98 v70 with thump sound from front right side (suspension?)

Post by **Volvo_240_Atari_2600** » 24 Mar 2010, 16:25

Eric again...

98 v70 about 190k on the odometer
Florida

My wife's car has a habit of a thump/knocking sound from the front right side of the car that has lead me to believe there is a suspension issue? Possibly in the strut?

This sounds like there is actually something loose that rattles around when going over a speed bump, making a left turn, or hitting a rough road surface.

I caught a few things that I thought was it but it still comes back.
Mind you I had a NEW CV shaft installed two years ago when we first bought the car but I do not think this is it.

One:
I found the ECU case was not fully secured... I believe it was missing one bolt. When I shook it around it sounded like the culprit. Secured it and the sound returns.

Two:
The right inner fender spash guards have those blastic nuts. Two were loose and banging it around with my hand, it sounded like the problem, but no luck.

Three:
The skid plate/pannel bellow the car that secures to the lower portion of the bumper and the subframe was also loose from whei I replaced the radiator in August 2009 and giess what, after adding zip ties to ensure it is tight all around, I still have the sound.

I mean it sounds like something light weight (like some plastic component) and probably is something simple and not a major issue, but it drives me crazy.

Any thoughts here?
Thanks
Eric

Post by **charlyW** » 24 Mar 2010, 17:14

Volvo_240_Atari_2600 wrote:Eric again...

98 v70 about 190k on the odometer
Florida

My wife's car has a habit of a thump/knocking sound from the front right side of the car that has lead me to believe there is a suspension issue? Possibly in the strut?

This sounds like there is actually something loose that rattles around when going over a speed bump, making a left turn, or hitting a rough road surface.

I caught a few things that I thought was it but it still comes back.
Mind you I had a NEW CV shaft installed two years ago when we first bought the car but I do not think this is it.

One:
I found the ECU case was not fully secured... I believe it was missing one bolt. When I shook it around it sounded like the culprit. Secured it and the sound returns.

Two:
The right inner fender spash guards have those blastic nuts. Two were loose and banging it around with my hand, it sounded like the problem, but no luck.

Three:
The skid plate/pannel bellow the car that secures to the lower portion of the bumper and the subframe was also loose from whei I replaced the radiator in August 2009 and giess what, after adding zip ties to ensure it is tight all around, I still have the sound.

I mean it sounds like something light weight (like some plastic component) and probably is something simple and not a major issue, but it drives me crazy.
Any thoughts here?
Thanks
Eric

Hi check the drop links [believe theyre called swaybar links in the us] whatever you call then they bolt to the antiroll bar and to the strutt, a really common failure that is evident on speed bumps

Post by **jblackburn** » 24 Mar 2010, 17:38

Try seeing if the spring seat is loose:

If not that, then tug on the sway bar or whack it with something and see if it makes a noise.

Post by **Volvo_240_Atari_2600** » 25 Mar 2010, 07:04

Charlie amd Jablackburn...

Thank you for your input.
I will look that over this weekend as I am fortunte to have both days off.
Need to get some work done on the 240 as well.

I'll post back my findings but I was wondering about the spring seat as it really sounds like it comes from within the engine compartment.

Thanks
Eric

Post by **jblackburn** » 25 Mar 2010, 07:26

I can best describe the spring seat noise as an annoying, somewhat quiet clicking/clunking over bumps, multiple times. It's hard to tell where the noise is coming from, I didn't know what to suspect at first before I did some reading up on it...it seemed to me like it was the smashed-up control arm making the noise from a meeting with a blown-out tire and a curb, but after I replaced that, it was still there. And sure enough, it was the spring seat. Grab it with a wrench (or even your hand) and try to turn it, and that will give you a definite answer.

ericbs1975 · Post by **ericbs1975** » 11 Jun 2014, 22:00

So, this may be a dumb question but gonna ask anyways, if the spring seat in the engine bay is loose can you just tighten it up or does it need to be replaced?

Thanks!
Eric

Post by **stephansvolvo** » 11 Jun 2014, 23:16

I'm getting that same sound. I'm going to check this out. Thanks for your post.

Post by **rmmagow** » 12 Jun 2014, 11:33

Have to replace. If the nut turns, that means the rubber fell apart. Easy/difficult job, easy with tools, bit of a PITA with rusted parts. Do the sway bar links too if they are old. When my upper mounts went bad, going over a bumpy road produced a lot of rattling noise.

ericbs1975 · Post by **ericbs1975** » 12 Jun 2014, 21:04

Thanks rmmagow! I'll add it to the list!

Wyd-open · Post by **Wyd-open** » 12 Jun 2014, 21:56

My 850 wagon had bad spring seats when I got it and it rattled pretty bad. I am pretty sure that the passenger side one on my V70 XC is bad as well. it rattles pretty good on the bump at the end of my driveway. They are pretty cheap on ebay at around $15 plus shipping. What happens is the steel sleeve in the core of it breaks loose from the rest of it and allows the strut to move in a way it's not supposed to.