Drop In Front Suspension Kit

[JeffHicks]

I've gone this same route - cheaper aftermarket strut assemblies. The ones I've gotten have lifetime warranties, so I'm good for as long as I have the cars. So far, all 4 sets I've put on Volvos are still doing great.

I was wondering what brand Jeff Hicks used if it was different from the OP.

We are planning to do struts in the next year and I've been interested in what
options are available. Heard good things about Gabriel, reviews seem to be good:
Gabriel G57040 ReadyMount Complete Strut Assembly $175:
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B ... ewpoints=1

FCP as mentioned above has a lifetime guarantee, Pro Parts Sweden $197:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... -72433314c

Not sure if I trust the struts on ebay, any other suggestions?

I bought Sensens, from RockAuto. They were only $103.99 each, plus shipping. Lifetime warranty. For the price, I figured what the heck.

The difference in my ride is nothing short of miraculous, but considering the car still had the original struts on it with 205,000 miles, ANYthing was going to be an improvement.

I'm not going to act like they're some super-duper "corners like it's on rails" kind of struts. But I'm happy with the ride.

[PeteB]

Thanks Jeff, were they a complete ready to install strut assembly or just the strut,
because I don't see a complete assembly from Sensen at Rock Auto.

The strut alone is there and a complete "suspension kit" SENSEN 2170SU2 is there with a
pair of front struts, mounts, rubber, and rear shocks and mounts for $217 but I think you
have to reuse the spring and do the assembly of course.

[firestarterpro]

Update: Three months and 20 thousand miles later, I cannot complain about my purchase. Of course, even now is premature to make any large deductions, but I just replaced my rear D-Links and did some minor adjustments to my alignment afterwards with the string method, and it feels even better now. And I don't cut corners, I hug them.

If I have any problems, I'll be sure to update.

[Cees Klumper]

I've been very happy with the OEM-type standard Sachs shocks. Not expensive and the original ones lasted for 160K miles and still working well. I've used spring compressors plenty of times and never felt there was any danger but perhaps didn't pay close enough attention.

[firestarterpro]

I know alot of you guys are gonna say "atoadaso" and it is warranted. However, so was my front suspension assembly. The mount and spring seat on the left went out, I calmly took my time to submit my pictures for the warranty and luckily it was granted within an hour.

Bottom line: I would not purchase the strut assembly from completestruts (branded as Unity) simply because they only had 30k on them and most people would be past the 1 year warranty by then.

[j-dawg]

dude how much do you drive per year

[rspi]

Doing warranty repairs suck to me. If I had it to do over again, and could afford it, I would buy the best suspension parts that would fit my needs and install them within a month of the first sign of suspension problems. Example, Bilstein HD's, attaching parts from a place like FCP that offers lifetime warranty (Bilstein does as well, so I'd be double covered) and enjoy top ride comfort & performance for as long as I'd own the car.

Got my DD with 188,000 on it and plan to run it up to 500,000. I put some used ones on there last year and they are OK, but new ones are better. I still remember a great they felt on my daughter's S70 GLT when we first installed some on her car.

I do realize that to most people it will not matter much because they don't drive their cars as much as I do. But for somebody that's putting 20 - 40000 miles per year on a vehicle, it would be nice to have a great suspension with a lifetime warranty.

[benpineapple]

bummer. thanks for posting back with your findings. glad you were still within warranty at least. are you going to put another unity set on there, or push for a refund, and get oem?

[firestarterpro]

I'm gonna take the replacement, since it was effortless, and put some XC90 spring seats on there before I put them on my car.

I had a question, is it all XC90 spring seats or just the OEM? I hear they are better than the 850 yet still fit the same.

[firestarterpro]

And Robert, I agree with you. I put around the same amount each year on my car, and I dont plan on getting a different car, so a good set could even transfer to my next 850 if they outlast this one. I'm thinking I'll just go with the replacement unit, add the XC90 spring seats to it, and when the shocks go out, I'll get the Blisten HD, or perhaps replace the whole thing depending on how long these last.

The thing is, the shocks still support it, I got brand new springs and didn't have to use a compressor. Given, now I will have to, in order to put on the new spring seats, so, give or take, for $250 bucks, its not a bad place to start if you dont have any junkyards around with 850s.

Anyways, any advice on the XC90 spring seat brand would be appreciated guys.