XC70: Suspension Xc70 suspension

[Wilko66]

So I've just returned from my local Volvo dealer where I had a safety recall done on the seat belts. I also had a software service to update the computers? Anyway while I was there I asked for a price for shocks/springs for each corner. Bloody hell 2 and half grand for shocks/springs and strut tops. Any one have an alternative of same quality?

[Kev0607]

I'm presuming you have 4C suspension... those shock absorbers aren't cheap!

However, having recently replaced the front shocks, bearings & spring seats on my Dad's car, as well as the rear shock absorbers & mounting plates... I'm fairly confident you can get them much cheaper than you've been quoted. Bare in mind, my Dad's car doesn't have the 4c suspension & we did the work ourselves, but even still, this is worth a try...

Call Mill Volvo (now known as Stoneacre) in Newcastle, ask to be put through to the parts department & ask for John, although I think other members of staff call him Ian (?). I think Ian is Gaelic for John... that may explain why.

Give your reg number & ask for a quote on the parts you want - They sell Volvo parts at trade price. If you're happy, you pay over the phone & they post them out to you for an additional charge (it was only £10 to post all these heavy items for my dad's car & they arrived within two/three days) to my home address.

Then, find a Volvo Specialist (independent) to fit them, or a trusted garage (not a dealership). The dealership will charge you ridiculous labour charges, something around the region of £130 per hour & that's going to cost you an arm & a leg alone. If you want to save money, buy the parts yourself & get another garage to fit them, at a much cheaper rate (or do it yourself if you fancy it)...

Mill Volvo: 0191 274 8200

[Wilko66]

Thanks for that. I have just read one of your replies to another suspension post and my front shocks are 31 as marked. I'm still not sure if I have 4 c suspension but this will help me find out. Thanks again, I will the guys in the north east a shout.

[Bonefishblues]

Also look at the price from Autodoc as I have found them consistently the cheapest (potential in my case, I'm pleased to say) supplier of 4C (Monroe) struts.

Do make sure that you deal with the tech. team at AD and provide reg & VIN, just to avoid any issues as they are Europe-based, so a right pain if things aren't correct.

BTW the Volvo guys in Newcastle trade on eBay as Volvopartstrade too.

[Wilko66]

Originally Posted by Wilko66

Thanks for that. I have just read one of your replies to another suspension post and my front shocks are 31 as marked. I'm still not sure if I have 4 c suspension but this will help me find out. Thanks again, I will the guys in the north east a shout.

The car is not 4 C just looked at the owners manual.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Wilko66

The car is not 4 C just looked at the owners manual.

Do you have any buttons inside the car near near the heater controls that say "Sport" & "Comfort"?

If not, then you don't have 4c shock absorbers (as far as I know). That will save you a lot of money! You can also look at your existing shock absorbers to see if there's any wires/electrical connections on them.

Looking at the part numbers on the picture you posted though, Volvo seem to have quoted you on 4c shock absorbers? You can see connector wires when you search via the part number they specified. Normal shock absorbers have no wires on them.

Also, do you need to replace the springs? If they're in good condition with no cracks, then you can reuse them. Again, that'll save you more money.

Another thing looking at the picture you posted, Volvo have quoted you for a "strut top" (Volvo call it a "spring seat", or did when I ordered the parts & you need two of them for the front shocks)... that's fair enough.

Underneath the "strut top"/"spring seat", there's a bearing (you need one for each front shock absorber, so two in total). There's no point replacing just the spring seat without the bearings. Maybe your car is slightly different to the V70 I replaced the parts on, but just double check.

So you need;

• Front shock absorber (right)
• Front shock absorber (left)
• Spring seat/strut top x2 (front right & left)
• Bearing x2 (front right & left) **Check**
• Rear shock absorber (right)
• Rear shock absorber (left)
• Rear spring seat/strut top x2

Springs for all four corners? If in good condition with no cracks, I'd reuse them (as mentioned above).

[ferg55]

If you do want to change the springs, I have used this manufacturer before, made in Germany and very reasonably priced:
https://www.suplex.de/produkte/?lang=en
available from Marathon Distribution at the time: www.mwd.uk.com

It may be worth doing the fronts whilst the struts are disassembled, as it's a big job to do again if either spring cracks in future (and remember you'd have to replace both at the same time). And you'd get more benefit from changing both shocks & springs. The rears are an easy job if they do crack in future, so you could chance your luck on them.

[sellxc70]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I'm presuming you have 4C suspension... those shock absorbers aren't cheap!

Call Mill Volvo (now known as Stoneacre) in Newcastle, ask to be put through to the parts department & ask for John, although I think other members of staff call him Ian (?). I think Ian is Gaelic for John...

Mill Volvo: 0191 274 8200

I alway use Mill Volvo (Stoneacre) for my service parts. I believe that Ian and John both work in the parts dept....they sound the same over the phone.

I tried my local Volvo dealer for parts once and they couldn't get close.

Regards, Steve

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by sellxc70

I alway use Mill Volvo (Stoneacre) for my service parts. I believe that Ian and John both work in the parts dept....they sound the same over the phone.

I tried my local Volvo dealer for parts once and they couldn't get close.

Regards, Steve

Ah, okay. I thought it was the same person because they sound identical!

I've always found Mill Volvo (Stoneacre) to be really helpful & much cheaper than other dealers. In fact, they were a mile cheaper for the shock absorbers, bearings & spring seats that I recently fitted to my dad's V70.

[sellxc70]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

Ah, okay. I thought it was the same person because they sound identical!

I've always found Mill Volvo (Stoneacre) to be really helpful & much cheaper than other dealers. In fact, they were a mile cheaper for the shock absorbers, bearings & spring seats that I recently fitted to my dad's V70.

Did you find changing the shocks improved handling on the V70?