Front struts "squeaking" while driving on rough road on 1997 850 T5

ConCon · Post by **ConCon** » 27 Jan 2025, 15:03

Hello all,

I recently got a 1997 850 T5 sedan. The previous owner said that all it needs is a new PCV valve and upper strut bushings. I've completed the PCV valve and moved onto the struts, however I'm not really sure what needs to be done without replacing the whole strut assembly.

The issue:
While driving over rough road it feels like the strut caps are hitting against the bearing or something. At rest the the caps are raised about half an inch than when the car is jacked up. I've attached pictures of the before and after pics of the strut caps below. It also looks like the struts are slightly off centered and I am able to turn the bolt by hand. I jacked the car up to take the wheels off and raise the strut a little to see how freely it moves but with the front end on jack stands and the wheel off, I couldn't compress the strut without lifting the car off the jacks. (I jacked the strut by putting the jack on the end of the control arm as close to the break disk as I could.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Jan 2025, 19:18

Yup. The top rubber spring seats look like they are separating. The only way to replace them is to remove the struts and replace the spring seats. Go with SACHS, Lemforder or OE Volvo parts for the spring seats.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 27 Jan 2025, 20:45

How to check the spring seats (i.e. the "rubber bushings" at the top):

With the car on the ground, put a wrench (22 mm I think?) or large pliers on that large, shiny top nut of the strut. The one win the center, not the three small ones. Can you rotate the nut, or do you meet resistance and can only slightly nudge it back and forth?

If it rotates, the spring seat is shot. Go with scot850's recommendations for parts. Any other aftermarket brand will in all likelihood be bad again in a few thousand miles.

ConCon · Post by **ConCon** » 30 Jan 2025, 07:57

That's exactly what it is, that top nut turns with almost no resistance

Post by **foggydogg** » 30 Jan 2025, 15:12

As mentioned it is the seat. Most vendors have gone to the 90 series heavier seat, but as always, avoid URO anything.

Post by **erikv11** » 30 Jan 2025, 18:18

True fact, never buy URO parts! Especially if they have anything rubber in them.

Interestingly it wasn't vendors who went to the heavier spring seat, it was Volvo. Volvo now specifies/sells "the XC90 part" for all spring seats for all models of 850, C70, S70, S80, V70, S60, XC70, XC90 across years 1993-2007 (and even to 2014 for XC90s). They all use the same Volvo part number 30683637.

Anyway, the point is there's no mystery, insider knowledge or code-speak required here to get the right or best part: just follow the original advice from Neil about which brands are okay and order one specified for your car.

EDIT: This should be a quality part https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 0-s80-xc70

Post by **abscate** » 31 Jan 2025, 10:21

You can just see the Devils tinsnips of URO on the parts.