New front suspension choices - v70 t5

[itguy]

Hi all

I've got an early (late 2000) p2 v70 t5 and at 104k miles the suspension all round feels tired (bouncing along and crashing over things!).

Anyone had any experience of fitting the partsforvolvosonline own dampers? (the blue ones on their site)??

I'd renew the front top mounts at the same time but do you think springs would be required too at this age / miles?

Cheers

[JamesT5]

Hi all

I've got an early (late 2000) p2 v70 t5 and at 104k miles the suspension all round feels tired (bouncing along and crashing over things!).

Anyone had any experience of fitting the partsforvolvosonline own dampers? (the blue ones on their site)??

I'd renew the front top mounts at the same time but do you think springs would be required too at this age / miles?

Cheers

I know how you feel, mines a Y plate T5 too and it also feels like it's "bouncing along and crashing over things". Thing is, mine has 231,000 on the clock!

I don't think you need to change springs unless they snap or are rusting through, they only really affect ride height. It's your shocks and mounts you need to change, especially the mounts because that's where mine is suffering big style at the moment - I can feel it through the wheel, around bends and over bumps in the road.

I need to change my shocks and mounts so I'll be interested to hear your verdict on whatever you choose to use for your replacement parts.

Regards

James

[itguy]

Thats good news then, if springs aren't needed that saves a few quid - I'm not looking to lower the car so I suspect the dampers are just tired!

Let's see if anyone else has a view too!

[JamesT5]

Thats good news then, if springs aren't needed that saves a few quid - I'm not looking to lower the car so I suspect the dampers are just tired!

Let's see if anyone else has a view too!

Yeah, shocks and also the shock mounts as they have a nasty habit of wearing and it's false economy not to change them whilst the shocks are off anyway. If the mounts go then you'll probably be hearing knocking sounds going over bumps which resembles the sound of a stone being thrown at the bottom of the car. You'll also feel the car likes to do strange things during cornering, although that could also be down to the shocks wearing of course.

Please let me know how you get on and what you decide to do.

Regards

James

[itguy]

Now - when people talk about top mounts - do they mean

The rubber spring seats - http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=6995
Or
The top Mount - http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=3171

I've always expected it to be the rubber element - but is it really both?

[JamesT5]

Now - when people talk about top mounts - do they mean

The rubber spring seats - http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=6995
Or
The top Mount - http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=3171

I've always expected it to be the rubber element - but is it really both?

That's a good question, I didn't realise there were 2 elements to it either. Someone will no doubt set the record straight....?

[itguy]

I've replaced the rubber spring seats before on my old 850 t5 but never the top mounts.

[JamesT5]

I've replaced the rubber spring seats before on my old 850 t5 but never the top mounts.

Ok, that might be what I should replace first then, it would make sense if the spring set was worn given the noises I get. Are you going to just replace your spring set or the whole assembly?

Regards

James

[itguy]

At the moment I think I'm going to replace the front dampers and rubber spring seats, keeping the existing top mounts and springs.

Unless I can find any reason to need to replace the top mounts too

[JamesT5]

At the moment I think I'm going to replace the front dampers and rubber spring seats, keeping the existing top mounts and springs.

Unless I can find any reason to need to replace the top mounts too

Good plan that. I think from what I can see now the top mounts are essentially just a metal support plate and the lower srping mount does most of the load bearing?

I've been to ATS to get a quote for mine, although I might just do the mounts for now given the cost. The bloke in the branch said some times it's cheaper to buy a whole kit including the main spings, than to buy just the mount and the shock. Personally, I think he was trying to sell me some 'extras'. I told him that I'd been online and looked in to the cost of each individual part so I know what they cost to buy. Hopefully that will stop them trying to sell me more than I need....

Regards

James

[itguy]

Well sometimes it can be like that but if you're looking at the pfv or Sachs shocks then that isn't the case.

The pfv shocks are meyle apparently, so need to do investigation as to their reputation

[M-R-P]

The top metal bit is the bearing, this will give you the clonk and ping noises. The rubber bit holds the spring and I would change that when changing the shocks. The middle bit of the rubber thing can fail and instead of transferring small bumps to the shock, the mount will flex, ruining the ride.
As for shocks, yes there are cheap ones about but the expensive ones are expensive for a good reason - you may not feel the difference but you pay for lifespan.

After that, have a look at powerflex bushes to sharpen it all up.

I have Boge automatic shocks, bilstein mounts and loads of powerflex bushes. I paid less than 300 quid for the bits and did the work myself.

[itguy]

Interesting - the blistein mounts, that's the top mounts??

where abouts did you get the stuff, especially the boge shocks?

[JamesT5]

Interesting - the blistein mounts, that's the top mounts??

where abouts did you get the stuff, especially the boge shocks?

Personally I'd try Fleabay, but Martin may have other ideas........

[M-R-P]

Interesting - the blistein mounts, that's the top mounts??

where abouts did you get the stuff, especially the boge shocks?

The bilstein bits (the rubber thingys) were 32 quid from eurocarparts. And the boge shocks were 190 quid for a pair. From GSF. You could probably get it a bit cheaper on tinterweb but I was in a hurry.

Also, before you do the shocks, go to a lodal stealer and get 4 x hub carrier bolts as you'll probably snap the old ones of have to grind them off.

[JamesT5]

The bilstein bits (the rubber thingys) were 32 quid from eurocarparts. And the boge shocks were 190 quid for a pair. From GSF. You could probably get it a bit cheaper on tinterweb but I was in a hurry.

Also, before you do the shocks, go to a lodal stealer and get 4 x hub carrier bolts as you'll probably snap the old ones of have to grind them off.

I'm going to get mine done at a garage, last time I tinkered with suspension repairs I wrecked my driveshaft.....

Interestingly, I did a bounce test on the front of mine yesterday again, and noticed the passenger side was a lot more squashy than the drivers side. From what I remember reading the MOT history, the car failed a few years ago on a knackered shock absorber, so my guess is the tight fisted first owner probably just changed the one strut and left the other side alone. Obviously a case of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality, but unfortunatley that mentality often ends up causing uneven wear and problems later on. You see this quite often with tyres, people change just one tyre which is utter nonsense unless the other tyre is hardly worn. What annoys me even more is changing one tyre for a different brand and tread pattern...

Anyway, I'm going to ATS in the morning to get a quote, I'll let you know what they want for the whole job.

Regards

James

[M-R-P]

Come on James, get your hands dirty and save yourself a few quid.

[JamesT5]

Come on James, get your hands dirty and save yourself a few quid.

Yeah, I'll break the nearside driveshaft this time, at least the car will be even then!

[M-R-P]

Lol, that won't happen when you do the shocks mate. I propped the hub up with a jack to keep it steady.
Have a look at my wishbone/shock thread - all the info you'll need.

[JamesT5]

Lol, that won't happen when you do the shocks mate. I propped the hub up with a jack to keep it steady.
Have a look at my wishbone/shock thread - all the info you'll need.

Yeah I saw that thread, it was 'Shock'-ingly good. I had a 'shock' when I saw the work involved and to be honest I just had to 'Strut' about until I worked out how I was going to do the job without breaking my car. Nothing did 'Spring' to mind and the 'Suspension' was killing me.