Sudden Suspension Strut Failure

rmdavis61410 · Post by **rmdavis61410** » 18 May 2018, 12:51

Hi -
This just happened.
I hopped in, started my 2004 XC70 and started to pull forward. Hadn't gone more than 2 feet when there was a loud "bang" from the driver's front. The driver's front corner immediately dropped a few inches and stayed there. A bit of smoke or the like then appeared to come from under the hood. I stopped as soon as I heard the bang.

Raised the hood and saw nothing obvious with the strut from that side. Tried bouncing the car on both sides. The passenger side appears normal. The driver's side bounces less than an inch.

Was able to drive the car back to another parking sport without further incident or sound, so I don't think it's drivetrain related.

Anyone ever heard of a strut giving out all at once like this?

TIA

Ross

Post by **SuperHerman** » 18 May 2018, 13:09

I cannot see a strut failing in the manner you describe unless it has been failing for a long time. I suppose if the internal oil seals totally failed the piston would collapse all the way down and you would be only on the springs. Take a look for oil all over the strut from the wheel well area. If you do not see oil everywhere it is most likely the strut spring seat or the spring itself. The smoke makes no sense, but if you drove the car and the tire was rubbing that would cause burning rubber.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 18 May 2018, 14:25

Spring breaks -> loud bang -> hits something -> dust?

rmdavis61410 · Post by **rmdavis61410** » 18 May 2018, 14:47

I had not considered the spring seat at the lower end of the strut giving way - this makes a lot of sense to my mind.

I'll pull the tire to get a better look this weekend.

I concur about the "smoke" probably being dust kicked up by the force of the seat giving way.

Post by **oragex** » 18 May 2018, 15:53

As above, that's not the strut, it's the coil spring. I would replace both front ones as these are not uncommon to fail on the XC70.

Use oem. I've heard Lesjofors are not far from oem but double check

I would have the car towed, not safe to drive it plus it can puncture the tire.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/Coil-Springs/

Cookie-the-Swede · Post by **Cookie-the-Swede** » 18 May 2018, 19:11

End link?

Post by **cn90** » 18 May 2018, 20:40

- How many miles in your car?

- I did a quick google search on Volvo 9465464, this PN is the same for regular S60, V70 and XC70:
https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/prod ... 65464.html
https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/132416 ... -9465464G/

- So I don't understand why people say the coil spring is more prone to failure (breaking) in the XC70 than the regular V70, S60?

- I started a thread recently on the coil spring rust:

2004 Volvo V70 Coil Spring Rust question...
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=85315

Post by **scot850** » 18 May 2018, 23:25

I have not read that an AWD is any worse for this issue than a FWD P2. All can have the coil springs fail, front and back. Carefully check them all for corrosion. If you have light corrosion clean the rust if you can get to it with rust killer and paint with something like POR-15 to protect it. However, not just rusty springs break. Not sure why they should be worse than any other car, but too common to be just bad luck.

Neil.

Post by **oragex** » 19 May 2018, 01:37

cn90 wrote: ↑18 May 2018, 20:40 - How many miles in your car?

- I did a quick google search on Volvo 9465464, this PN is the same for regular S60, V70 and XC70:
https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/prod ... 65464.html
https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/132416 ... -9465464G/

- So I don't understand why people say the coil spring is more prone to failure (breaking) in the XC70 than the regular V70, S60?

- I started a thread recently on the coil spring rust:

2004 Volvo V70 Coil Spring Rust question...
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=85315

Just google up xc70 spring failure. My belief is there was a design flaw on the xc70 for some reason. Maybe the spring was not designed for the extra weight/travel of the xc70? There have been failures in the areas without snow/salt so rust is not the factor here (here in Canada there's tons of rust on the springs on S60/V70 and failures are very rare).

Post by **jonesg** » 19 May 2018, 03:42

scot850 wrote: ↑18 May 2018, 23:25 I have not read that an AWD is any worse for this issue than a FWD P2. All can have the coil springs fail, front and back. Carefully check them all for corrosion. If you have light corrosion clean the rust if you can get to it with rust killer and paint with something like POR-15 to protect it. However, not just rusty springs break. Not sure why they should be worse than any other car, but too common to be just bad luck.

Neil.

Isn't the xc70 higher, with longer springs?