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99 V70XC Really horrible sound in R. front going over bumps

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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carlsun
Posts: 17
Joined: 28 October 2009
Year and Model: 1999 V70XC
Location: Arkansas

99 V70XC Really horrible sound in R. front going over bumps

Post by carlsun »

It has a really horrible sound in front right going over bumps. No play in steering; doesn't pull either. Wondering if it might be a motor mount. Showed up the Sunday before Christmas. Haven't had time to try to sort it out yet, other than to pull the wheel off and inspect for dangly bits that shouldn't be dangling. I don't think it's the strut tower (though it could be I suppose). The sway bar bushings appear to be intact. The sound happens whenever i go over a sharp bump. It's getting gradually but progressively worse. It sounds like someone is hitting the firewall or frame with either a wooden mallet.

I wonder of it may be the rear engine torque rod, but everything I have read says that symptoms should include more vibration and symptoms when shifting, neither of which occur. It only happens on sharp bumps. I can push and pull the top of the engine back and forth and see that the rubber mount is loose/floating. I don't think it's supposed to do that.

JRL
Posts: 9350
Joined: 22 November 2005
Year and Model: Several
Location: 19333
Been thanked: 16 times

Post by JRL »

You could have broken anything
A spring seat (strut top)
A control arm
A outer tie rod
A sway bar link, (even though you took a cursory look at it).

You need to get it inside, up on a lift and either look at everything carefully or have a Volvo mechanic look at it
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

larryh
Posts: 256
Joined: 28 March 2006
Year and Model:
Location:

Post by larryh »

Yeah, what he said.
Any of those things can make a horrible noise.
Had any recent work done on the front end? How many miles?

carlsun
Posts: 17
Joined: 28 October 2009
Year and Model: 1999 V70XC
Location: Arkansas

Post by carlsun »

Thanks for the tips guys.

It has 115k miles.

I replaced the right front strut mount and spring seat about a year and a half ago.

Upon further inspection, one of the three studs on the strut mount had pulled through so I replaced it with a bolt and nut. It still makes the horrible noise, but my perception is that it is marginally better. I guess I'll replace the entire mount and see if that solves the problem. The replacement was the aftermarket piece from Groton. Any reports of other failures with those? What should the torque be for those three fasteners?

_HighVoltage_
Posts: 57
Joined: 7 April 2009
Year and Model: 1994 850 NA
Location: Athens, WV

Post by _HighVoltage_ »

Horrible? How horrible? Is it really loud?

The sway bar links are not generally loud...they just click.

Does it sound like something is loose (like a clunk)? or is it a much harsher sound?

You should check your control arm - lift the car (on jack stands), lock the steering wheel, put your hands on 3-9 position around the tire and check if there is any play (there shouldn't be).

carlsun
Posts: 17
Joined: 28 October 2009
Year and Model: 1999 V70XC
Location: Arkansas

Post by carlsun »

Yes, it's definitely an distressing sound.

I'll have to check the control arms later. Are they the OEM parts that IPD says are inadequate/undersized?

larryh
Posts: 256
Joined: 28 March 2006
Year and Model:
Location:

Post by larryh »

That's a lot of miles. and sorry, but most aftermarket parts suck, so it could very well be the mount/seat that you already changed. The bolt pulling through the strut mount says something (the three nuts don't need to be super tight. 18.5 ft.lbs.).
If you want to diy, just redo everything. It's time. Use genuine volvo parts (except the struts).
If you want to just replace the noisy part..I don't know. It really could be anything, but you might want to double check the tightness of the swaybar end link nuts with a wrench.

Pauloil
Posts: 1038
Joined: 21 March 2006
Year and Model:
Location: davenport, IA

Post by Pauloil »

the xc90 strut mount is the best choice--stronger
99 V70XC 158K

95 850glt 188K

JRL
Posts: 9350
Joined: 22 November 2005
Year and Model: Several
Location: 19333
Been thanked: 16 times

Post by JRL »

carlsun wrote:
. The replacement was the aftermarket piece from Groton. Any reports of other failures with those?
You CANNOT use ScanCRAP :cry: products, they FAIL.
You need to use OEM VOLVO XC90 spring seats OR IPD makes an EXCELLENT aftermarket spring seat.
Those are THE only two you should use
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

carlsun
Posts: 17
Joined: 28 October 2009
Year and Model: 1999 V70XC
Location: Arkansas

Post by carlsun »

The spring seat (the rubber bit) is not the issue, but the strut mount (with the three bolts). The aftermarket V70 mount sold by IPD (Uro) is the same as what Groton sells.

The XC90 strut mount is a dimensional match for the V70? Is that for all years?

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