Crashy suspension

[40t]

I don't know what the V70 suspension was like when new, but my 2008 feels very wooden and crashy over rutted surfaces - more than I suspect it should - despite a useful improvement since fitting trailing arm bushes recently. It thuds badly over imperfections as minor as cat's eyes and expansion joints. It's only done 73k and the dampers have no faults as such, but perhaps just being sat on for eleven years by a very heavy car hasn't done them any favours. On the other hand, I don't want to replace them for no real benefit, if the ride quality is par for the course. Not being mechanically minded, are there any other bushes that might be to blame?

[Model flyer]

Your suspension/ shocks may feel ok on a bounce test but will be clapped out at 73k, it's all part of the Ford effect . Making loud noise over minor bumps is a good indication of internal wear particularly the front struts. When replacing also replace the top mounts . I had the same problem with my V70 ,the shocks all looked good and seemed to damp well . After replacement car felt like new again. Once the spring had been removed the wear was obvious as the damping was almost non existent and all pressure had escaped from units.

[40t]

Thank you Model Flyer - it does feel as though the front may the source - the weight of the engine, I imagine. I'll go with Sachs with a view to maintaining the original ride, unless anyone can suggest something better.

[Kev0607]

There's many different types of shocks for these vehicles, so I'm not sure how you'd fair out buying the correct ones without going to the main dealer & getting a quote off them. VIDA tells you the codes/part numbers for all the struts, but it still didn't tell me which ones were actually fitted to the car. Basically, I know all the part numbers for the several different types of shocks fitted to the V70, just not the part number for the ones I need! After 152,000 miles on my Dad's 57 plate V70, I don't seem to be able to find any part number stickers on the existing shocks, but it has 152,000 miles & they've probably weathered away.

I did get a quote off Volvo and I think it was around £400 for the pair of front shocks & other associated parts like the strut mounts etc. It seemed expensive to me, so I want to shop around. I'd be interested to know how did you get the exact part numbers for the ones fitted to your car & where are you getting the parts from now that you know which ones to get? Aren't Sachs the brand Volvo used anyway?

[40t]

Perhaps I've messed up, in that case - especially as they've just arrived today! Partsforvolvosonline come up with one Sachs option for all V70 08-16 with standard chassis - ditto Eurocarparts (where I ordered them). Yes, I believe they were the OEM. 'Ford M' appears by the bar code, which would tend to support this. There's a code - 313 749 - also 635592850. The cost, including 2 Feb tops strut mounts, was £224.

[Kev0607]

Thanks for your reply. After further research, it appears that websites like Euro Car Parts show a couple of shocks & its easy to decipher which one you require (If you have the 4c chassis or non-4c). However, the VIDA diagrams give multiple part numbers & sometimes multiple diagrams & it can be hard to decipher the exact part numbers you need. Maybe its me looking at the images wrong

I've just been on Euro Car parts & the struts for my Dad's car (57 plate V70) are £136.99 each (Sachs), but partsforvolvosonline are considerably cheaper at £90 per shock. Just to confirm, you purchased two strut mounts (1st link), as well as the Sachs shocks of course?

https://www.partsforvolvosonline.com...54832230ab8e73

Aren't you replacing the strut mount bearings whilst you're at it (See below link), or the rubber spacers & rubber bumpstops?

https://www.partsforvolvosonline.com...54832230ab8e73

You mentioned Febi parts. Are those parts linked above this brand, or did you buy the Febi parts elsewhere?

Thanks for sending the link to volvopartsonline, it seems a great site & is handy to know. Your help is appreciated, as I'm planning on doing the same job on my Dad's car that happens to be the same as yours.

[40t]

Thank you for your input. If you look at the top of the eurocarparts page, you should see a promo code, bringing the price right down. I’ll do some more research today.

[Kev0607]

Sachs struts are £89 each with the discount on Euro Car Parts. Thanks for the heads up on that. The 50% discount makes a big difference!

Where did you buy your strut mounts from?

[40t]

I got the strut mounts from eurocar as well - part number 609660130. They've messed up the home delivery, though - I'd suggest you pick up from one of their stores if you can. I spoke with the Volvo dealer today and they felt that just the dampers and the strut mounts should suffice, unless you're unlucky and find damage to any of the various spacers, brackets, and helper springs.

[Kev0607]

I live fairly local to a branch, so I could pick the parts up handy enough.

How did you find the Febi Strut mount you purchased on Euro Car Parts? I put the reg in, clicked on "Suspension and Steering ", then "Suspension Mountings" & that brings up different "Strut mount kits". There's a Febi one listed looking at the image, but that has a different part number (609590377) to the one you bought. That seems odd, as your car is the same model?

Is the one you got definitely the right part, as I thought there was a plate (Called a spring seat according to Volvo) at the top of the shock, then a friction bearing? That image of the part you purchased doesn't look like a friction bearing, so where does that fit?

The link below shows a picture of a Febi spring seat & bearing, which according to Volvo is the shock layout starting in the engine bay. Unless the image is wrong on Euro Car Parts for the part you purchased possibly, but it doesn't look like a bearing (Or "Top Mount" as its more commonly known).

https://m.buycarparts.co.uk/febi-bilstein/7286647