Rear shocks and Impact driver questions.

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » 13 Aug 2019, 17:42

Having just come from the mechanic, I am told I need rear shocks...front tie rods (inner and outer). I looked up any YouTube videos, found ones for S60, S80, XC90, etc. But none specific to my 2006 XC70. What models are IDENTICAL to my car? This way I can see if I want to tackle this myself.
Lastly, I only have hand tools. Would an electric impact driver work well enough to get one? I would like to go 'cheap' (ala Harbor Freight)...do the job and just have the tool around ....Not interested in doing much more with it....I'm old now...I get tired quickly.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 13 Aug 2019, 19:11

First you need to find out what type of shocks your vehicle has - specifically whether they are normal or self leveling. From that point pick your video for a V70 or XC70 (2001-2006) for the shock type you have. To be honest the manner to change them is the same - the only difference is getting to the inside nuts. You have to take off some parts and move some carpet. Fairly easy. So picking a V70 or XC70 of the mentioned years will show you what to do.

This is video explains the process - at the end you will see install with out air - so do the reverse for removal.

Here for the wagon:

Look up the part at one of the site sponsors, but before you do pull the part number from the shock on the car.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 13 Aug 2019, 23:10

Hold on. The XC70 Will have AWD. That makes it different from all the non-AWD cars which are really simple as shown above. It should be the same as on the S60 or V70 AWD models though.

Post by **abscate** » 14 Aug 2019, 04:29

Alan...see the thread from Enotslim on spring And shock change. With a helper, the hard part of getting the control arm down far enough to get the strut back on is easy. By yourself, not easy.

Other than that step, it is bolt off/on, no impact needed.

You can buy ready made struts or take the struts And springs to an independent to put together , off car.

Post by **vtl** » 14 Aug 2019, 07:54

abscate wrote: 14 Aug 2019, 04:29 With a helper, the hard part of getting the control arm down far enough to get the strut back on is easy. By yourself, not easy.

With the proper tools this is a one slacking man job

First, unbolt the front stay at the wheel hub housing. Loose the front stay's bolt at the subframe, the stay should drop down. This allows control arm to travel further down with much less force. I am usually able press the arm down with my leg and mount the shock onto the arm, otherwise a bottle- or scissor-jack can press the arm down for you, just position it on the arm and press against the body.

To get the stay back onto the housing you need to jack the arm at the proper height so the holes would align. The trick is to position the jack along the car, so it will be pulling the housing towards the front of the car:

This is a FWD car, but you get the idea.

Post by **xHeart** » 14 Aug 2019, 09:03

AlanS wrote: 13 Aug 2019, 17:42
Lastly, I only have hand tools. Would an electric impact driver work well enough to get one? I would like to go 'cheap' (ala Harbor Freight)...do the job and just have the tool around ....Not interested in doing much more with it....I'm old now...I get tired quickly.

You can use impact driver, 1/2" is heavy to hold, but why?
I took apart the rear to service the final drive. Most fasteners (bolts and nuts) were from aluminum material. 1/2 & 3/8 breaker bars will get you started. Craftsman hand tools are my favorite.

Post by **erikv11** » 14 Aug 2019, 10:47

Not sure there will be a ton of use for the impact on this job, but it is nice to have around over the long term.

I have a cheap Harbor Freight 1/2" impact, the corded one. Like xHeart says it is heavy and sometimes bulky (so that you must have extensions and an impact swivel), but otherwise it is a great tool. Has lasted a very long time and still performs very well. Great for spinning lug nuts off. I have removed probably 16 front axle nuts with this wrench, with the car in the air and many of them midwest-20-year-old-rusty-grade, and the impact tool has never let me down. I now have a compact air impact so don't use the HF unit very much but it comes out every time I pull a front axle, which has been too often recently.

Post by **matthew1** » 14 Aug 2019, 12:55

Alan, here's the topic thread Abscate mentioned above (now linked in his post): 2004 XC70 Broken Rear Spring Fix

Like the others have said, the half-inch AC impact class of tools will never let you down on tough nuts. I have one. I used it often on my 850's front suspension jobs and lug nuts. But it's heavy.

I wouldn't buy one for one job, but for many jobs down the road, yes.