Front end noise

[jsrnsis]

In a 183k mile 1998 V70XC, I have a weird front end noise like I haven't heard before. I've heard clunks and clanks due to spring seat failure, control arm bushings, and ball joints, but this sounds different.
The only way I can think to describe it is listening to a bouncy ball or tennis ball rapidly bouncing between two pieces of wood, and listening to the whole thing with a pillow over your ears. It's a rapid, dull thudding over uneven pavement, which is practically anything that hasn't been freshly paved. It seems to be coming from the front right wheel.
I tried changing the sway bar end links on both sides, but no change. I took the right side strut apart, but the spring seat was fine. Service tickets show the original owner paid the dealer to service the struts in 2012. I've had the car in the air, with both wheels up the only play is the steering rack while yanking on the tire with my hands at 9 and 3 0'clock, no play when at 6 and 12. With just the right wheel up, there's no play.
Could this be subframe bushings, sway bar bushings, tie rods, or something I've completely forgot to check? For some reason, I am thinking sway bar bushings as a likely culprit, but it seems to be a rather involved job, especially on an AWD

Some other info on the car. As far as I know, the AWD is functional. The car has always had a bit more vibration in the steering wheel than my FWD cars, but the vibration is much less pronounced in the seat or armrest than in the wheel. All engine mounts appear to be in order.

EDIT: I forgot to take a picture of my sway bar bushing while I was in there, but it is cracked, a little pinched looking, but still seems to be in place. I tried tugging at the sway bar and whacking it with a mallet to check for play, but I only did this with one end link still attached on the other side. I can take an upload a picture later today.

[jsrnsis]

Also when I had the strut apart, the strut bearing seemed to be smooth turning, but the strut itself had very little resistance. When I was putting it together, I had to pull the threaded portion of the strut up through the spring seat with a pair of needle nose pliers to get enough threads to put the cross nut on, the strut just kept slowly collapsing under its own weight. I could compress the strut with a finger slowly, but if I went to compress the strut faster, it took a bit more force, but still seemed a bit easy.

I have no idea what was changed in 2012, the struts still have a sticker on the back, but it just says sachs, not volvo. The rubber washer on the top of the strut also has a date code from 1998.
Do I need V70XC specific struts? Do they have a little more travel than the standard strut?

[jsrnsis]

Here are the pictures of my sway bar bushings

Right side

Left side

You'd think I'd have discovered the source of my noise, but I took out my sway bar end links and drove around, and the noise is still there. So that eliminates the end links, and sway bar and it's bushings, as being the source of the noise.

I also really gave a lot of force tightening down that crank side engine mount, which seems to have reduced the steering wheel vibration. I was hesitant to give it that much oomph in the past because it started to tighten up and get gritty feeling, like there was sand in the threads.

[MoVolvos]

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The strut that you have to pull up is done so replace both. All struts should have gas whereby they should lengthen completely without assistance. Replace the front engine mount which is the one located by the passenger side wheel well. Sounds like the noise could be from the early stages of collapsing.

As for the strut check FCP catalog. I know our 2002 V70 XC requires a longer strut than the 2002 V70 AWD.
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[jsrnsis]

.
The strut that you have to pull up is done so replace both. All struts should have gas whereby they should lengthen completely without assistance. Replace the front engine mount which is the one located by the passenger side wheel well. Sounds like the noise could be from the early stages of collapsing.

As for the strut check FCP catalog. I know our 2002 V70 XC requires a longer strut than the 2002 V70 AWD.
.

Front engine mount "replaced", FCP euro has a specific strut for the XC, I'll have that ordered, I might as well do it right since I'd rather not use the spring compressors more than I have to. I'm just debating on whether I should get new front springs as well. They're pretty pricey from Volvo.

[scot850]

While you are in there, have a good look at the condition of the front subframe mounts. I replaced the whole front suspension and the swaybar end links and the noise was still there. Turned out one of the subframe bushes had separated.

Neil.

[jsrnsis]

While you are in there, have a good look at the condition of the front subframe mounts. I replaced the whole front suspension and the swaybar end links and the noise was still there. Turned out one of the subframe bushes had separated.

Neil.

Is there any test I can do, short of taking the subframe down? What type of noise were you experiencing?

Besides the constant thudding, I'm also getting a single pop when turning, but steering feels ok. On the silver wagon, when id lift the car and put jack stands under the sub frame (between the control arm bushings), once I lowered the jack, I'd see some separation in the rear bushings. This car doesn't have that, but I really can't say for certain that the subframe bushings are good.

[scot850]

You need to look for splits like in the top torque bushes and separation of the center metal tube from the rubber like the top spring seats in the front suspension. That last o ne is what happened to mine.

Neil.

[MoVolvos]

.
The strut that you have to pull up is done so replace both. All struts should have gas whereby they should lengthen completely without assistance. Replace the front engine mount which is the one located by the passenger side wheel well. Sounds like the noise could be from the early stages of collapsing.

As for the strut check FCP catalog. I know our 2002 V70 XC requires a longer strut than the 2002 V70 AWD.
.

Front engine mount "replaced", FCP euro has a specific strut for the XC, I'll have that ordered, I might as well do it right since I'd rather not use the spring compressors more than I have to. I'm just debating on whether I should get new front springs as well. They're pretty pricey from Volvo.

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I have a set of Lesjofors rear springs on the 00 S70 which replaced the OE saggy ones. It was recommended by another forum member with a number of P80 S & V's. Can check with FCP the difference between the two besides pricing?
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https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/V70 ... &d=56&v=87
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[jsrnsis]

I have a set of Lesjofors rear springs on the 00 S70 which replaced the OE saggy ones. It was recommended by another forum member with a number of P80 S & V's. Can check with FCP the difference between the two besides pricing?
.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/V70 ... &d=56&v=87
.

I haven't looked too much into it, I know I'd need the v70xc ones though. I was curious a while ago and found they still sold the rear springs for the XC, but Google makes finding things hard sometimes. I don't believe my front end is sagging too much, and it seems about right compared to press release pictures of the car when they were new.
I have only replaced one set of springs, the rear of a wagon that sat full of 8 wheels with tires mounted for two years. Non-nivomat suspension.
I do have a couple pairs of FWD ride height used springs and a pair of struts I've been keeping, I should just put them up for sale/adoption