Replacing struts...should I do springs as well?

[scot850]

Can't remember how they are spelled, but Lesfojer that FCP sell are OEM and I have used them n my V70 base and they are fine there at the back. Check as sometimes there are options even in those to make sure you get the correct ones. After 250,000 miles they have done their duty. You will notice the difference ans yes the front may sit a little higher but often they will settle with time.

Neil.

[SonicAdventure]

Yeah...now I’m really wondering if they have ever been replaced or not. I got the car with virtually no maintenance history and 230,000 on the dial. The P.O. had the car for about 3 years and he told me they replaced the fuel pump had some exhaust work done, rear struts and a few other smaller things.

Took care of the major items as soon as possible, now I’m dealing with the really bouncy front end and like I said earlier these front struts look old as hell. The springs just look like any other front suspension components...dark and dusty. I don’t want to just randomly replace them if struts alone will help the car ride better.

Probably going to need tires and an alignment this inspection as well....this is going to be a big bill.

[ToriWhite]

I'm in the same boat as you.. Please repost your results if you buy new springs and install them!

[June]

FCP sells quality stuff. I wouldn't hesitate putting their springs in my car.

The weird thing about having new springs in the front and the old ones in the back is that you will notice that the front will be higher than the rear. I have Gabriel Readymount struts, with new springs, in the front and the rear has the springs teh car came with: the front is about two+ inches higher than the rear... So if you're all about the telemetry, I'd reuse the old springs if they're okay to keep your car at a consistent ride height. (I feel like they all wear at the same rate, but I could be wrong there...) If you're going to replace the front springs, I'd really suggest replacing all four.

My car still is higher in the rear although the front springs are new and the rear springs and shocks are factory. The front has all the extra weight of the engine and transmission to support. I imagine that is why the front had sagged. The rear on my car has no problem and in fact the ride is quite balanced since the front struts and springs were replaced. My car the front end had started bobbing up and down on the interstate while the rear was steady. That is why I replaced the struts, and I figured why reinstall old springs on new struts. Than like the OP I researched on MVS. Others had front springs break, so that was the deciding factor for me. The ride height and possibly better handling ended up as a benefit. June

[abscate]

Springs set height , struts set damping. Exception for the fancy air shocks which can change height

[shiloh51933]

Quick are less quality, unless Sachs quick struts. You do everything at once, why wait, unless your not plankton keeping car. SACHS struts, premium insulators, bearings, mounts and springs should all be quality, but from FCP if you want lifetime warranty.

[ryball23]

I'm looking at doing this as well, but I am getting conflicting information as to fitment. Are the struts interchangeable between S70, V70, V70 XC SE, or are they different? I have a 2000 V70 XC SE.

[skloon]

Struts are interchangeable, springs are not

[erikv11]

Springs set height , struts set damping. Exception for the fancy air shocks which can change height

The rule that springs set height is generally true and my mantra too, but there are other gray areas, not just air shocks.

The spring mounts on the strut, so the placement of that mount is critical in the equation. If two manufacturers place the spring perch in a different place on struts that are otherwise identical, then the two struts will have different ride heights when installed. Perch placement used to different with the Bilstein struts for P80 cars and using them raised the front end a couple inches, however not so anymore as now they match the geometry of other struts.

[abscate]

Just wanted to add to this thread.

I recently reworked an engine on a 1998 and after sitting fir 6 months, one year old Sachs quick struts from FCP BOTH failed due to fracture of the spring. We suspect sample defect vs product defect after talking with FCP.

The cat did not approve