Inevitable category repair. Front strut/spring mount.

Post by **Brucebo** » 30 Sep 2009, 10:14

Does anybody know of a good write-up on replacing the front spring/strut mount on an S70. I did some searching here but the links are all broken. My left front mount started clunking on the way to work today.

-Bruce

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 30 Sep 2009, 11:06

This is a great writeup.

http://members.shaw.ca/heeeeee/strut/

It is specific to changing the struts but the same steps are required to replace the spring seats.

Get OEM XC90 seats, they fit fine and they are much beefier.

...Lee

Post by **Brucebo** » 30 Sep 2009, 13:43

Thanks, Great page!

I just ordered replacement "heavy duty" upper mounts from IPD

http://www.ipdusa.com/product.asp?strPa ... tRecord=21

It looks like by compressing the spring, removing the top three bracket nuts and center strut nut and lowering the wheel I should be able to sneak the new mount over the top without removing the strut from the car. In any case, with the tension off the strut, I'll check it for oil leaks and performance.

-Bruce

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 30 Sep 2009, 18:32

I don't know that there is enough room inside the strut tower to get the spring compressors in place to do it like that but I have never tried. Please let us know how that plan works out.

Getting the cross shaped nut off will also be a challenge since it can't be removed until the spring compressors are in place and the springs are drawn down. On your side with the broken seat the cross shaped nut will be firmly planted against the spring seat.

...Lee

Post by **Brucebo** » 06 Oct 2009, 16:52

While further researching this, most sources advise to "get an alignment" after. Curiously, I also learned that the 850/S70 has no "designed in" method of adjusting the camber and caster. WTF? So why do they say to get an alignment? Apparently you need to drill out stuff and use after market eccentric bolts to tweak the ride height in order to effect adjustment to the camber.

-Bruce

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Oct 2009, 17:30

WTF? So why do they say to get an alignment? Apparently you need to drill out stuff and use after market eccentric bolts to tweak the ride height in order to effect adjustment to the camber.

If you have a camber kit already it will need to be reset. If you don't have a camber kit you can usually just roll with it.

...Lee

Post by **Brucebo** » 06 Oct 2009, 20:46

Ozark Lee wrote: ... can usually just roll with it.
...Lee

Pun intended?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Oct 2009, 20:55

Actually no pun at all. Unless other stuff is messed up they normally don't need any camber adjustment. My son's car is the exception to that rule so I need to buy him camber kits.

If the spring seats and strut bearings were OK on the last alignment then it still should be good. You will pretty much know the first time you drive it.

...Lee

Post by **Brucebo** » 11 Oct 2009, 14:08

Ozark Lee wrote:I don't know that there is enough room inside the strut tower to get the spring compressors in place to do it like that but I have never tried. Please let us know how that plan works out.

Getting the cross shaped nut off will also be a challenge since it can't be removed until the spring compressors are in place and the springs are drawn down. On your side with the broken seat the cross shaped nut will be firmly planted against the spring seat.

...Lee

I ended up removing the whole strut assembly so I could inspect the shock, which seemed okay. The most difficult part was maneuvering the assembly in and out of the wheel well as it is somewhat heavy and you don't want to snag the ABS line and/or the break line. Also, not mentioned in the write up, to disconnect or reconnect the sway bar linkage you need to jack up the control arm to the same spring compression as the other side, otherwise the sway bar is under torsion. This latter could also be accomplished by putting both sides of the front on jack stands so that both front wheels are off the ground.

-Bruce

itshercar · Post by **itshercar** » 13 Oct 2009, 12:28

Would this be the fix for "camber" adjustment -
My wife's 2005 V70 has under 50k miles on it - new toyo's on all 4 corners less than a year ago - rotated them this weekend - inside edges of front tires almost gone...
I guess my question is - Can any shop with a rack do this or am I stuck going to the Volvo store... ( please say no!!!) - or is the subject of this topic my cause?