Front suspension

Soldion · Post by **Soldion** » 14 May 2022, 06:36

Ok my 2003 s60 2.5t AWD. makes a really bad clunking noise when I hit bumps and such. It has over 213k miles on it and I've never changed anything on the suspension. Should I just replace the struts, as in buying IPD's all assembled kit? If so, should I replace everything else? What would I need to buy to do so? Thanks

Post by **BlackBart** » 14 May 2022, 10:11

With 200+k on original, you very likely might need struts, as well as the strut bearing / seat at the top. It might be there, it might be the lower ball joint, lower control arm, sway bar end links, or even the sub-frame bushings.

Soldion · Post by **Soldion** » 14 May 2022, 18:50

So should I just go ahead and do them all? Since I will be in the area? I'm about search the forum for a guide to do this. What brands would be the ones to get? If I go all Volvo this could get pricey.

Post by **abscate** » 15 May 2022, 02:20

If your plans for the car are 5 years or more, go all Volvo for these parts

Post by **erikv11** » 15 May 2022, 10:12

Struts can be Sachs, not Volvo. However the Sachs quick-strut ("preassembled") has a poor track record on this forum. I'd suggest the Sachs strut. separately, then you spend up for the components with Volvo or the brand marked "OE" at FCP Euro. Not. OEM, OE.

Soldion · Post by **Soldion** » 15 May 2022, 16:33

abscate wrote: ↑15 May 2022, 02:20 If your plans for the car are 5 years or more, go all Volvo for these parts

That would depend on how hard it is to get exterior parts for it. I hit a deer right before covid, and my hood and front bumper is damage. But I feel like it could be saved.

erikv11 wrote: ↑15 May 2022, 10:12 Struts can be Sachs, not Volvo. However the Sachs quick-strut ("preassembled") has a poor track record on this forum. I'd suggest the Sachs strut. separately, then you spend up for the components with Volvo or the brand marked "OE" at FCP Euro. Not. OEM, OE.

Would I need a spring compressor to do tackle
This?

Post by **erikv11** » 15 May 2022, 16:43

Yes, you would need a spring compressor to go that route.

The Sachs quick-strut is a gamble because of the rest of the parts in the assembly. The strut is presumably fine but I don't know that I've seen anyone who has had them long enough to test that. May last only 20k may last 80k, gambles can pay off ...

Post by **abscate** » 16 May 2022, 03:11

Soldion wrote: ↑15 May 2022, 16:33
abscate wrote: ↑15 May 2022, 02:20 If your plans for the car are 5 years or more, go all Volvo for these parts
That would depend on how hard it is to get exterior parts for it. I hit a deer right before covid, and my hood and front bumper is damage. But I feel like it could be saved.
erikv11 wrote: ↑15 May 2022, 10:12 Struts can be Sachs, not Volvo. However the Sachs quick-strut ("preassembled") has a poor track record on this forum. I'd suggest the Sachs strut. separately, then you spend up for the components with Volvo or the brand marked "OE" at FCP Euro. Not. OEM, OE.
Would I need a spring compressor to do tackle
This?

Junkyards for a color matched hood and fender shouldn’t cost too many bucks. You can save your doe for better suspension parts thst way.

Soldion · Post by **Soldion** » 17 May 2022, 16:57

abscate wrote: ↑16 May 2022, 03:11
Soldion wrote: ↑15 May 2022, 16:33 [quote=abscate post_id=600683 time=1652602846 user_id=53085

Junkyards for a color matched hood and fender shouldn’t cost too many bucks. You can save your doe for better suspension parts thst way.
Yeah junkyards around here usually does not have many volvos, and the ones they got are picked to
Hell, most of the time they just rip the part off and front end always fubar'd

Post by **br0dy519** » 17 May 2022, 20:10

I’m gonna be “that guy” and state a couple obvious things here. As a fellow novice mechanic, something like this I would easily pay my experience volvo indy mechanic $75 for an hour to do a thorough inspection and test drive and give me a bill of material of what I should replace. That way I won’t be $1000 and 9 hours labour deep and going the complete wrong direction unnecessarily replacing suspension components.

Spring compressors are deadly, especially in untrained hands. I myself would pay a shop to build the assembly or buy a quality pre-assembled set. There are nuances to these suspension jobs like which bolts should be replaced, torque to yield values, and countless other safety precautions. I never feel any lost pride of a result of contracting work out that I don’t feel I can complete safely.