AWD, FWD Struts- What Makes Them Different?

CabbageFumes · Post by **CabbageFumes** » 16 Jan 2017, 17:46

So, in the twilight of my car's years, I see no reason to keep my Cross Country from ever leaving the pavement or ever being in harsh road conditions since I live in Orange County, CA. The stock front struts are quite a bit more expensive for my model, over a FWD model, and brand choices are severely limited. In pictures, they seem pretty much the same. I have the Nivomat rear setup with no driveshaft. Does it really matter if I use FWD front struts, or are they somehow physically different so they aren't interchangeable?

Post by **scot850** » 16 Jan 2017, 23:47

They are different. The V70XC uses taller tires that would catch on the standard strut lower spring mount.

Neil.

AKJeeper · Post by **AKJeeper** » 17 Jan 2017, 12:39

The location of the spring seats on the front struts is different between AWD and FWD models. That's how Volvo accomplished the added ride height in the front - the spring seat on the AWD struts is higher up on the strut. Also - as scot850 noted, V70XC tires are taller and would have clearance issues with FWD struts.