Strut delema
 

96 850 GLT N/A 120k mi.--- Looking at front struts and springs. My problem may only be spring seat bushings and bearings but as I think about pulling both in order to replace them I found a set of struts and spring from 1A AUTO--MDL# TRQ SCA57216 for $168.00 for the set! If I have to pull them both why not make it easy? I don't have a spring compressor nor do I want one. My wife and I loose our dentures going over the speed bump at the local market so I'm not concerned to much about performance going thru turns at this point. We just want a ride that's not bone crunching to go over a crack in the road. Ive looked at the OEM blistien/ koni and cant find the whole assembly and they are quite a bit more expensive. Can anyone vouch for this brand or any recommendations ? Thanks.PS the brand TRQ=#SCA57216.

I do not recommend the "all in one" spring/strut at discount prices because the quality is questionable. Any shop can install a set of struts for you and on your car, I'd replace the upper strut mount and rubber isolater as well. The coil spring is probably just fine unless broken or the ride height is lower than it should be.

Since the vehicle is 22+ years old, I don't think that anyone would object to changing the struts, strut mount and isolator.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...433981&jsn=383
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...433981&jsn=392
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...433981&jsn=407
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...433981&jsn=417

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/volvofo...8c4943884b.jpg

What's so hard about using "death sticks" :-) ? The common fault with the 850s is the spring seat (see pic) not so much the strut. OEM is Sach Boge which can be found for $90 per strut, then you'd want to use OEM or better for the seat - otherwise you'd probably get to do the job again in another 50-60K miles. Add the replacement spring seat - $50 for Genuine Volvo or $40 for the IPD Heavy duty seat (a good upgrade) and your parts will total up to about $175 per side. Looking around, I see eeuroparts sells a complete assembly (Swedish Pro Parts brand - not sure of their reputation) for $200. Given the price includes a spring, you can bet they are not using top shelf parts. My two cents is to go with the OEM struts, the HD seat and have a friendly Indy shop install and do the alignment for you. I'd guess about 1-1.5 hours book time per side so you'd be in for $700-750 total for a good as new ride. Personally I like to do the work for myself since I can also inspect other bits that may need replacing like the sway bar bushings/.end links which can also cause clunks over bumps. If you are planning to sell the car in the next year or so and plan on doing the work yourself, you will still be in for $500.

In regards to my original post on the strut assembly , first thanks to all for your input. I contacted 1A about the strut and spring assembly. They did some research and claimed in the last 5 yrs. they have sold 63 sets for the Volvo 850 without any returns on the lifetime warranty. At $168.00 a set I'm going to give it a shot, if I have to replace them every 5yrs I'm good with that too! I know you get what you pay for but for a third of the price and ease of installation wish me luck I'll keep you posted. PS. Anything related that should be replaced while I'm changing the strut assembly? thanks.

They may be fine, but they are absolutely as a company the "cheapest". That is what they do.

The knuckle bolts are torque to yield and should be replaced. Obviously you don't have to, but that was the intent there. The mount cushions on top should be replaced (see post above). They hold the top of the shock piston in a steel sleeve that is just 'stuck' in the rubber. When that comes loose they make a lot of racket, and just by the way it's made it doesn't last forever. The bearings that the weight of the car rides on can also be replaced, but that is really up to you. Once you have it apart you will spin those and if they sound really gritty you may wish you had some new ones on hand. Or not.

Get only Volvo spring seats, unless you like doing the job over and over again in the matter of months. IPD HD lasted me only 2 years.

http://www.thelostartof.net/tryingbe...s/IMG_0063.JPG
http://www.thelostartof.net/tryingbe...ntinsert/1.jpg

I've had great success with aftermarket parts. Volvo does not manufacture any of these parts, they are sourced from other suppliers.

When I deal with a knocking sound in the front, it is nearly always the top spring seat. I buy the pair for $19. They are high quality and will outlast the OEM.

I've done a lot of front strut parts, sad to say, one good NE pot hole will take out the best spring seat. However, you have a 75% better chance with Volvo or Bilstien parts.

Sad part about this is, VERY FEW people call on the warranty. Most don't know that their NEW strut kits are bad. I've seen them trash within months, owner didn't know it because they couldn't believe that their new parts were already bad. Most don't last 10,000 miles. Have fun.

Those are SO EASY to use.

After watching that video and others, the spring compressor doesn't seem so bad. Thanks for the video ''RSPI'' and everyone else that has helped out so far. It seems there are four brands of struts out there that are highly recommended with limited lifetime warranty. I looked for a long time last night trying to compare which ones will give me the most comfortable ride. I understand the 850 was not built as a luxury touring sedan but for our casual drives we'd like a strut not so much geared towards a "high performance" From what I can see so far is the SACHS strut seems like the most comfortable ride. RSPI or anyone else that has used these struts let me know your onion. Thanks again for all your input.

I have done Bilstein and Boge and feel Boge provides the best value with top quality. I also recommend genuine Volvo spring seats and always replace the bracket bolts. I fabricated my own cross nut tool to make sure my torque setting was correct on assembly. I do have air tools so using the spring compressor is a breeze, less than 90 minutes a side from jack up to jack down...

That's how we do 'em too. I can't recall the last time that we changed a set of struts since the OE appear to go the distance. I've replaced a lot of spring seats and I use an aftermarket supplier. On a visual, you can't tell the OEM from the aftermarket. I've not had any known issues on the aftermarket spring seat but, by all means, use whichever one you feel is best for you.

I do end up replacing the bump stop on all of these as well as I typically find what is left of it when we go to undo the strut assemblies.

You know after reading your last post "tony1963" you've done this before , a few times it sounds like. I'm starting to wonder if I even need to replace the struts? I can try to bounce the front end of the car and its not easy but there is no bouncing. Each side will go down with my weight and come right back up. This whole thing started while going over a speed bumps and feeling like the car was bottoming out on the right side, just really hard feeling. Maybe all I need are spring seats and bump stops ?

Yes, I've had these cars apart many, many times.

In either case, you have to disassemble the spring from the strut. I would recommend that you have a competent shop do this unless you are experienced, safe and know the risks.

Keep in mind that the spring moves the car, not the strut. The strut only minimized the amount of bounce. If you get the whole thing apart and the strut shaft moves in and out freely with little force, then the strut is shot.

Noises are commonly due to the upper spring seat and bump stop. I bought an S60 for resale a few months back that had the clunk in the front end. It had brand new Sachs struts on the front and someone left the original spring seat and mount. My guess is that they thought the spring seat was a two-piece item. I changed the spring seats and done.

Wonder how would my camber plate handles those pot holes. Oh well, I sold my Volvo so I guess I'll never find out.

http://thelostartof.net/tryingbe/big..._110958365.jpg

That is one heavy-duty strut! LOL

Well I bought a spring compressor and removed the struts with no problem. The strut is hard to push in and pull out but I bought a pair KYB struts for $164.00. I cant tell why the spring seat would be replaced.It looks good as far as I can tell although it is very hard. The strut mount bearings spin freely without any gritty or grinding sound. All the nuts and bolts are good along with strut mount washers.The bump stops are completely gone just crumbs. Are the spring seats supposed to be soft? Should I get new strut mounts anyway?

The spring seats only last until that little piece of pipe comes out of them. Then they're no good. They aren't really soft, as they hold up the weight of the car.