Body/Trim: 850: Rust...please take care with your 850 and check all is well.

[diplomat2.6]

Hi

Now the cambelt on my 850Tdi is all shiny and new, I thought I would do the rear delta arm bushes as there was a rather strange sense of the back sliding out during heavy cornering. Before starting that, I thought I would have an MOT before starting work so I can do it all at one.

Well, it had four dangerous tyres. What I hadn't seen is that on the inside tread, all 4 had delaminated. As two of the wheels were buckled and very poor condition, I treated it to 4 new Pursus 16" wheels and tyres as these were originally an option. It also failed on a track rod end a couple of bulbs. As the MoT list was so small, I thought the new delta arm bushes would be a fairly easy job as I have invested in the tool.

How wrong was I...

https://youtu.be/4-9YNH9WCXk

[volvo again]

That doesn't look good, surprised the MOT didn't pick up on any of this.

[rudi dudi]

Although all fixable.. I would call it a day at that much corrosion.
Once they start to rust your on a slippery slope.
Unusual for a Volvo mind.

[Volvofreak2]

Hej,
to be honest, personally never saw that much Rost on a 850, that's just devistating! There has to be much work to be done, otherwise the work on the bushes is not worth it!

Hej hej Gernot

[amazondean]

This is exactly the rust I have mentioned in an article I did under the sticky of "Volvo 850 killers", which is one of the last ones in the list. I have realised that most 850's are now suffering with bad rust behind the rear plastic mud shields, even though very little water or muck gets behind it.

Most can still be tackled with a grinder and some kind of paint covering, but if they are left without doing this, I believe a lot of 850's will be going to the scrapper in the next few years. Although your car looks far worse than any i've seen. Its a shame, because the 850 diesel is probably the rarest of all the models now!

[Martin Cox]

Oh dear. I really feel for you particularly after having invested so much in getting the engine right I hope you are able to get it sorted.

I now know my next job will be to have a look behind the plastic liners on my V70 before I do anything else. I too have a fresh MoT but as you've found out, rust in that area may not necessarily be picked up.

A timely warning for the rest of us methinks.

Martin

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by Martin Cox

Oh dear. I really feel for you particularly after having invested so much in getting the engine right I hope you are able to get it sorted.

I now know my next job will be to have a look behind the plastic liners on my V70 before I do anything else. I too have a fresh MoT but as you've found out, rust in that area may not necessarily be picked up.

A timely warning for the rest of us methinks.

Martin

+1 ^^^^^^^^

This is not unique to 850's but potentially affects all cars with plastic arch liners.

When I bought my C70 - 52,000mls and garaged, but having lived all its life in the fens - I removed all the arch liners and was surprised at the amount of silt lurking behind them. Both front and back. Liners and under body washed down with the hose pipe and left to dry. Then a coat of Dinitrol. Luckily there was no rust, but it is a problem out of sight and out of mind if not treated.

'er indoors Mini Cooper was the same - full of silt behind the liners.

[pinballdave]

Also check under the plastic sill covers, I've had large rust holes in the outer sill below the rear doors on my 850.

[amazondean]

I have had many liners off these cars and found very little in the form of silt or muck. They have been surprisingly dry and clean. They do their job as intended. The problem in my opinion is the manufacturing process. I believe there is an issue with the galvanising. This is the same with the usual place on the front wings. The dirt just doesn’t get in that place to cause the problem and I don’t believe the front wing problem is any form of rubbing, as the rust usually starts in the same place above or just on the ledge. Not noticed for several years as it creeps up above the bumper line.

On the other hand, the sill covers do clog up near the back wheel, but there is rarely any rust behind this, not in comparison to the issue behind the liners.

[JOHN 850]

How easy is it to get the sill covers off as will check mine before doing anymore engine work etc.....

Cheers

J.