poor suspension - is a strut bumper gap normal?

240tim · Post by **240tim** » 14 Nov 2009, 11:33

hello,

i have a '93 850 sedan (135k) with intermittant 'bumpyness' at speed. at times it feels like it has is continuously running over small bumps in the road even though the road is smooth. real bumps in the road seem quite violent to passengers. i was checking the front strut nuts and noticed there is a gap between the 'bumper' and the strut plate (probably not the right names for them) - see photo. is this normal? i have read there is a pad inside the strut assembly that collapes sometimes. is my problem somewhere else, perhaps?

: strut photo; strut.jpg (134.53 KiB) Viewed 2227 times

Post by **holler1** » 14 Nov 2009, 18:38

I'm not an expert, but I believe that gap between the top "washer" and the strut mount (the bearing that the strut sits up against) is normal. My car has it and I have seen some other posts of people that have it. One test for bad spring mounts is to try to turn the top of the strut- if it turns easily you may have bad spring mounts. The spring mount sits on top of the spring and below the strut mount, and keeps the spring compressed and "together" with the strut. You may just have bad struts- check that by pushing down on the sides of the front bumper, letting it go quickly. It should just bounce up. If it bounces up and then down again or more the struts are getting worn. The struts and mounts tend to wear out around the miles your car has. If they have never been replaced they are probably "due". If you have done some car work you can probably change them yourself.

240tim · Post by **240tim** » 15 Nov 2009, 20:35

i can try the bounce test again - last time i tried i didn't think there was much bounce...

when you say "turn the top of the strut- if it turns easily" - how easy is easy? if i put the torque wrench on the upper strut nut the strut just springs around (and back when i let go). do you mean it is easy if i can turn it by hand?

thanks,
tim

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Nov 2009, 20:56

Yeah, if it's bad, you can easily turn it all the way around by hand. If it moves just a little bit by hand, you're alright. Don't wrench it or you'll break it yourself!

ajwgator · Post by **ajwgator** » 15 Nov 2009, 21:09

Just finished replacing my 98 V70XC AWD w/140k miles struts, top spring seats, and mounts. Mine had a completely failed top spring mount on the left side. The right side top spring mount was cracked but hadn't failed yet. From your pic its my opinion you have a failed top spring mount. The center of it has broken loose from the molded rubber. My car was making clunking noises when going over the slighest of bumps on the drivers side. The gap showing in your pic is too much. The rubber coated washer just under the large center nut is suppose to be contacting the rubber coated ring that is molded into the top spring seat when all is normal. With that many miles on your car you should go on and do your struts too. You have to take them out to replace the top spring seats anyway. Be sure and get new hardware too when you do it. Best of luck.