Struts for 99 V700

Post by **pfmet** » 27 Sep 2025, 05:29

Been pricing out bits to build a pair of badly needed struts. A Volvo mechanic friend sent me a list of items he’d looked up for me at Rock Auto. Monroe branded items on close out pricing. Struts/ $6.90 ea. Strut mount/bearing plate/ $3.57ea. Spring seat/ $5.88 ea. I intended to get the bilstein b-4’s , Ina mounts, and Sachs xc-90 seats. But wow….! Anyone had experience with the Monroe parts? I would likely go with the Sachs seats since seats are frequently the first issues the strut assembly has. For a $300 savings I suppose I’d be willing to gamble on struts and mounts. I just don’t want any Chinese rubber anywhere on my vehicles or equipment.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Sep 2025, 12:24

Just don't use Monroe shocks. I would never fit them to any vehicle I own other than the XC70 with 4-C suspension as that is the OE supplier. You will likely be back replacing them within a year. Spend the money and buy a better quality part. Like all parts there will be those with opposing opinions, but I would buy Bilstien B-4's and the other parts you had in your original list and do the job once over.

Neil.

Post by **pfmet** » 27 Sep 2025, 15:20

Thank you Neil. I regard your opinion highly and since you have affirmed my carefully considered first choices I will go that route. I’ve seen some strong opinions against the Monroe’s and no strong defense.of them. The car is a very nice “low” mileage (203k miles) vehicle and I’ve avoided using other than Blue Box parts on her for the most part when available or top tier aftermarket.

Post by **pfmet** » 01 Oct 2025, 10:02

Just noticed FCP has Genuine Volvo spring, Dynamic, brown paint code #3546644 This is listed for the base model v70 as well as the GLT, R, T5. Guess it’s a livelier, sportier ride but APPARENTLY will pair up with the stock damper/shock, in my case I was going Bilstien B-4. They’re on clearance close out at $125. I figure that’s a good value for the Genuine Volvo spring. They also have a Lesjofors for $75.

Any criticisms of the Lesjofors? Neither one of these spring is marked M1 which the builders plate has the front suspension code as but I get this impression they are size wise at least compatible. I don’t think a little stiffer spring will bother me as long as it works correctly in tandem with the B-4’s.

Post by **scot850** » 01 Oct 2025, 15:59

There is a process for figuring out the correct spring from the color code and the chassis plate ID #. It is totally over complicated. I think there were about 6 options depending on the car spec. I'm sure I detailed this at one point in this P80 forum.

Neil.

Post by **pfmet** » 03 Oct 2025, 17:27

Does anyone here have any idea what the free length of the Volvo blue coded “ M1” spec’d front coil spring should be. I believe my front springs to be original and at 203k miles am wondering how compressed/sagged out/fatigued they may be. Virtually no rust, finish is almost unblemished. Quite mice looking really. But 27 yrs old I believe. I’d like to confirm their status before putting them together with a bunch of new parts. I’ve not been able to locate the proper front springs for this car. Everything being sold as compatible with my car is actually green coded which is for the manual tranny and no AC. That amounts to about 100 lbs more over the front axle. How big a difference in ride height/ride quality would that make? A few Volvo Parts distributors have shown the “blues” on their website for ~$135/ea but when called on it say “sorry, NLA”. Lesjofors doesn’t seem to make a spring to the blue M1 specs.

I found these numbers on the coil. Means nothing to me or Google. Any knowledge of these may be helpful.

Thanks, Peter

MarinerMan · Post by **MarinerMan** » 04 Oct 2025, 03:52

pfmet wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025, 10:02 Any criticisms of the Lesjofors? Neither one of these spring is marked M1 which the builders plate has the front suspension code as but I get this impression they are size wise at least compatible. I don’t think a little stiffer spring will bother me as long as it works correctly in tandem with the B-4’s.

Lesjofors Is the OE manufacturer of the springs. Unless you are wanting the lowering springs, they are the true blue standard by which all others are measured (Volvo-wise).

Post by **scot850** » 04 Oct 2025, 15:52

I fitted a set of Lesjofor rears to the 00 V70NA I had. They were fine as long as you had no load in the rear. Any load and they sank to the ground. When I sold the cat to my buddy, he fitted IPD HD springs and they made a huge difference to the loading capacity, and surprisingly the ride comfort was not noticeably affected. AWD V70 springs or those with Nivomat shocks are also different at the rear. At the front there used to be a multitude of springs listed, but now it seems on Volvo sites there are only 2 listed for FWD cars. All dependent on the chassis plate code. Bilstein B4 if I recall only list one option. B6 are only for racing circuits as they are harsh.

Neil.