List of parts I've purchased over the years for the car. Taken from receipts.

Sept 24, 2013 - 268.22
Volvo Strut Assembly Sacks SAC-553058 Qty: 2
Volvo Strut Bolt VOL-982845 Qty: 4
Volvo Strut Bolt Lock Nut Genuine VOL-985870 Qty: 4
Volvo Sway Bar Link Meyle MEY-5160600000HD Qty: 2
Volvo Strut ...

ODO was broke and stuck at 74k+ miles when I bought it. I'd guess it has around 200k miles on it. I bought the car in 2011 for the kids to drive back and for to high school. They ended up taking it to college with them, but now it's back home with me.

The good; always starts, runs great (engine is ...

Yeah, I figured that out after my post. I just need an front upper seat spring. What can I add to my FC Euro order to get it above $49? I'm down to one Mann oil filter. More oil filters and an air filter?

Which front top strut mount is recommended? The INA or BOGE from FCP Euro. Genuine Volvo is about $100 more than those two.

Yep, that's it. Everything looked good from underneath. I can pull the top of the strut up a good half inch or so, and spin it freely.

Do I have to remove the strut to replace the top seat?

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOZ7Btien3sRwu0wK-RnyGMoGqqc5ZDbM5I6diLBPQ2pgXO-r-79mCiNweg1J4cLg?key ...

How exactly do I tell if a front strut has gone bad?

I replaced the front struts three years ago, summer of 15, with Sachs 9140072 from FCP Euro. I replaced the strut seats and sway bar linkage at the same time. Car has been off to college with my kid for a couple years. Kid came home for a visit ...

I did the coupling bypass when I replaced my head gasket. Never could get the ancient fitting to stop leaking. No fittings, no leaking now.

+1 on using a chisel method. I struggled to get the drivers side axle off of my 96 850 until I tried the chisel trick, that popped the axle right out slick as you please. I purchased rebuilt axles from FCP Euro; so far so good.

Fel-Pro was the gasket kit the machine chop purchased for my head. They just sent the kit along with the head when it was delivered.

One other thing, you might want to plan on doing the heater core hoses hack (search forum). The way Volvo engineered the heater core hoses is a bit of kluge, the O-rings and plastic snap-catch parts don't age well.