check your spring seats!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » 25 Jul 2003, 23:52

Ive recently investigated into a front end noise that occurs while going over a patch of road that causes all sorts of creeks and groans in the front suspension. I found it to be the spring seats, the rubber bushing around the metal spacer sleave breaks away and gives the strut assembly some 5cm of travel before the shock absorber will do anything. to check the seat, bounce the front end and look at the strut towers to see if there is any dramatic movement.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Jul 2003, 12:16

Pete's sent in some photos of these very spring seats, and they'll be up on this site within a day or two. I'll let everyone know via this thread when they're up.

These are items that should be replaced with every strut replacement, since their lifetimes are about that of struts anyway.

Post by **matthew1** » 28 Jul 2003, 21:42

Here they are:

Thanks Pete!

AutoX47 · Post by **AutoX47** » 29 Jul 2003, 23:10

Hey Pete,
I was going to order new strut mounts ASAP once i put my brakes in because of the travel (maybe 3cm) of the upper mounts when jacking up and lowering the car along with loading it when on the ground. I do have an amount of noises when turning still, do you think i dont need new strut mounts and just need spring seats? Well i guess i will have to buy the spring seats now, thanks for the advice! I will probably get the mounts unless you think i dont need to. My car has 97k

Post by **matthew1** » 10 Mar 2004, 21:34

New pics courtesy of Craig. Thanks Craig!

angelglo · Post by **angelglo** » 29 May 2006, 12:36

i changed my struts on my 97 850 volvo about 5 month ago while doing a r and r on my motor. i have been hearing suspension noises and when i look at i guess would be the strut tower, there is a gap about 1/4 of and inch. the gap is right under the thing that looks like an upside down castlel ike the one pictured in the fourth photo https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/spring ... seats2.php would the problem be the strut mount as mentioned? the noise occures when going over bumps. i can seem to tighten anymore to close teh gap on the susp. tower.

thanks
angel

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 29 May 2006, 15:02

That gap is normal. The issue is if there is movement at that point when you push the car down and it bounces back. Even better yet is to see what the wheels do when you jack the car off the ground (without ramps).

Stevieb · Post by **Stevieb** » 22 Feb 2010, 12:26

I know this thread quieted down a long time ago, but as it is so easily accessed in the repair database I figured I'd post here rather than in the forum. I have significant movement in the strut towers when bouncing the car along with the nasty sounds but I'm looking for a guide to help me get the spring seat replaced, also, would my struts likely need to be replaced? I have a high mileage (About 190k) '94 850T. Thanks for any help!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 22 Feb 2010, 13:16

Based on your description they are likely broken. Another test is to try turning the top nut. The nut should turn very little if the spring seat is good.

Replacing the spring seats requires that the struts be removed and the spring compressed. This writeup is focused on replacing the struts but the same steps apply.

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

I have been replacing my bad spring seats with OEM XC90 seats, they only cost a couple of dollars more and they are much beefier.

...Lee

Post by **jblackburn** » 22 Feb 2010, 13:22

There's not per-say a specific write-up for it. I found some pictures here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=28455

Then there is p.3 of this:
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/tech/servic ... ension.pdf

Use the OEM XC90 mounts if you're going to replace them. Get a can of PB blaster while you're at it.

I'll try to describe it a bit more - I never documented it when I did it.

1st off, you'll need to rent a spring compressor and get a decent floor jack. The car jack is a piece of junk and is very easy to knock the car off of and hurt yourself. And make sure you know how to use it - if those springs go flying out, they're EXTREMELY dangerous.

It says to remove most bolts, then clamp. I clamped it and then removed all the bolts. Then the procedure's fairly straightforward - remove the bolts & take out the spring seat & replace it in a similar fashion. All the torques you will need are in that 2nd document there.

At that mileage, you probably need new shocks as well. Push down firmly on the edge of the car and release it. It should spring back up ONCE & stop. A better way to test is to come to an abrupt, hard stop. The front shouldn't bounce again once it springs back up.