Front Strut - Spring Seat #Fail

Post by **shaker_chi** » 20 Dec 2012, 10:58

Please see the attached photo and let me know if why this happens. I purchased a 98 s70 T5 and this happened about 6 months ago. I had just redone the struts on my 94 850 so I replaced the bad one on the s70 with a Bilstein touring and swapped a bilstein touring from the 850 with the 1 good one (thought it was good) to the 850. The picture is what happened now for the 2nd time to me. Both came from the S70. What part is failing? Is it the strut itself the mount? Any help would be appreciated. I looked at the service records and the original struts were replaced with Gabriels about 3 years ago on the s70.

Than,s

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 20 Dec 2012, 11:04

The spring seat.

If you can snap a picture looking up from just above the strut mount and post it.

...Lee

Post by **jblackburn** » 20 Dec 2012, 11:09

Where the heck is this thing? That keeps it all from shooting up when the spring seat fails like that.

^^^That goes under the spring seat.

Post by **shaker_chi** » 20 Dec 2012, 12:03

Here you go Lee. Let me know if this pic is any better. I'm leaving town Saturday so I have to go to the dealer to get a strut. Funny thing is they quoted me $239 then I mentioned I saw it at volvowebstore much cheaper. She then told me that is "special" pricing, so I'm getting a Sachs for $120 later today. Would prefer to have the Touring Bilstein. Let me know your thoughts.

Ed

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 20 Dec 2012, 13:23

They put a bolt instead of the original one, when you have your spring seat fails, this is what happens, I bet you been driving your with a lot of knocking, you should find yourself lucky if it didn't bend the hood...

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 20 Dec 2012, 14:27

You don't need a new strut, you just need a new spring seat. The picture from the bottom confirmed that the bushing is knocked out of it. The procedure for replacing the spring seat is the same as that for changing the strut in that you need to compress the spring to remove it. The cross shaped nut does go on the top of the spring seat so as to prevent the spring from shooting out when you go to remove the strut assembly.

Use only OEM or IPD heavy duty spring seats when changing them out or you will be doing this all over again in a matter of months. The dealers are all selling the XC90 spring seats for all of the 850 and S/V series cars now but make sure the dealer sells you the superseded part.

...Lee

Post by **precopster** » 20 Dec 2012, 14:27

Be sure to get a star nut from the dealer. You'll need spring compressors if you're not buying an entire assembly. It's a real workout for the arms without a air wrench or electric impact wrench.

Are you replacing only one shock absorber? If you really have to do that to save dollars go for something with the same characteristics as the other side. Getting a sport shock such as Bilstein touring will imbalance the handling.

Post by **shaker_chi** » 20 Dec 2012, 17:03

Just took it all apart and there was NO bump stop or stop washer. Looks like every time I hit a bump it was just pounding that spring seat without the bump stop there. Goes to show, do not skip steps!!!!! The work was done by Firestone by the way. Thanks for everyone's input.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 20 Dec 2012, 19:51

With no bump stop the bellows is likely gone as well - it presses onto the bump stop.

...Lee

Post by **Ben850** » 21 Dec 2012, 20:36

I put Bilsteins in the rear last week and finally got to the drivers front spring seat that I had meant to do in July when I replaced the passengers side, but I ran out of daylight.

I was also exhausted from compressing the spring without an impact wrench.
I have a new Bosch cordless 1/2" impact now. It came the morninng I did the spring seat by UPS just in time.

I plan on TC fronts in the spring but had to stop the knocking and diving on right turns until then.