2001 V70XC - Out of nowhere comes snapped spring

[xHeart]

Not a good start of the week.
How damaging is it to drive off the ramp and back in the garage.

Is LESJOFORS a good replacement, Part Number: W0133-1855852... http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2001/volvo/v70/suspension/coil_spring.html

Else, I could go with Volvo springs.

Here are few photos...

front passenger side spring snap location

passenger side snapped spring

slipped off from the cushion support

No break for this lad!

[xHeart]

Decided on Volvo Spring PN 31200372.
Replacing it on both side.

All suspension parts were replaced Feb 2013 with OE/OEM parts – minus the spring.
What precautions are needed when taking off the strut with broken spring?
Will it force out in any way after the three nuts are removed, taking my fingers with it?
What happens when the strut is freed at the knuckle?
I will place the spring compressor before the disassembly and removing the star nut.

[xHeart]

New front spring are 7 rings, not 6. Volvo changed the # after coil breaking frequently.
The height of the two springs were close, I should have taken measurement.
Before jacking the car, the drive height was just below 16 3/4". After wheels lowered back on the floor with new springs, it was 18".

The four wheel alignment and some drive it did not change much, still at 18".
Now all front suspension parts are newer, 1 – 365 days young.

[wouterve]

I just replaced the front springs (& struts) on my ’04 XC70 as well. My indie used the same springs with the 31200372 part # as well, and my car seems to be sitting a bit higher also. I verified in VADIS that this spring and the shocks that we used are the right parts for a car with my suspension code (14 for the front springs; 15 for the struts).

What did you use as your measurement points? I can go out to my car tomorrow and see how mine measures up.

This guy in this old thread at volvoxc.com seems to have had a similar issue, that he ended up solving in a rather rigorous way: http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthrea ... post137399

My thoughts on this issue in no particular order:

1. My car appears to have settled a bit (we’re talking 5 days and about ~150 mi. later). That could just be my imagination though, I’m not sure. My indie told me to give it a few hundred miles, and see how it looks then; if it hasn’t gotten better by then he would see what he could do.
2. I see your car was fitted with the rubber spring isolators at the bottom of the spring even before your spring was replaced. My car didn’t have those before the replacement—I wonder how much of a difference removing those might make? Maybe removing those might lower the car just enough to it won’t look like a monster truck anymore .
3. One thought that keeps crossing my mind: the front might be sitting higher, but perhaps the visual difference is exacerbated by slightly worn out rear springs (in my case, those are now 113,000 miles old). Perhaps replacing rear springs+shocks might produce a difference?
4. Ultimately, if it’s about leveling out the car, this Spring Adjuster Kit that IPD sells might provide a solution by jacking up the rear a bit. This might also be a cheap solution in case one wouldn’t want to incur the cost of replacing the rear springs. (Might that also cause the weight balance to shift to the front, like some sort of see-saw, and make the front sit <18”? I don’t know.)

[abscate]

I snapped two on the Admirals BMW and was 1600 USD poorer for it....ugh.

[JRL]

New XC springs sit the car MUCH higher
This was taken right after 4 new springs were installed (2007 XC70)
After 10K miles it settled down a bit, maybe 1/2" or so

[Magnus308]

Not a good start of the week.
How damaging is it to drive off the ramp and back in the garage.

Is LESJOFORS a good replacement, Part Number: W0133-1855852... http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2001/volvo/v70/suspension/coil_spring.html

Lesjofors is the OEM manufacturer for Volvo so its probably a good choice

[xHeart]

...
What did you use as your measurement points? I can go out to my car tomorrow and see how mine measures up.
...

Ride height is measuring the distance from center of the center-hubcap to the edge of the fender. Front is 18", it appears very much like Jim's 07-XC70 photo.

I checked with Volvo parts for fitment.
This was the first time VP have heard of 7 rings, up one from 6, but assured me that the part is correct... and they are using the same part on several models it fit.

Beyond placebo, overall steering is bit more responsive, but I continue to avoid urban street with manholes and potholes.

p.s. I did not receive Lesjofors' fitment confirmation from the geeks, hence picked up a set from VP for $39 more.

[JRL]

Now you need to do the rears to match!
It MUST be sitting higher in the front

[wouterve]

JRL: do you know if your XC70 had the spring isolators/rubber bumpers on the bottom of the spring installed or not? I noticed that it’s there now, and it wasn’t there with the old springs.

What I have noticed about the ride height in the front is that the fender gap appears to be huge when the car is parked on an upward incline. If the car sits on level ground, the gap seems fairly normal, if only a bit larger than it used to be—but that’s to be expected.

I think I will have the rear springs and shocks replaced next month when the car goes in to have its timing belt done. Might as well start fresh all around.