Hi all: I just replaced the rear struts on my wife's 2000 s40. The rubber isolation pads were toast on the lower side of the coil spring and, since I haven't been able to find new ones on line, I put the struts together without them. I test drove the car on a country gravel road and got severe metal to metal knocking. I have looked and looked for these pads with no luck. I'm now thinking I will have to make them out of a thick rubber. Have any of you had this problem and have any suggestions as to how to proceed? Many thanks, Bill

 

I was just at rockauto.com answering another question - I think this should cover what you're looking for... https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...041,suspension

I'm not sure what the bottom spring pads look like, or really if they are there to start with (I know there are no isolating pads on the front struts on my 2005 V50). But I can't imagine that some similarly thick rubber wouldn't work for a replacement, since the rubber will be firmly (!) held in place by the spring no matter what happens short of you compressing the springs on purpose.

 

Thanks. after further inspection. I'm beginning to think the sound comes from the top of the strut. I have put in a new mounting kit on the top.

 

I'd recheck the bolt torques up top.. did you align the spring insulator when you put the strut mount together - wondering if it wasn't fully seated? I don't recall rubber insulators when I did mine (both as a result of the springs breaking about 3 inches off the end on the bottom which was giving an odd metal on metal sound) - take a good look to make sure your spring didn't cralk off the end...

 

Thanks!!! I made sure the rubber upper mount was aligned when I put the struts together on the bench. I feel certain I followed procedures. This morning I will check the upper mount bolts and the main strut bolt on each strut, as the sound seems to becoming from the top of the strut. As always, thanks for the help!!!!
Bill