
Looks like ill be pulling my valve covers to see if there is any
broken ...