98 V70 base shock and strut refresh questions!

[scot850]

My young friend (single mum) took her car to her local repair shop. Came home with a quote for $2300 (CDN) for replacing the front struts and swaybar end links (around $1550) and rear shocks ($750). Car has only around 110k miles.

For price comparison purposes, $4 CDN = $3 US (or knock a quarter of the Canadian prices)

I have to do this very much on a budget, but to set the scene, money is very tight, so once again I am stepping in and calling in my mechanic buddy to help. I'll get him to the the front end and I'll do the rears! He will probably still finish before me.

I know that this item comes up fairly regularly, but I have to look at this from someone else's perspective. I would use Bilstein struts and shocks (B4), Sachs/TRW/Volvo spring seats. Bump stops Sachs. But I am fortunate not to be quite so constrained and my car is the garage queen, her car is the daily that has to be reliable.

I looked at the local sources and Canada in general, but pretty pricy. Even my usual savior who are the Bilstein distributors were expensive.

What are the current thoughts on the cheapest way to go. Car has to be reliable, and minimum downtime. My buddy will be charging labor but that is ok, it is his job.

Rock Auto seem to have a good price on the B4's and even with $100 in shipping come in around $540.

I am wary of other brands, but I know Sachs can be an unknown entity these days on some parts.

I am also replacing the spring seats (TRW are on sale at $40 ea and Sachs at $27 ea). The originals are showing signs of cracking at the metal tube.

I can't see any issues with the sway-bar end links, but I have a spare good used set that can be donated.

Final item is the front strut boot and bump stop. A Sachs set is $20 for both sides.

I can see the anti-sway bar bush on the LHS is separated from the mount so is likely knocking, but it will have to wait for now. I think I have a good used one kicking around from a V70XC (thicker than the base one).

Lower control arms look good as do their bushes and the ball-joints. I also have a set of low mileage strut bearing plates we can use if needed.

Is there any other parts we should look at? What about the rear shock upper mount? Sachs rears are $35 CDN each.

I looked at quick-struts but the Sachs ones are around $350 each, not a bad price, but I have heard mixed reviews on those.

Feel free to throw in recommended branded parts.

Many thanks,

Neil.

[scot850]

I'm going to talk this over and options with my mechanic friend tomorrow when he is over tackling the 850 rear alignment bolts.

Looks like I have picked best/cheapest options.

Neil.

[V50M66]

Go B4 for the shocks. Go H&R for lowered ride with better ride quality than stock. Reusing the factory coils is fine, but will be slightly stiffer. I do either Sachs or Lemforder top mounts

[scot850]

Springs are fine. But thanks for the suggestion. Price has to be kept to a minimum so I will be trying to re-use as much as possible. I will go Sachs on the spring seats. Do Lemforder still exist? I don't see much of their stuff for sale any more. I believe they were taken over by TRW, and they may now have in turn been taken over. I may be wrong on that, but places I used to see both items seem to be no longer carrying them. Rock Auto appear to be having a clearance on some TRW stuff and have limited stocks.

Neil.

[scot850]

Spoke to my mechanic buddy and agreed on parts to order. Now just have to generate the list.

Neil.

[FireFox31]

For what it's worth, here's the front and rear spring suspension parts list I ordered for Geronimo, a 2000 V70 NA. Prices are from two months ago. This doesn't include your wheel suspension components.

Front spring suspension:
SKIP - Strut top lock nut x2 - 985871? - Not at Volvo. Comes with struts.
Strut mount cap x2 - 30647969 - $13 list, $11 FCP. Five pointed rubber disc.
Strut mount nut (cross nut) x2 - 3546245 (31262068) - Not at Volvo, $10 FCP
Front strut mount x2 - 31200599 - $202 list, $174 FCP, $65 Ina at FCP
--- In FCP pics, the Volvo, Sachs, and INA all say INA on the rubber mount.
Strut mount spacer x2 - 9157705 - $4 list, $3 FCP
Strut mount lock nut x6 - 985868 - $5 list, $1 generic at FCP. Reuse per cn90.
Strut mount nut washer x6 - 986501 - $3 list, $1 generic at FCP. Reuse per cn90.
Front spring seat x2 - 30683637 - $60 list, $49 FCP, $26 Sachs at FCP
--- Volvo is Sachs and the two Volvo FCP reviews (including Robert) said it failed quickly.
--- Lemforder were cheap Chinese in 2020, failing often per FCP. Now Brazil, still skip them.
Bump stop (helper spring) and bellows kit x2 - 9169026 - $35 list, not at FCP
--- Includes stop washer, bump stop, and bellows.
--- Stop washer x2 - 31201386 - $13 list, 11 FCP
--- Bump stop x2 - 9140067 - $40 list, $34 FCP, $6 Febi at FCP (Germany)
--- Bellows x2 - 9140068 - $11 list, $12 FCP
Front spring x2 - 3546641 - $156 list, $146 FCP. Blue, marked M1.
--- Alternate part 3546642 - $51 Lesjofors at FCP. Green. Got these to save $200.
Front strut x2 - 8612887 - $197 list, $127 FCP. Marked M1.
--- Sachs 9140072 - $94 FCP - Cross references all three currently available Volvo struts.
Lower strut mounting bolt x4 - 982845 - $5 list, $4 FCP. 2x per side.
Lower strut mounting nut x4 - 985870 - $6 list, $5 FCP. 2x per side.
Sway bar link rod nut x2 - 985930 - $5 list, $4 FCP. 2x per side, only need 1x, I ordered 2x.

Rear spring suspension:
SKIP - Washer x2 - 1387906 - $23 list, not on FCP. jreed's looked good in 2020.
SKIP - Washer screw x2 - 987502 - $7 list, not on FCP. Holds washer 1387906.
SKIP - Anchorage x2 - 9140177? - Not on VPWS or FCP. Plastic, doesn't wear, mine look fine.
Helper spring / bump stop x2 - 3516327 - $40 list, $34 FCP, $13 Febi at FCP
Locating pin x2 - 9157631 - $5 list, $5 FCP. Holds bump stop to cylinder / anchorage.
Spacer x2 - 1387907 - $13 list, $12 FCP. Reviews say to replace proactively.
Spring anchorage x2 - 3546435 - $23 list, $21 FCP
--- 7/3/23 - Suddenly $105 list, $21 FCP.
Rear spring x2 - 3546335 - $44 Lesjofors at FCP. Green, marked E, heavy duty.
--- Volvo 3546335 - NLA at volvocars.com, $121 FCP discontinued
Spring bottom nut x2 - 987891 - $5 list, $1 FCP (985869). M10 x 11.4

Shock mount x2 - 9461524 - $47 list, $39 FCP, $29 Sachs at FCP
Shock mount bolt x4 - 985188 - $3 list, $3 FCP. M8 x 30 x 1.25.
Rear shock x2 - 8600274 (9173320) - NLA everywhere. Marked Orange, P.
--- Sachs 9173820 - $64 FCP.
Shock hardware x2 - 272284 - $8 list, $7 FCP
--- SKIP - Shock top nut - 985909 $4 list or 985908 $9 list. Comes with shock.
--- Shock bottom nut x2 - 985906 - $5 list, $4 FCP
--- Shock bottom washer x2 - 986505 - $3 list, $3 FCP

[scot850]

Very comprehensive. Thank you for all the detail and part numbers. I will be skipping many of the parts based on experience, but I have taken notice on your recommendations on stuff like the top front spring mounts. I had been leaning toward the Sachs ones, but may suggest going for the TRW (Lemforder) versions instead.

Much appreciated!

Neil.

[V50M66]

Very comprehensive. Thank you for all the detail and part numbers. I will be skipping many of the parts based on experience, but I have taken notice on your recommendations on stuff like the top front spring mounts. I had been leaning toward the Sachs ones, but may suggest going for the TRW (Lemforder) versions instead.

Much appreciated!

Neil.

I've gone Sachs for the spring seats on the last 3 suspension refreshes I've done and haven't had issues. For the price on FCP, can't complain

[scot850]

Well that is good to know. I think the car is still running on it's 1998 original suspension. Current owner bought the car 16 years old with just 25,000 miles on it! Spent a fair amount with a Volvo independent getting it recommissioned after standing for about 10 years. She says she has not replaced any suspension. Car now has around 110,000 miles on it.

The TRW spring seats were $40 approx. each v's Sachs at $27 (CDN). Not a huge amount.

I have just sent the 360,000 miles + (odometer has not worked for years!) 96 850 10V NA on it's way with the happy owners. It was funny to hear the young guy's mother is now driving the car from time-to-time instead of her much newer Acura MDX! She says she actually enjoys driving the car! Another convert??

Neil.

[FireFox31]

I will be skipping many of the parts based on experience

Which parts would you skip? Two of my three suspensions are original and very rusty so I'm replacing any part which could rust or could be affected by rust. The cross nut is the one notable part I'm not replacing (except on the worst suspension).