Preferred Tools for Volvo Maintenance Seeking Expert Advice

KRUZNBY · Post by **KRUZNBY** » 02 Apr 2010, 06:53

Get some Rhino Ramps. The SUV wider ones are the best. They are wonderful and quite safe.

I try to use a torque wrench whenever possible. The problem with Volvo FSM and the Haynes manual as they rarely say what the torque specs should be. They are especially important when it comes to rotating wheels etc to make sure the lug bolts/nuts are equally tight to avoid warping a rotor. You may not rebuild the motor, but you are probably going to be tightening bolts into the block/head and you don't want to crack/break/strip something.

As for Harbor fright, avoid buying anything motorized there, because eventually it will become a hammer. HF is great for items like extensions, sockets, etc. that rarely malfunction or limited use items.

Post by **cn90** » 02 Apr 2010, 09:16

I use wood ramps:
http://www.team-integra.net/forum/displ ... Position=1

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 02 Apr 2010, 16:42

Honestly, with the number of 850's I see on the roads around here, the abundance of 850s in junkyards should actually go up. They're pretty scarce around here right now.

Post by **1997volvo850** » 02 Apr 2010, 17:09

I still see a few 850 in our area. They are so unique that they stick out. The sadder thing as
that at times seeing any Volvo during a drive is a challenge.

It would be an interesting experiment for Matthew to poll members who are no longer active
to determine the fate of their Volvo. I often run into some very significant contributors on a topic
and when I check the profile the individual stopped contributing back in 2005 or so. I wonder if
their Volvo is running a smooth as silk or they are driving something else.

Since Matthew has an email associated with each account he might be able to bounce an
email to these folks just to see what's up.

I suspect that given the high maintenance routine for the 850, the high cost of OEM parts,
and the ability to forget about such things as the timing belt, that there are more used 850
parts than there is demand for the parts. This means lower prices for us! There are several
sites where you can view 850's for sale. Often times the ones under $500 are the ones where
the timing belt went or they wrecked the engine. These are actually good deals when you
consider the headlight assembly alone goes for $350 new. There's one for $500 with a blown
engine with alloy wheels. I'm sure my wife would divorce me if I bought it for parts.

My PCV kit has arrived so decision time is near. Is a Swiss Army knife all I need to work on
my 850? We shall see. I think I have most of the tools I need to take her apart...except for the
tool to deal with those silly Volvo clamps...where can I buy one...Sears? Sears sells a clamp tool
with a long cable on it...but the clamps look a little different than the ones on my Volvo.

whoa · Post by **whoa** » 02 Apr 2010, 17:20

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=38496

Post by **wheelsup** » 02 Apr 2010, 21:05

1997volvo850 wrote:These are actually good deals when you
consider the headlight assembly alone goes for $350 new. There's one for $500 with a blown
engine with alloy wheels. I'm sure my wife would divorce me if I bought it for parts.

I actually bought my parts car for that reason. The engine ran out of oil and was ruined, but it had a good transmission. Car was $250 + $130 tow + $100 register (next time I'll just transfer the title as junked to save $$) and the transmission alone on eBay would be more than I paid for the car. Plus I needed a MAF ($50 on eBay), my sunroof is starting to rust and this car it hasn't, the list goes on. Heck I even got a practically brand new OEM Volvo radiator and 2 almost new tires out of the deal. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

I told my wife I need a barn so I can store all my 850 cars and parts.

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 05 Apr 2010, 19:24

I know people tend to be a split on Craftsman, and probably even more so on Evolv, but this is one of the best buys I've ever made for $15! I'm no mechanic, so I don't need anything spectacular...at least not just yet, as I'm just getting into all this. So this fit me perfectly! Sure wish I'd gotten this a day earlier, before I went to the junkyard! The combination between my little girly hands and a small ratchet is ideal for working on a volvo engine.

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_1010 ... word=evolv

whoa · Post by **whoa** » 05 Apr 2010, 19:49

I'll see your $15 and raise you a $10:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=35338.

You'll be back at KMart the first time you need a 14mm socket or spark plug socket or Torx bit or screwdriver or allen wrench or . . . . That's certainly one way to do it. But you'll get to $150 surprisingly quickly, and you'll wish . . . never mind!

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 05 Apr 2010, 20:36

Yeah, I already have a crapload of torx. I'm pretty good on that front, with the exception of fitting into very tight spaces. I even have the itty bitties. But I do want to start getting together some larger sets soon.

That is a nice set, though! Good for the bigger ones. I like my little mini 1/4" drives, though. I don't really work on anything that I really have to torque on....so far, haha. I need to get a house to keep all of this crap in, haha. I bought a toolbox on saturday, and already filled it!

Anybody have any experience with the Harbor Freight Impact Guns? My dad just got one, but he hasn't gotten to try it out yet.

Post by **1997volvo850** » 07 Apr 2010, 12:43

In terms of floor jacks. There are some bad reviews of the Sears floor jack/jack stands/ creeper set.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... e=View+All

Does this quality issue extend to other Sears floor jacks? I would like something to last me a few years or
maybe even as long as my 850 lasts.

Folks have recommended the 260 piece tool set from Sears. There are also quality issues with the tool box falling
apart. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... e=View+All

Whoa - you recommend the 301 piece tool set in an earlier post. Do you have this set? You later recommend
a set of larger Torx bits that are included in the 301 piece set. Just wondering if this is meant to imply anything
about the Torx bits in the larger set.

Need to look at the stubby, flexible end, and flexible ratchet wrenches that are used in the lakeside
PCV replacement tutorial.

: Universal; universal.jpg (16.46 KiB) Viewed 1747 times

: Flex X-Beam; spanner.jpg (21.96 KiB) Viewed 1747 times

I'm guessing that both Sears and Harbor Freight have all of these tools, with HF selling at half the price. The Sears
Craftsman 7 pc. XL Flex X-Beam GearWrench Standard set sells for $80.

This is going to add up fast...

Preferred Tools for Volvo Maintenance Seeking Expert Advice

Re: Preferred Tools for Volvo Maintenance Seeking Expert Adv