Complete Strut/Spring Setup for Rear

[Neveragain55]

Hi Gang,

I just spent the last 4 days doing major suspension work on my 2009 S60 2.5T AWD and I backed off from putting the rear struts on because this car had been fighting me the entire time.

Nothing on the bottom of my car has been touched since it rolled out of the factory 16 years ago and I went through hell changing out all of the suspension & brake components on the front end. (and that was after letting everything soak in PB for a couple of days)

The last thing I felt like going through was more cursing & throwing wrenches from rusted bolts snapping on me.

The work involved getting the rear struts out on the AWD models looks "quite painful" and all I want to do at this point is to do a swap like I was able to do with the front shocks & springs because they came as a complete shock/spring setup which was nice.

I don't feel like compressing springs and all the other nonsense just to change these damn things.

I've searched the internet until my eyes glazed over looking for a complete strut/spring set up (that's already assembled as a complete unit) that I can just swap out with the old units, but the only ones that keep coming up are the ones for the 2003 to 2007 XCV-70 cars.

I couldn't find a set for the S60 models, do any of you know if such an animal exists, and if so, who sells them?

I've attached a picture just so we're all clear on what I'm looking for.

Volvo Struts.jpg (23.82 KiB) Viewed 411 times

Any & all replies are welcome, thanks.....

[scot850]

Is tis what you are looking for?

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/21869/I ... U6vYYEiTCj

Neil.

[Vova585]

Removing the struts from rear is doable with some cursing. Long pry bar or heavy duty ratcheting strap help to get enough clearance to remove them from the car. I would stay away from those assembled quick struts since they don't last and your ride quality will change. Fcp euro has individual shocks and springs for sale. The easiest way would be to buy shocks/springs and bring them to a decent shop so they can swap them in into your old top "housings" from old units. Probably will cost you 1 hour of labor for both.

[Neveragain55]

Is tis what you are looking for?

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/21869/I ... U6vYYEiTCj

Neil.

No, these are for the front, I need a complete setup like this but for the rear

[Neveragain55]

Removing the struts from rear is doable with some cursing. Long pry bar or heavy duty ratcheting strap help to get enough clearance to remove them from the car. I would stay away from those assembled quick struts since they don't last and your ride quality will change. Fcp euro has individual shocks and springs for sale. The easiest way would be to buy shocks/springs and bring them to a decent shop so they can swap them in into your old top "housings" from old units. Probably will cost you 1 hour of labor for both.

We're thinking alike.....

After doing some more searching, I'm convinced that nobody makes/sells a complete "Quick Strut" set for the rear of the S60 models so I'm just going to buy all of the individual parts, assemble them as a complete unit, and install them (as a complete unit).

I already have the shocks, so all I need now are new springs and new top housings, and any other associated hardware. Hell, I might even be able to reuse the top housings if they're still in good shape

This way I can remove the old units without having to take them apart or compress springs and all the other insanity while everything is still within that tight space back there.

I have to:
1. Remove the lower shock mount bolt
2. Unbolt the drag link where it connects to the lower end of the knuckle (to be able to push it down out of the way)
3. Take the one bolt off of the top housing assembly that connects it to the top side of the frame (from the topside of the trunk)
4. Remove the two lower bolts on the underside of the top housing and then use a very large prybar to push down the entire knuckle to make the clearance to pull out the shock assembly.

I've seen people use really thick come-a-long straps to do this by attaching them to the left & right side control arms and then ratchet the straps tight which pulls each control arm down simultaneously. (brilliant)

Once all of those bolts are out, the entire shock/spring/top housing (as a complete unit) will drop out.

It's a lot easier to compress the new springs and build a complete unit outside of the car and install it as a complete unit rather than trying to compress and build everything within that tight, cramped space.

You would think that somebody would sell these things as complete units for the S60 given its popularity and the amount that Volvo sold.

Thanks for the reply......

[scot850]

That is how Volvo does it with a wide tie down strap.

With the age of your car, depending on the mileage you might want to consider replacing the upper mount/seat as the bush will degrade it's rubber over this time. I have a set of P1 rear shocks to do on a V50 AWD and the owner decided to spring for a new seat after he pulled a used one and it was badly worn when we checked it.

Another option is a used strut from Erie Vo-Vo. It is at least OE parts:

https://volvowheel.com/products/volvo-o ... -v70-01-09

Neil.

[Neveragain55]

That is how Volvo does it with a wide tie down strap.

With the age of your car, depending on the mileage you might want to consider replacing the upper mount/seat as the bush will degrade it's rubber over this time. I have a set of P1 rear shocks to do on a V50 AWD and the owner decided to spring for a new seat after he pulled a used one and it was badly worn when we checked it.

Another option is a used strut from Erie Vo-Vo. It is at least OE parts:

https://volvowheel.com/products/volvo-o ... -v70-01-09

Neil.

Yes, I'll be replacing all of the associated hardware with that setup.

I've seen some other used complete units for sale very similar to what you posted, but I'm not a big fan of replacing used parts with more used parts.

I'm just going to buy all new stuff and build the unit outside of the car.

Thanks for the reply.....