I drive a 1986 240 Wagon. While nearing home the other day, I hit a (quite) small pothole and afterwards heard the front right tire rubbing on something. When stopping to take a peek, it seems as if part of the suspension is rubbing on the top of the tire. Unfortunately, I had to drive it a little ways until home (and rubbed off a good amount of the tire). Does anyone know what could be the issue here? A broken spring? I checked the ball end joints as best I could, and they seem to be ok. I'll try to post some pictures soon.

 

is the body of the car sitting lower in that corner? the wheel tilting inward or outward? we do really need some pics so we can see what's going on in there...

 

Thanks for the reply, and I apologize for my impolite tardiness. I had to borrow a friend's usb connector.

Here are the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/4751672...7626028029916/

The car does not seem to be visually lower in that corner. The left wheel is pretty close to the spring leg as it is. The wheel doesn't seem to be tilting either, though if it was it would be inward to touch the spring leg.

Now that I have a USB cable I'll take a picture or two of the unbroken left side.

 

It appears the strut housing may have disintegrated. Why not take the wheel off and have a better look?

 

+1.. looks like where the plate that the spring sits on has broken loose and is pushing on the tire, and the tire is now acting like the plate to hold the car up... you'll need to find the entire assembly to replace, as most of the strut replacements are just the cartrige that goes inside the assembly...

hope this helps, and good luck!

 

Sorry to resurrect...

Now that I've graduated from college and have time to work this all out, I've found that it is indeed a broken strut and I need to replace the whole front right strut assembly. I couple of questions:

Should I try to source a used part from a salvage yard or buy new?
If I do buy new, is this what I'm looking for? Overnight AutoParts Catalog - 1986 Volvo 245 Strut Insert
Should I replace both struts or just the broken one.

Luckily the shop will hold the car for a bit if I want to source a part.

 

unfortunately, the only way you can fix this is to go to a junk yard and get a new strut housing (that is what looks like broke). or maybe take it off, and have it welded back together. the strut inserts dont have to be replaced, unless they are bad.
Or see if some one will sell you an assembly. also check on turbobricks ..etc.

Here is another option: http://forums.turbobricks.com/showpo...&postcount=241

arrow points to the broken part

 

if you pull one ofo of a car at a junkyard, remember when you're unbolting it from the top, only remove the nuts around the larger center nut...

 

Gosh...this is getting to be a pain..

So I found a used strut assembly, and had it installed, but a new spindle was needed as the one on the part was a different size. However, the biggest problem is that the hub on my car does not seem to fit well with the strut. There is some play in the bearings.

Is it possible that they sent me a 240 sedan strut instead of a 240 wagon? Would this make a difference?

Does anyone have any advice as to what I should do now?

 

1982 and above got the bigger spindles.

 

Would the spindle create a problem for the hub bearings? I was told that the part was off another '86 240. Any advice what I should do about the hub? Should I see if they have the right hub from the same vehicle the strut came from, or try to get a refund a look for a different strut?

 

Sorry to bump.. but I'm clueless. Anyone want to weigh in?

 

sounds like you are going to have to:

a) return it and see about one off a newer year model

or

b) go back and get the hub/bearings and possibly the brake caliper/rotor from the car the strut came off of.

if you're having a loose fitting of the bearings on the hub, it's not a good thing....

good luck...

 

Ok, so the online supplier is willing to ship another part as a substitute. Any suggestions as to how to make sure it fits well with my hub...so the bearings aren't loose? Emphasize 240 Wagon? Or try to order the hub AND strut from the same vehicle? Thanks for all the help!

 

its not wagon specific. its chassis serial number specific. all the later ones, as of like about 85 should have the newer style larger spindle.

my VADIS says the lefthand strut PN/s for earlier 240's are...
those 4-5-6 digit numbers after the car models is the chassis number, which is the last 6 digits of the VIN...
the RH strut has the same part numbers plus 1...

so basically, you need the struts from a 244 (sedan) above 595000 or a 245 (wagon) above 320000.... and if its from a newer 240, one WITHOUT ABS (that has a different PN on the 90's model 240's)