2007 S40 struts FWD vs. AWD Topic is solved

bob-in-va · Post by **bob-in-va** » 17 Mar 2018, 11:41

Hi,

I have a 2007 S40 T5 6SP AWD and need struts and shocks. All of the websites I have searched identify the parts for FWD. One of the vendors told me the AWD has completely different part numbers from the FWD, because it is a heavier car. He gave me the Volvo part numbers, but unfortunately, they do not carry the parts at all and he did not find a Bilstein replacement. I have not seen any suppliers differentiate the aftermarket struts specifically for AWD. I went to the KYB website and looked up by my VIN, but the description returned for the car and model identified it as FWD, serving up the same common part numbers I have been finding. I did not find the Bilstein website search function even worked with Firefox or IE.

Is there a trustworthy way to look up a cross reference, has anyone already been down this path?

Thanks,

bob-in-va

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 30 Mar 2018, 10:58

This is something I'm looking at as well because of our unique cars and the eventual demise of my shocks on my S40 (same car, btw although the suspension has already been converted to Heico which is no longer available either). Others have posted about this over on Swedespeed as well and there do seem to be some options but require some modifications. let me see if I can't search out that info for you and put a link up here for you.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 30 Mar 2018, 11:26

Here is a good place to start... a lot of info in this thread: http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... ght=shocks

bob-in-va · Post by **bob-in-va** » 30 Mar 2018, 16:13

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I kept digging after I posted because my need seemed urgent based on all the chatter I was getting in the FE. I called a few places with still uncertain results. In conversation with eEuro parts, they looked up the part numbers by VIN. They advised the front were same as listed for FWD, so I believe (so for my specific case) the same aftermarket parts will work. The rear shocks were a different part number and they advised no after market options were available. Makes sense, since for AWD the differences are in the rear. Fortunately... The Volvo parts were on sale; priced ~about the same as the Bilsteins and KYB, so I went for genuine Volvo, with aftermarket bearings and mounts. My suspicions were confirmed. Glad I plowed through it, neither front nor rear had any damping left and the bearings were also shot. What a world of difference! Things have quieted down where I can easily tell now the sway bar links are clicking (no noise hitting the speed bump square, but clicks on angle). That will be a walk in the park after the Struts/shocks job.

stay dirty,

bob-in-va

bob-in-va · Post by **bob-in-va** » 06 Apr 2018, 18:10

The remaining clicks were not sway bar links after all, I did not get the top nut tight enough on the strut stem. Gave that another twist and quieted right down.