2006 XC70 STRUT REPLACEMENT / RECOMMENDATIONS?

[TroutJim]

Picked up a 2006 XC70 90k. When cold, having intermittent groaning. Been told that it is my strut bushings. In warm weather or after driving a couple of miles it is fine. Car handles great and no clunking, etc.

Been thinking of getting preassembled strut kit, but they seem pricey. Or just getting some earplugs. Also I am no spring chicken and don’t have impact wrench. Do have breaker bar and lead pipe.

How hard is it to break the nuts and bolts free? Can anyone recommend a lower cost kit, i.e. Monroe. NAPA, etc. and which to avoid?

[Vova585]

Welcome to the club.
Moral of the story- buy quality OE or OEM parts. Better fix it first time correctly with all new parts(sachs, oem spring), avoid quick struts kits(ride quality will be different and they never last), springs have a tendency to break around 70-100k. Buy from FCP euro and have lifetime warranty. Other than that- it is an easy Macpherson strut with plenty of yootube videos on "how to"

[cn90]

Buy quality parts.
Remove strut assembly and bring it to local shop.
Most places charges $50 to disassemble and reassemble.
Let the shop deal with the danger of the spring compression job.