Rattling Front Suspension

swede68 · Post by **swede68** » 30 Nov 2005, 21:13

I have a 97 850R with only 65,000 miles. I've replaced the upper engine mount with IPD's polyurethane mount. Both upper spring seats have been replaced. And I just recently replaced both sway bar links which were making all kinds of noise!

Everything sounded and felt real solid, but only for a couple of days. Now my right front suspension is making a worse rattling noise than before I put in the new sway bar links! Going slow or fast makes no difference, the slightest little bump makes a horrible rattle.

Could that be caused by a bad lower engine mount? Or maybe shot swaybar bushing? Control arm bushing? This is really frustrating as it's making more noise now than before I replaced any of those parts.

Thanks in advance,
Peter

saltydog · Post by **saltydog** » 01 Dec 2005, 05:07

don't mean to be a smart ass, but I'd check to make sure the nuts on the new sway bar links haven't backed off - happened to me once after a visit to the dealer.

saraspot · Post by **saraspot** » 01 Dec 2005, 08:21

I don't know if what you've got is what I've been living with for the past year and a half - my 98 V70 has a heck of a rattle from the front which is worse in cold weather. During the summer I barely heard it. Now that's it's cooling down outside, it's worse than ever. I had the front ball joints replaced about 8 months ago on the advice of my mechanic upon inspection. It didn't help. The mechanic said there was nothing wrong with the car and to simply turn the radio up if it bothered me. The noise was bad enough that pedestrians would turn to see what rattletrap was coming down the road. This afternoon I will retrieve the beast from the shop due to stalling-in-the-rain problems (misfire on 2 & 4 cylinder, among other things). My new Volvo (read: expensive) mechanic discovered rubber bushings that are cracked and nearly unrecognizable in the front end, the degradation of which is causing the horrible creaking and metal-on-metal rattling. This problem has plagued me for awhile and it's nice to finally have it fixed. Hope it helps others out there.

swede68 · Post by **swede68** » 01 Dec 2005, 16:15

Thanks for the reply guys.

Salty, I'll take a look at the sway bar links again to see if they've become loose.

Sara, do you happen to remember which rubber bushings were shot on your car? My rattling is that bad as well, that pedestrians actually turn around and look at me!

Thx,
Peter

saraspot · Post by **saraspot** » 02 Dec 2005, 10:17

Hello! Just picked the car up from the shop and despite the $1000 repair bill, I'm so happy to have the noise problem solved. To be exact, it was the SPRING SEATS in the right front end. They recommended replacing them in pairs - final price of labor/parts: $364.40. Well worth it.

Good luck with your rattling!

swede68 · Post by **swede68** » 02 Dec 2005, 12:40

Hi Sara,

Glad to hear you finally fixed your noise problem. I've already had both of my spring seats replaced, that is what's so puzzling to me. I'm still going to check my new sway bar links when I get a chance.

Peter

swede68 · Post by **swede68** » 03 Dec 2005, 16:59

Thanx a million for the tip Salty. Sure enough, the nuts were really loose!! You'd think they could sell those parts with self locking nuts!

saltydog · Post by **saltydog** » 12 Dec 2005, 05:58

You'd think Volvo would do a lot of things for what we pay for these things! Glad to hear I could help...only wish I was as good at figuring out my own problems!

koza · Post by **koza** » 12 Dec 2005, 21:31

swede68 wrote:Hi Sara,

Glad to hear you finally fixed your noise problem. I've already had both of my spring seats replaced, that is what's so puzzling to me. I'm still going to check my new sway bar links when I get a chance.

Peter

which make of sway link bars are you using ?

swede68 · Post by **swede68** » 12 Dec 2005, 22:12

Hey Koza,

I picked up a couple of sway bar links at http://www.volvopartsdirect.com/

Real cheap, only $16.00 each. More than half of what my local Volvo dealer wanted. They seem to be pretty solid. Made in Germany by Meyle if I remember correctly.

My 97' 850R only has 65k miles, but both links were completely worn out. And I replaced both upper spring seats years ago. Kinda makes me a bit angry that these parts do not last longer!

There are probably a ton of other places out there where you can find them, this one just had the best price I came across.

Good luck,
Peter