'95 T-5R Awful Clunking Suspension

Euro_Hobbs · Post by **Euro_Hobbs** » 13 Oct 2015, 13:02

Hey guys,

Try to stick with me through this one...

So since I've had my awesome, yellow, T-5R it has had a brutal clunk from the front suspension, investigation pointed towards bad spring seats and bearings, replaced with OEM bearings and XC90 seats (in August, seats looked new (OEM too) but bearings were toast).

Felt significantly better immediately after but as the days have worn on it seems as if the noises have returned with a vengeance accompanied by a loose feeling, mainly on large bumps (Clunk mostly), off camber movements (Pop mostly), large smooth bumps eg speed bump (Creak), and sometimes turning (creak/plunk/springy sound - was there before new bearings too, right side ONLY). The mild road imperfections seem to fine after the repair. And to make it better, some days is is significantly better than others.

Finally threw in the towel with trying to figure it out myself and took it to a very highly regarded Volvo shop here to have checked out along with my ABS/Tracs issue (whole other story :/) and they are saying everything looks tight and nothing is out of the ordinary? I'm just having a hard time grasping that is "just how these are" and nothing needs attention down there given the amount of noise it's making.

From my maintenance and PO records: Bearings and Spring Seats New, Sway Bar Links New, Struts (Bilstein) only have about 40k on them and seem to dampen fine, control arms have about 40k as well, and tie rods seemed tight. Also, when I got the car aligned after the seats/bearing the caster is out of spec on one side.

Edit:

Guess I might be doomed from the start...a post from the PO back in 2010

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-850- ... ing-39356/

Post by **RussB** » 13 Oct 2015, 14:30

Your sway bar bushings are shot. You can replace the sway bar, or scrape off what's left of the original bushings and find a replacement set here,

http://energysuspension.com/universal-p ... hings.html

Post by **alschnertz** » 13 Oct 2015, 14:33

What's the ABS/TRACS issue?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 13 Oct 2015, 16:42

It could also be the sway bar end links not being cinched down tight. The end link studs tend to bind unless you use a jack to raise the control arm and line the holes up. You can torque them down to spec but they will not be tight and they will make a really bad popping sound.

...Lee

Post by **scot850** » 14 Oct 2015, 11:04

It may not be your suspension at all. Check the engine mounts, particularly the one under the crank pulley, as it has a tendency to shear with age causing a clunking as you go over bumps. Also check the top torque bush at the back top of the engine for failure/splitting.

Neil.

Post by **dosbricks** » 14 Oct 2015, 13:13

Hobbs, if you did everything that was suggested in the PO's thread, you have about covered it, but agree with RussB on checking the sway bar bushings. This is an R, so has a heavy duty bar--a switch to some HD end links like the beefy Meyle HDs would be a low cost upgrade. Torque them down tight.

Post by **Ben850** » 14 Oct 2015, 15:44

I will side with scot850. My '93 made a horrible clunk from the right front engine mount, under the crank pulley. If you have not looked at that yet, I am betting on it.

Euro_Hobbs · Post by **Euro_Hobbs** » 14 Oct 2015, 17:18

Thanks for all the input guys! I guess I didn't hit subscribe cause I didn't get any notification that people posted! Currently it is still at the shop, I told him there was definitely some issue so he said he would personally drive the car to see...that was yesterday at 2pm and I haven't heard anything since...

Chances of this being subframe bushings as well? Also, what could cause the creaking when going up/down gradually or turning the wheel. I replaced the bearings but it seems to be making the same noise as before.

Post by **RussB** » 14 Oct 2015, 17:27

Euro_Hobbs wrote:...what could cause the creaking when going up/down gradually or turning the wheel.

sway bar bushings

Euro_Hobbs · Post by **Euro_Hobbs** » 14 Oct 2015, 17:31

RussB wrote:
Euro_Hobbs wrote:...what could cause the creaking when going up/down gradually or turning the wheel.

sway bar bushings

But only from the right side?