V50 R-Design towbar + exhaust hanger problem

JohnnyDMonic · May 16th, 2020, 17:41

Hi there, I'm halfway through fitting a towbar on my 2010 V50 R-Design. The towbar is from Tow Trust, and is a detachable swan neck type.

I've got to the part in the instructions where is says "using the existing exhaust hanger and heatshield bolts together with 3 more bolts, bolt the brackets to the underside of the chassis."

The problem is the bolts are completely corroded and rounding off, etc.. I'm worried about cutting them off with a grinder in case they are an integral part of the chassis (ie some kind of captive bolt?). Does anyone knw how these are fixed to the car?

I'm also not sure about how to fit the 3 extra bolts. I'm guessing if I were able to remove the hanger and heatshield, I'd find 3 captive nuts somewhere in the chassis?

I've tried finding diagrams online but i think the R-Design is different cos i can't find any pictures that match what i see on my car.

Can anyone help?

iainmd · May 19th, 2020, 21:46

Looked at VIDA. The thread looks like a captive nut in the chassis so I wouldn't cut them off. You're going to need to find a way to remove them then replace with new bolts.

Volvo instructions here if it's useful.

JohnnyDMonic · May 20th, 2020, 22:09

Thanks so much for that. I managed to get them out by filing them down a bit and hammering a slightly smaller imperial sized socket on. Plus liberal amounts of WD40.

Towbar all fitted now and old bolts replaced with shiny new ones from the kit. I went for a Tow Trust detachable one and it's great, you can't see any part of it including the electric socket when it's been detached. No bumper cutting either on the R-Design bumper.

hotbot · Mar 29th, 2022, 22:46

Any pics of the finished product/install?
I'm looking for a tow-bar (preferably detachable) for MY2010 V50 R-Design that doesn't require a bumper cut and is nigh-on invisible when detached. What Tow-Trust model did you fit or could anyone else recommend another solution?

JohnnyDMonic · Mar 29th, 2022, 23:02

I bought this one. I'll try and get a photo of it tomorrow when it's light.

https://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/shop/to...chable-towbar/

This is the electrics kit I got but it looks like they're out of stock.
https://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/shop/wi...ted-electrics/

JohnnyDMonic · Apr 25th, 2022, 14:17

Sorry for the delay in getting the pics.

I moved a friend's boat at the weekend and took the opportunity to snap a before and after pic. As you can see, if the towbar isn't attached there is absolutly no sign of it being there. The electrics socket swivels up behind the bumper too when not in use. Hope that helps.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iRh...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iR_...ew?usp=sharing

hotbot · Apr 30th, 2022, 22:31

JDM..really appreciate the update - looks like that install worked out perfectly for you.
I had hoped to get a Westfalia removable assy. (to swap the neck/ball between our other car-which has the Westfalia subframe/ball already installed) but without third party confirmation (someone here) of a detachable Westfalia install without bumper cut, to my 2010 V50 R-Design, then TowTrust may be the way to go for me. Thanks again for the pics.

May 16th, 2020, 17:41	#1
JohnnyDMonic New Member Last Online: Jan 23rd, 2023 14:37 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Falmouth	V50 R-Design towbar + exhaust hanger problem Hi there, I'm halfway through fitting a towbar on my 2010 V50 R-Design. The towbar is from Tow Trust, and is a detachable swan neck type. I've got to the part in the instructions where is says "using the existing exhaust hanger and heatshield bolts together with 3 more bolts, bolt the brackets to the underside of the chassis." The problem is the bolts are completely corroded and rounding off, etc.. I'm worried about cutting them off with a grinder in case they are an integral part of the chassis (ie some kind of captive bolt?). Does anyone knw how these are fixed to the car? I'm also not sure about how to fit the 3 extra bolts. I'm guessing if I were able to remove the hanger and heatshield, I'd find 3 captive nuts somewhere in the chassis? I've tried finding diagrams online but i think the R-Design is different cos i can't find any pictures that match what i see on my car. Can anyone help? Last edited by JohnnyDMonic; May 16th, 2020 at 17:47.

May 19th, 2020, 21:46	#2
iainmd Member Last Online: Apr 25th, 2024 13:38 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fife View Photos By: iainmd	Looked at VIDA. The thread looks like a captive nut in the chassis so I wouldn't cut them off. You're going to need to find a way to remove them then replace with new bolts. Volvo instructions here if it's useful. __________________ Present: 2009 Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe SE Past: 2004 Volvo S40 T5 SE Last edited by iainmd; May 19th, 2020 at 21:51.

Mar 29th, 2022, 23:02	#5
JohnnyDMonic New Member Last Online: Jan 23rd, 2023 14:37 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Falmouth	I bought this one. I'll try and get a photo of it tomorrow when it's light. https://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/shop/to...chable-towbar/ This is the electrics kit I got but it looks like they're out of stock. https://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/shop/wi...ted-electrics/ Last edited by JohnnyDMonic; Mar 29th, 2022 at 23:06.

May 20th, 2020, 22:09	#3
JohnnyDMonic New Member Last Online: Jan 23rd, 2023 14:37 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Falmouth	Thanks so much for that. I managed to get them out by filing them down a bit and hammering a slightly smaller imperial sized socket on. Plus liberal amounts of WD40. Towbar all fitted now and old bolts replaced with shiny new ones from the kit. I went for a Tow Trust detachable one and it's great, you can't see any part of it including the electric socket when it's been detached. No bumper cutting either on the R-Design bumper.

Mar 29th, 2022, 22:46	#4
hotbot Junior Member Last Online: Mar 27th, 2024 11:51 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Dublin	Any pics of the finished product/install? I'm looking for a tow-bar (preferably detachable) for MY2010 V50 R-Design that doesn't require a bumper cut and is nigh-on invisible when detached. What Tow-Trust model did you fit or could anyone else recommend another solution?

Apr 25th, 2022, 14:17	#6
JohnnyDMonic New Member Last Online: Jan 23rd, 2023 14:37 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Falmouth	Sorry for the delay in getting the pics. I moved a friend's boat at the weekend and took the opportunity to snap a before and after pic. As you can see, if the towbar isn't attached there is absolutly no sign of it being there. The electrics socket swivels up behind the bumper too when not in use. Hope that helps. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iRh...ew?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iR_...ew?usp=sharing

Apr 30th, 2022, 22:31	#7
hotbot Junior Member Last Online: Mar 27th, 2024 11:51 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Dublin	JDM..really appreciate the update - looks like that install worked out perfectly for you. I had hoped to get a Westfalia removable assy. (to swap the neck/ball between our other car-which has the Westfalia subframe/ball already installed) but without third party confirmation (someone here) of a detachable Westfalia install without bumper cut, to my 2010 V50 R-Design, then TowTrust may be the way to go for me. Thanks again for the pics.

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