Hello all. Just bought my first volvo. 1996 850 gle. Fire engine red. 166000kms. Really nice shape. Lots of maintenance done already (timing belt, fluids changed, rotors,etc). Front leather seats are cracked though. No smoke blowing from dipstick and pulling slight vacuum from top of oil cap. So far, everything seems to be good. I am wanting to change the shocks though because its a bit of a noisy ride over bumps. What would be the recommended rear shocks for this car? Do i also need to change springs? Where is the cheapest place for parts in Canada? Thank you

 

The most common noise maker with the front shocks - are the strut cushions, or could be called the spring perch. They break and can create a horrendous rattle over bumps, or when just recently broken squeaky noises. Take a wrench to the nut at the top of the strut - if you can turn it - the cushion is broken and is/will make noise. Costs a lot less to just replace the cushions to solve your problems.