S40 Strut Replacement

[theWIFES_S70]

I've had this car for a little two years and in the last year I've been chasing down a metallic rattle. At first, I thought it was the IPD Skid Plate. (I'd heard it rattles sometimes.) I replaced the metal skid plate with the plastic shield. Rattle is still there. I had a bearing go out so I took it to a local shop and they threw two new front bearings in. Fine with me. I asked him to look for the metallic rattle and he couldn't find it. Took it to another shop and they couldn't find anything either. (What a way to remember that no one likes to work on these cars...)

Sachs struts were on sale at Rockauto so I picked up a pair. Picked up some bearings and mounts from FCP and finally got around to do the job...

Well, I researched the job using the following two videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVGpbVRFkag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCRZcQUZfVk&t=366s

Removal of the strut is pretty straight forward... I think the official shop manual says to remove the axle. I don't think you have to. But you do need some extra clearance so I did detach the outer tie rod.

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After setting up my spring compressors and running them down, I was able to zip off the 18mm nut on top of the strut pretty easily with my Milwaukee mid-torque. When I pulled off the strut bearings from the strut mounts... it did this.

s40_strut_bearings.jpg (772.9 KiB) Viewed 2845 times

Desperate need of replacement, right? Broken bearings here, though, didn't really affect driveability. By my calculation, we've done a few K miles with this noise. So anyhow, the job is fairly straightforward. And there was no fear or springs shooting up into the hood of the car. The strut mount is a piece of steel covered in rubber. (The original strut mount was still in good condition. For those thinking about saving money. I would guess you could keep it and just replace the bearing to save money.)

So, the hardest part of this job? Trying to get the strut base into the knuckle. Best I can offer is this:

1. take your time
2. jack up ball joint a little at a time.
3. make sure bottom of strut is a little lubed (PB Blaster was fine for me)
4. make sure angle of knuckle isn't too far off, I found that if I jacked while pressing on the rotor, it worked pretty well
5. line up holes for strut mount bolts, you can screw them down a little, you don't have to yet.
6. jack up ball joint slowly.
7. every so often, tap on these green arrows with your mallet and make sure it seats
8. I scribed struts with awl to make sure they were moving
8. take your time

s40_struts.jpg (380.77 KiB) Viewed 2845 times

[MoVolvos]

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Looks similar, did the strut bearing have FOMOCO stamped on them? The C30 clubbers said those never go out unlike the P80 and P2's so I cleaned greased and reused them.

The knuckle looks the same as our 08 C30 T5 2.0.

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=93383

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08 C30 T5 2.0 Strut Bearings.png (1.56 MiB) Viewed 2838 times

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He made the strut removal look so easy. I will be buying or making that tool next time.

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[theWIFES_S70]

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Looks similar, did the strut bearing have FOMOCO stamped on them? The C30 clubbers said those never go out unlike the P80 and P2's so I cleaned greased and reused them.

The knuckle looks the same as our 08 C30 T5 2.0.

Yes, everything I've taken off this car has been branded "FOMOCO!" Spring seat looked great. I almost considered reusing it but then said, well, I have a new piece here anyway. That's so interesting about the bearing. I was surprised that it fell apart, ball bearings spilling everywhere. Bearings were pretty cheap so I just installed the new ones I'd purchased. Car feels great... but damn clunking...

[MoVolvos]

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Looks similar, did the strut bearing have FOMOCO stamped on them? The C30 clubbers said those never go out unlike the P80 and P2's so I cleaned greased and reused them.

The knuckle looks the same as our 08 C30 T5 2.0.

Yes, everything I've taken off this car has been branded "FOMOCO!" Spring seat looked great. I almost considered reusing it but then said, well, I have a new piece here anyway. That's so interesting about the bearing. I was surprised that it fell apart, ball bearings spilling everywhere. Bearings were pretty cheap so I just installed the new ones I'd purchased. Car feels great... but damn clunking...

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The Bearing Assembly is made to separate so mine went all over the ground when I first took it apart. Two Bearing Races, top and bottom, and Bearing Cage with Bearings in the middle. Had I lost just one bearing I would have changed it also.

We installed a larger aftermarket rear sway bar and after a year or so, though still tight, the end links started to create a popping sound. A turn or two of the nut and it's gone. Give the sway end links a try. I would recommend systematically spraying white lithium grease (thicker than other oils) on the moving parts of the suspension including engine mounts.

The grease may just be enough to rid of the sound temporarily so you know it's that particular part or area. A part at a time and don't simultaneously do both sides.

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[theWIFES_S70]

I wish I'd seen a write-up on those bearings. I could've regreased. That being said, bearings do wear out... I work on bicycles and installing headsets and sometimes you see pitting on bearings and braces where water and dirt have made their way in... I'm okay with new Rein strut bearings!!

[MoVolvos]

I wish I'd seen a write-up on those bearings. I could've regreased. That being said, bearings do wear out... I work on bicycles and installing headsets and sometimes you see pitting on bearings and braces where water and dirt have made their way in... I'm okay with new Rein strut bearings!!

It's a toss up at those miles but being you had them might as well. Took me a bit of contemplating before deciding to reused them. The deciding factor was I found a set of news struts at around $20 so if those went bad quickly I would be in there again with Bilsteins and new bearing.

I remember as a kid greasing the fork bearings where the goose necks entered besides wheel bearing on my BMX and many other bikes.

Did quite of bit of greasing on older cars where one bearing race was pressed into the rotor and bearings in cage sandwich between the outer washer and castle nut on a spindled axle. Seen a few worn races and pitted bearing. One time I didn't torque the axle properly on our 82 VW pickup. My parents had loaded that thing up. The bearing got crushed, fell out and races scored and damaged so the wheel almost came off. Nice rubbing on the fender and cut in the treads .

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[theWIFES_S70]

Did quite of bit of greasing on older cars where one bearing race was pressed into the rotor and bearings in cage sandwich between the outer washer and castle nut on a spindled axle. Seen a few worn races and pitted bearing. One time I didn't torque the axle properly on our 82 VW pickup. My parents had loaded that thing up. The bearing got crushed, fell out and races scored and damaged so the wheel almost came off. Nice rubbing on the fender and cut in the treads .

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You to write this up and send it to Rockauto!! I love the stories on their newsletters!!!

You know, I miss cars that only needed grease, white lithium grease and silicone spray here and there to keep everything running smoothly!

[abscate]

Are you done with that strut bearing???