Front Suspension Brace

[JamesT5]

A question, did Volvo fit the front suspension brace to P2 V70 T5's as standard? I ask because mine has one running across the width of the engine bay between to strut mounts and is also connected to an engine mount.

Second question, should there by any play in the bar (i.e. forward and backwards movement when I push and pull on it? If not, then I may have to tighten in up and/or change the rubber bush around the engine mount (somehow)

Regards

James

[LiamT4]

Its not a proper strutbrace, think its an engine stabilser or something similar.
Someone with a p2 will come along shortly.

[d2k]

yep they're standard fit mate.....


i too would be interested in whether or not it should move b/c mines pretty loose but the bolts are tight, i.e. if i pull back & forth there's a fair bit of play...??

[LiamT4]

I do know its not a strutbrace, strutbraces don't have bushes on them ;-)

[d2k]

I do know its not a strutbrace, strutbraces don't have bushes on them ;-)

im sure its just there to hold the engine's top mount.....

[LiamT4]

im sure its just there to hold the engine's top mount.....

I'v found this from an old thread

the factory bar is a stabiliser bar for the engine, the rubber end mounts were it joins to the suspension tops are quite soft & you can normally move the bar quite easily. You can buy spacers from Powerflex to stiffen the bar up so it in effect becomes a Strut brace, or some people clamp it in place with big washers to do the same thing

hth

[d2k]

lol..... thankyou....... big washers it is!!

[p fandango]

as said its to stabilize the engine not a strut bar. Avoid the Powerflex bushes because i wasted £25 on them & was no chance of them fitting, i'm going to go for these once i get some spare pennies to waste LINK

[M-R-P]

the design of the stabiliser bar is supposed to help keep engine noise out of the cabin. having fitted a poly top mount to mine, I'm never gonna stiffen that bar. the noise would be horrific

[d2k]

as said its to stabilize the engine not a strut bar. Avoid the Powerflex bushes because i wasted £25 on them & was no chance of them fitting, i'm going to go for these once i get some spare pennies to waste LINK

would big washers on top of the struts do the same thing though duane (im a bit of a cheapskate at the moment..lol )

i would still keep the actual top mount rubber though.

[M-R-P]

the washers go at each end, between where the brace meets the shock absorber turret.

[p fandango]

would big washers on top of the struts do the same thing though duane (im a bit of a cheapskate at the moment..lol )

i would still keep the actual top mount rubber though.

i've seen it done before but not tried it myself, aslong as your making the fixing bolts solid so they can't move around then it'll have the same effect. As with Martin i fitted a Powerflex top mount to the engine & it was terrible, thought the dashboard was going to rattle itself out

[Harvey]

I have fitted the powerflex ones ,didn't seam to make Any difference to me

[p fandango]

I have fitted the powerflex ones ,didn't seam to make Any difference to me

the 2 side one's? i couldn't get them to fit, but thinking about it the Powerflex bushes push into the original rubber so will still have some flex within the material

[Harvey]

Yes they go in from the lower side justed pushed in no problem at all to fit.

[p fandango]

Yes they go in from the lower side justed pushed in no problem at all to fit.

that might explain it, sure i tried to fit them on top lol

[M-R-P]

i've seen it done before but not tried it myself, aslong as your making the fixing bolts solid so they can't move around then it'll have the same effect. As with Martin i fitted a Powerflex top mount to the engine & it was terrible, thought the dashboard was going to rattle itself out

Did you see Shane's face when he sat in mine at duxford? the vibration at 650rpm put a surprised look on his face that made me fear for the new leather.

Speaking of new leather... PM coming your way Duane...