Front strut shopping list?

Post by **luketrash** » 01 Jun 2008, 14:38

I'm needing to give attention to the front passenger strut mount, but I want to make sure I buy the best parts so I'm not redoing it a year later.

I figure I'll probably replace both front struts. What all do I need to purchase, and where should I buy the parts? As far as I know, the rest of the front suspension can be left alone for now. I just want to pull the struts and replace whatever is necessary to fix the knocking around I have up at the top of the strut tower.

Do I need one of these kits with both the mount and the rubber padding?

Thanks for any help. I don't want to waste time installing things I don't need, but I do want to get the job done right.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 01 Jun 2008, 15:21

You'll need the rubber things (top in your picture for sure) called spring seats. Hopefully you won't need the strut mounts (bottom brass looking fixtures) at all but to be on the safe side you might want to buy a pair of them and return them if yours look ok. That said, avoid the ScanTech items here at all cost. Btw, someone over on Swedespeed was saying that in regards to the spring seats, XC90 seats work very well and are much sturdier- guess it depends on how long you're planning on keeping your car.

Post by **JRL** » 01 Jun 2008, 17:25

MadeInJapan wrote:You'll need the rubber things (top in your picture for sure) called spring seats. Hopefully you won't need the strut mounts (bottom brass looking fixtures) at all but to be on the safe side you might want to buy a pair of them and return them if yours look ok. That said, avoid the ScanTech items here at all cost. Btw, someone over on Swedespeed was saying that in regards to the spring seats, XC90 seats work very well and are much sturdier- guess it depends on how long you're planning on keeping your car.

We are now using XC90 seats they seem to be MUCH sturtier and will fit

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 01 Jun 2008, 19:15

Any particular year for the XC90 spring seats or are they all the same? I need to change them out on both '96s and beefier is better.

...Lee

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 01 Jun 2008, 19:19

Evidently they are all the same. Check FCPGroton and Eeuroparts, but I would still stay away from the ScanTechs.

Post by **luketrash** » 01 Jun 2008, 22:41

The brass things are 'strut mounts' right? They're robust enough that they don't normally go bad?

They have a bearing in them that turns?? I guess I'm a noob at this, since most of my cars and trucks I've worked on were using much more ancient suspension systems.

In my case, I thnk the strut bushings just ate itself up and things are starting to knock around. I don't hear it internally because I have my chunks of bike innertube stuffed in there, but now that it's warm, you hear it externally when driving with the windows down.

Post by **JRL** » 02 Jun 2008, 05:18

luketrash wrote:The brass things are 'strut mounts' right? They're robust enough that they don't normally go bad?

They have a bearing in them that turns?? I guess I'm a noob at this, since most of my cars and trucks I've worked on were using much more ancient suspension systems.

In my case, I thnk the strut bushings just ate itself up and things are starting to knock around. I don't hear it internally because I have my chunks of bike innertube stuffed in there, but now that it's warm, you hear it externally when driving with the windows down.

For the extra few bucks, you replace EVERYTHING replacable

7 VII 7 · Post by **7 VII 7** » 02 Jun 2008, 10:43

I am doing my struts and hardware

the rubber is called the "spring seat" and I would go with the OEM XC90 spring seats

the strut mounts (metal) do not usually go bad. You can go aftermarket on these... usually you do not have too many issues with them.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 02 Jun 2008, 14:48

You don't have issues usually with the strut mounts (metal item with gears) but depending on how old your car is and if they've ever been changed before, you could. After I bought my car at 89K miles a few years ago, I had my suspension replaced at around 100K miles on my '98 S70 (when I couldn't stand things any longer) and these were bad as were the spring seats. That's why I said to have them just in case. I agree with JRL...better to go ahead if there is any question- otherwise you'll be taking the struts out again in a year or less.

flynscot · Post by **flynscot** » 03 Jun 2008, 18:42

Unless your struts are verifiably bad, I wouldn't replace them. Ditto the mounts. Agreed, you can go ahead and order the mounts then if your's turn out to be okay, simply return the new ones (most likely they're okay).

Your clunk could also be from the swaybar links. Cheap and easy to replace so you might as well go ahead while you've got everything apart.