Help with the front strut (shock) asm parts

Joe4all · Post by **Joe4all** » 19 May 2018, 09:34

Hi,
I have to replace my 2005 XC90 T6 AWD front strut asm, lower control arms and sway bar links.
There are some places on the internet to buy them but I need some advise for some good parts and not so expensive.
Ebay(1aauto, AM) Carid...
Thanks, Joe

Post by **SuperHerman** » 19 May 2018, 13:04

The XC90 is very hard on suspension parts. I have yet to own another car that chews through suspension parts at the rate of the XC90. I would buy OEM or Lemforder (which is OEM and cheaper) for the arms. Some have had good luck with Meyle HD. My experience has been any XC90 suspension part that was not OEM or Lemforder failed quicker than the prior part and the next replacement part (which was OEM or Lemforder). It just is not worth it to buy a cheaper brand for these parts as the labor and possible alignment cost comes back to bite. Even if you do the labor having to have the car realigned costs $80 and upwards.

For the strut assembly on an S80 I think I installed Meyle and it was quality. On my XC90 I just installed Gabriel or maybe Monroe (don't recall) and I am also very happy with the ride.

On the back I went really cheap with some Ebay shocks, quality has been good. As replacement is really easy I was willing to take the risk.

Check the site sponsors and look for front suspension kits.

Post by **oragex** » 19 May 2018, 14:23

Stick with Lemforder. Meyle HD is still risky viewtopic.php?p=471972

Don't let yourself temped by low prices - low prices = 6 moths life

Gabriel struts won't last from customers updates. Struts only in Sachs flavor, preferably the Super Touring ones.

But if you want the car to ride like a Volvo and keep it for years to come, these two parts are the ones I'd recommend buying genuine ones

You will also need the spring seat - Sachs or Rein only (both are making them for Volvo).

Basically Lemforder, Sachs, Rein (more recntly Rein has replaced Sachs for the spring seat provider) and sometimes Boge are making the genuine parts for Volvo, however - only my opinion - the parts they sell as aftermarket are not the same standard as the parts they sell as genuine.

wanderdüne · Post by **wanderdüne** » 20 May 2018, 01:46

I would look into Moog parts for the front end if I had a price concern. Sachs for struts.

Post by **cn90** » 20 May 2018, 09:17

1+,

- Stay away from Meyle.

- Stick to Lemforder, OEM Volvo, INA.

- Struts: Sachs vs Bilstein.

Joe4all · Post by **Joe4all** » 20 May 2018, 15:34

Thanks all, I am ok with LCA and sway bar. Now I cannot find the front strut set as one piece since I don't do the job myself. Whoever has the set won't tell me who is the strut supplier and I don't want to by some China no name. If anyone has any link or direction...

Post by **SuperHerman** » 20 May 2018, 16:25

You are sorta in a tough spot. I suggest you look at the site sponsors and look for the kits they provide as that is your biggest savings. Buy the kit with the parts others have suggested. My shop charged me $100 in labor per corner (crazy cheap) so I went with the Gabriels or Monroes - plus I am only looking or another 20-30k out of them.

I have done struts a few times, it is not very difficult, but at the rate my friend's shop charged, I farmed it out. Not much work to change out all the parts when the struts are being done. On the plus side, once it is done, the car will be almost like new.

The strut packs are most likely suspect quality - unless you are doing the work yourself not worth the risk.

wanderdüne · Post by **wanderdüne** » 20 May 2018, 21:10

You could take a chance and buy used strut assemblies. I know they have some at Erie VoVo. They are a good used supplier and I have had good experiences with them.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 21 May 2018, 10:38

I went the used route on my XC70 several years ago. It is a viable option, but shop around for a low mileage donor. There a plenty of XC90s on the road and I am pretty sure they all share the same front struts.

Post by **ogatrulle** » 27 May 2018, 20:26

If you have a way of clamping your struts (either a vise or a shop press and some wood blocks with semicurcular cutouts) it's fairly straightforward to reuse your old springs and build up new assemblies from scratch. Around here the car parts shops loan spring compressors free.

I was wary of doing it the first time because of the energy in the compressed spring, but after doing it carefully a few times I am comfortable. Just make sure you have all the parts you need beforehand, including spring seats, bearings, and rubber insulators for the bottom of the springs. I used a big pipe wrench for the plus-shaped nuts on top.

And make sure you have the right strut part numbers. Ask your vendor to cross check with your VIN. (Don't ask how I know this)