97 850 N/A strut mount? spring seat? or both

camjohns · Post by **camjohns** » 21 Dec 2015, 14:05

Given my car is close to 20 yrs old i understand that all suspension items are due for replacing.

In the last couple years i have replaced the control arms, sway bar links, and outer tie rod ends.

The other day i went to check to see if I could spin the top nut on the strut tower, and sure enough i was able to turn it by hand. If that is the case i understand that the Spring seats are trashed.

Due to being tight on cash, i am wondering what i can get away with?
replace just the spring seat? (which i would do the HD xc90)
or if it is highly recommended that i replace the strut mount as well?

Thanks!

skloon · Post by **skloon** » 21 Dec 2015, 14:25

I qwould do both as it is a bit of work to get to it- although depends on how old your struts are- you may want to look at the all in one strut spring bearing things as some can be a good deal- maybe not the hightest quality but real easy to install

camjohns · Post by **camjohns** » 21 Dec 2015, 14:37

Ya im pretty sure they are the original, looking through past owner records didn't show any indication that they were ever replaced and im hitting close to 300,000 miles.haha

jcdillin · Post by **jcdillin** » 21 Dec 2015, 15:19

I just did this exact job on mine and the strut mounts totally needed it as well, they were both very crunchy with age. The other thing that was gone was the bump stop.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Dec 2015, 15:46

Of 10 or 12 spring seats that I have replaced the strut mounts on mine have run about 50% on needing to be replaced as well. Even on the old '94 the strut mounts were surprisingly good after about 200k miles. I replaced both of them but saved them and replaced others with the used ones when I encountered some that were much worse.

The problem is time. I know that when I have a car down for suspension repairs I want to get the job done in one day and you can't do that if you need to order parts once things are disassembled. Anything that you would buy from an auto parts store will be junk and the local dealership is typically substantially more expensive than internet ordering. Strut mounts are one of those "OEM only" things unless you just enjoy replacing them.

...Lee

camjohns · Post by **camjohns** » 21 Dec 2015, 17:04

sounds great! and i know if the mounts are bad if i feel a "gritty" feeling when turning them after i get it taken apart?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Dec 2015, 20:03

They will be loose more than gritty but they can be gritty as well. Even new there is a tad of slop in the bearing.

...Lee

Post by **mecheng** » 22 Dec 2015, 11:45

Who is the OEM for the spring seat and strut mount?

INA or Sachs for strut mount????

Hutchison for spring seat???

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Dec 2015, 12:36

Strut mount is INA.

Spring seat I am not sure, I have heard Sachs, but I just only buy from Volvo. Not even IPD HD, as at times they have been good but at others they have been bad. Would rather not try to keep track of if they are currently selling a good batch.

Post by **cn90** » 22 Dec 2015, 12:43

Strut Mount (the part with the bearing inside): I have seen Boge, Sachs and INA> They are all good. No difference in quality.

Spring Seat (basically a piece of steel coated with rubber material): Stick to Volvo OEM, make sure you use the one for XC90.