2001 V70 Strut Fitment

cmbfoto · Post by **cmbfoto** » 05 Jun 2018, 09:17

I received a pair of V70 AWD struts barely on the cheap. They install into my FWD V70 with no problem. Is there a safety factor with this install.
The car does sit about an inch taller in the front but is level with the rear.

Thanks

Post by **oragex** » 05 Jun 2018, 09:29

Very common problem to have the front end lifter with new struts. Not sure what the issue is, maybe Volvo put different struts (or springs) on different years/engines, causing a bit of confusion when it comes to part no. (well, actually a lot of confusion when looking on Internet sites). There have been quite a few different original struts numbers from Volvo, I suspect it was the same for the coil springs. Not sure why, as all S60/V70 had the same engine/front end weight (except maybe for the D5 diesel engine sold elsewhere)

The bad news is that with the front end lifted, the car is very unbalanced especially at higher speeds (highway). Emergency handling is all but safe when driving like this (not to mention the handling feels like that on an old Hyundai).

Post by **SuperHerman** » 05 Jun 2018, 09:40

You installed the wrong parts. The XC variants are taller. Hence your front end is now taller. Not safe.

All may not be lost. I have seen others, usually the other way around, working this issue. You need to pull up the parts list and see what else you have to change, if even possible. Search the forums. Most likely you will have to do the rear end, but I DON'T know.

It is possible you can now have a higher riding V once you get it sorted.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 05 Jun 2018, 14:52

The XC is higher but the V70 AWD is not. Not noticeably so at least.

Just putting new springs and shocks on a car will raise it almost an inch if the old ones had been there for a while. Were the struts you put on new, "new" or well used?

Handling won't be much worse than what anyone with standard springs in the rear and some load in the boot creating a 2-3 inch difference between front and rear will experience. Ie a bit dodgy and not something I'd prefer but also not something I'd be afraid to drive.

Regarding part numbers Volvo likes to change them. You can look up some really simple mechanical piece like a mounting bracket for something and it'll have several part numbers even though it's impossible to tell a difference and there can't possibly be one in use. So while it's confusing it's not something I would worry too much about either if everything else checks out.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 05 Jun 2018, 21:04

Need clarification. Did you install V70 awd struts or V70 XC awd struts? I pulled up some sites looking to see if there are any differences. I don't see a separate strut for the V70 fwd vs awd (or for a spring), but the control arm has a different part. Although for the XC variant things are different. That is for the sites I looked at.

Do you have any part numbers off the old set up?

dlundblad · Post by **dlundblad** » 06 Jun 2018, 09:12

~1" higher with new quick struts (new coils included) is normal if indeed you used AWD parts rather than the XC70 parts.

Her S60 sat much higher for about a week or so until everything settled. It's still higher than before though.

cmbfoto · Post by **cmbfoto** » 06 Jun 2018, 09:39

Thanks to everyone that replied. The pair of ready struts cost me $30 and still have the OE label and paint on then. As long as they don’t put excess stress on the ball joints I may give it a go. I’ll look for another FWD set in the mean time.

Post by **scot850** » 06 Jun 2018, 15:21

Why not just check with the dealer if they work for your car? Volvo fits various spring rates depending on model variant and the same with shocks (softer to harder). It may well be the shocks are ok, and/or the rear springs have settled. Maybe replacing those with new shocks might level the field?

Neil.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 06 Jun 2018, 23:04

Look up the label part numbers on the old and new units and compare fitment.