Fitting Strut Brace To an 850

**The Flying Banana** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:28

All, before i do it as i can only see it being the thing to do , when i am fitting the strut brace, it looks as though i have to cut the bracket from the left hand strut top which has the rubber stabiliser for the ABS ECU on it. The bracket also has mounting points for a multi plug at the back...does this bracket need cut to accomodate or am i missing something!!!! For those who have fitted a brace do you just allow the multi plug to hang free ( or cable tie to something suitable ) ...please help desperate to go out and see the difference!!!!

**Vikingxl** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:46

Does this help?

**Vikingxl** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:50

Or try here
http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthre...ht=strut+brace

**The Flying Banana** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:52

Nope..cos where is your ABS unit and what is holding it in place ?

**iGGy** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:53

Mine just plonked straight on without any interference from any existing bit of car. Maybe it's the age of the car, before 96? Do they have slightly different ABS modules? From memory the LHD cars need some part of a brake related bracket modifying in order to fit them.

**Vikingxl** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:54

Pass wheres Wobbly when you need him.Sorry mate its all i could find would look at mine but its a V70.Hope someone can help you out!

**The Flying Banana** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 20:59

Cheers Tho Rich, the thread of Bracers car helped, looks like the bracket gets cut from the pic so thats what i am of to do LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**t5tart** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 21:17

I had to take off the multiplug and fit the brace over the bracket or the ecu mount would fall awat seems to work fine must cable tie the plug to something

you can see the plug over the top of the ecu and the bracket poking out from under the brace

**Wobbly Dave** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 23:11

Originally Posted by vikingt5

Pass wheres Wobbly when you need him.

not 'ere?

seriously though my suggestion is a little bit of subtle remodelling of the bracket holding on the abs ecu. This is the earlier arrrangement (pre 95) but I am sure you can with a little persuasion get it to fit?

As you can see from the older engines this problem doesnt exist...

http://www.bigredvolvos.co.uk/images...5/B52324FT.jpg

**The Flying Banana** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 23:20

Where is the ABS unit in your post 95 models housed then ?

**Wobbly Dave** · Wednesday 22nd February 2006, 23:37

look here (photo on thread) http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=224 and you can see that it is suspended underneath the abs pump

**kmb** · Monday 26th January 2015, 11:58

I've just bought one of these Volvo front strut braces, hoping it will tighten up the front end a little and improve steering feel... part number 9204180 from Volvo.

Mine is a 1996 855 T5 model, I'm hoping I won't have to move or adapt anything under the bonnet to ensure a good fit as suggested in the thread above?

**Wobbly Dave** · Monday 26th January 2015, 12:13

Depends on which version of the ABS ECU unit you have.

**kmb** · Monday 26th January 2015, 12:26

I must admit I did drag this one out of the search (which actually worked OK for once)

I'll find out when it comes to fitting on Saturday, hopefully it'll turn up by then!

**Wobbly Dave** · Monday 26th January 2015, 12:28

I expect most 96 models would have moved to the "slung under the abs motor" that persisted till the mid noughties.

**Saaamon** · Monday 26th January 2015, 22:52

Even if you do have the older style it's really not difficult to fit. Measure twice, cut once.

**kmb** · Wednesday 4th February 2015, 22:37

Good news all round, it was a perfect fit, no ABS parts in the way and a simple fitment i.e. find a level spot, bolt on, torque up nuts and drive away!

This OEM strut brace makes a significant improvement, I was somewhat sceptical, but it feels much tighter, less wallow and a lot more pointy feel... in short the steering wooliness has been largely removed.

Bit surprised that so much difference was apparent, I guess a 19 year old chassis has been flexing about quite a lot and this brings back some rigidity!

**AshDVS** · Sunday 15th February 2015, 09:28

94/95 model cars have the larger ABS/TRACS module hanging off the LH tower which, depending on which brace you use, may need to have the bracket modified (in some cases to drop the module down a tad too).

96 model cars are great. Bolt it on and forget about it.

97/98 models have the fusebox bracket mounted on the LH tower. Again, depending on which brace you use, you may need to modify the fusebox bracket (not particularly common though).

99/00 models have the revised P/S pump reservoir and coolant bottle. The bracket for this is pressed and welded to the RH tower. With the shape of the bracket, the genuine Volvo brace is the easiest to fit.
Some braces (with flat top plates) might require that you flatten the pressing for the bracket on the RH tower.

You also need to consider that some of the braces intended for the LHD market, just won't fit.
The booster and master cylinder on RHD cars, despite being on the other side of the vehicle are also higher up on the firewall and you'll run into clearance issues.