Watch How Automotive Springs Are Made in This Video

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Interpretive dance isn’t for everyone, but we can all appreciate the efficient, graceful and damn near artistic manner in which automotive parts are made.

Coil springs already look fun, but after viewing this video of a spring being made for the now-defunct Toyota FJ Cruiser, you’re liable to quit that paper-pushing day job for a shot at doing what this guy does.

Hot, scorching stuff.

Every aspect of a new vehicle is designed via a computer, but men and women still need to make steel glow to create the parts. Presumably, even the self-driving vehicles that will carry us to pre-selected, government-approved destinations in our collective dystopian future will enjoy such hardware.

The future is terrifying, but springs are a joy.

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 12 comments
  • Zackman Zackman on Oct 28, 2016

    I wonder if that factory is air-conditioned? Sure would be awfully hot in summer!

  • NeilM NeilM on Oct 30, 2016

    Seem likely that this video is at a supplier. First, car manufacturers don't make their own springs (or shocks, or strut bearings, or bushings, etc.). Second, a Toyota worker would wear an overall with the company name/logo on it. Third, you can see pallet loads of springs wrapped for shipping, so at the very least they're going to another location or company.

  • Dave M. IMO this was the last of the solidly built MBs. Yes, they had the environmentally friendly disintegrating wiring harness, but besides that the mechanicals are pretty solid. I just bought my "forever" car (last new daily driver that'll ease me into retirement), but a 2015-16 E Class sedan is on my bucket list for future purchase. Beautiful design....
  • Rochester After years of self-driving being in the news, I still don't understand the psychology behind it. Not only don't I want this, but I find the idea absurd.
  • Douglas This timeframe of Mercedes has the self-disintegrating engine wiring harness. Not just the W124, but all of them from the early 90's. Only way to properly fix it is to replace it, which I understand to be difficult to find a new one/do it/pay for. Maybe others have actual experience with doing so and can give better hope. On top of that, it's a NH car with "a little bit of rust", which means to about anyone else in the USA it is probably the rustiest W124 they have ever seen. This is probably a $3000 car on a good day.
  • Formula m How many Hyundai and Kia’s do not have the original engine block it left the factory with 10yrs prior?
  • 1995 SC I will say that year 29 has been a little spendy on my car (Motor Mounts, Injectors and a Supercharger Service since it had to come off for the injectors, ABS Pump and the tool to cycle the valves to bleed the system, Front Calipers, rear pinion seal, transmission service with a new pan that has a drain, a gaggle of capacitors to fix the ride control module and a replacement amplifier for the stereo. Still needs an exhaust manifold gasket. The front end got serviced in year 28. On the plus side blank cassettes are increasingly easy to find so I have a solid collection of 90 minute playlists.
Next