2005 S60 Spring Seat/Strut Mount Failed Dented my hood!

litewait · Post by **litewait** » 05 Oct 2015, 19:41

'05 S60 my sons use to commute to college, 140k replaced the struts top to bottom with Monroe Sensa Trac 2 months ago.

Son said he noticed vibration in right front and the freakin' spring seat and strut mount failed and the strut cap was slamming up into the hood and dented it.

Pretty pissed I tried to save a few bucks and not get OEM parts. Pretty shocked the thing failed that badly, I haven't had it apart yet but it seems the spring seat just broke forcing the strut into strut mount destroying them both.

Even worried to take the strut off since seeing the strut protruding makes me think the spring is under pressure. How can I tell if this is the case. I don't want to take the strut bolts off and have the thing expand in the wheel well !

Any advice? I'll try to post some pics when I get a chance. Thanks.

Post by **oragex** » 05 Oct 2015, 20:28

If I'm correct, failed seat means the spring is free to jump ( so yes, it will need to be compressed 'in situ' before removing the strut assembly. The strut might still be good. Monroe struts in itself are not that bad.

I too am shocked about aftermarket part reports on European cars (Audi, Bmw, Volvo). Cheap aftermarket suspension components such as spring seat, control arm bushings, ball joints and so on simply seem not to last at all. I had Japanese cars in the past and went only with regular replacement parts (not the cheapest though) and never had issues.

I put Febi spring seats on my S60, they seem quite hard. I would only go Lemforder if it was to be needed again.

litewait · Post by **litewait** » 06 Oct 2015, 06:56

OMG! I took a picture of the wheel well and the spring seat is gone !! It appears the spring is right against the wheel well !!! The thing must have cracked in half.

Post by **JRL** » 06 Oct 2015, 07:33

Did you also install new spring seats or was this an original spring seat?
You ALWAYS install a new spring seat when the strut is out.
I can't believe even an aftermarket one would break this fast, could be a botched install!

litewait · Post by **litewait** » 06 Oct 2015, 08:21

Everything was replaced. Strut, Spring Seat, Strut Mount, Boot, etc. Pretty shocked as well, I can't imagine the component from Monroe failing like that so soon.

Post by **precopster** » 06 Oct 2015, 12:27

The new spring seat can be easily damaged regardless of genuine Volvo or OEM etc IF the force of the spring is allowed to bear solely on the spring seat without the bearing plate attached and torqued. You MUST NOT release the spring compressor until the top shock nut is torqued fully while the bearing plate is attached.

Post by **JRL** » 06 Oct 2015, 13:54

In other words they were not installed properly

Post by **matthew1** » 06 Oct 2015, 14:05

We need pics.

Turbo_Boss · Post by **Turbo_Boss** » 06 Oct 2015, 15:27