2000 XC70 front struts and the inner tie rod - do it myself?

[javguy]

My 2000 V70 XC was taken back to the tire shop because the passenger side front wheel was wearing excessively toward the outer rim. The tire guy told me to get an alignment and it seemed like the wheel had the outer side sitting lower than the inner side, thus the weird tire wear pattern.
So I took it to another shop to have an alignment. When they put it up on the lift, they brought me in and showed me that they could make the strut wobble by pushing and pulling on the wheel, so they recommended that both front struts and the inner tie rod on the driver's side should be replaced before doing the alignment. The estimate was about $930.

My question is whether this is a repair that I can do on my own. I have a floor jack and 2 jack stand, basic hand tools, like socket set, torque wrench, etc. It's my only car, so I don't have an alternate vehicle for work and I'd have to be able to complete at least one strut or tie rod and return it to driveable condition for the next day. I don't mind buying some tools for the work, if it saves me money, but I don't want to get into it and discover that I'm in over my head and not have a vehicle for work.
Are there any online videos about how to do this repair?

[scot850]

It is easy relatively simple to remove the struts yourself, the problem comes with removing the spring from the strut safely. It can be done and all the guys here will possibly have done it themselves with spring compressors, but I would rather take the removed strut to someone with a hydraulic spring compressor to remove the spring, spring seat and upper bearing, and then replace all the parts on the new struts.

I am a little confused. From what you are saying I don't get what the mechanics told/showed you. If you can move the strut by moving the wheel, I'd have thought it more likely the lower ball joints or the control arm bushes have/are failing not the strut, or possibly the upper rubber spring seats. I have heard that the lower spring seat on the strut can rust out, but I doubt that that is the issue. I'd get second opinion, or if you can get a video showing the mechanic moving the wheel and where the strut is moving that he is not happy with, it would be helpful.

Neil.

[precopster]

Gotta agree with Scot here. The only failure in the strut that can cause movement is the spring seat which is separately replaceable for under $75 for the parts if you buy a Boge OEM brand spring seat at the top of the shock unit. It may pay to have him show you the movement. If movement is at the bottom it may be ball joints (which are built into control arms) or control arm bushing (close to the subframe) issues.

From what I gather from so many posts here is that there are a lot of garages that simply don't understand a Volvo front end.