Our 2000 S70 GLT SE (97k miles) needs new struts and (OR least) strut mounts. The dealer wants a cool $1k for monts and struts installed while a local shop asks $490.

Questions- Are Monroe Senstrac a substute?

Louspv

 

I would try going something else.

Look in the General section Post link to sites.

You can get some pretty cheap that are OEM.

 

Check the internet for Boge (oem) struts and mounts. My mechanic charges about $70.00 per side to install. Buy the parts and bring it to an Indy to install. The struts most likely are still good, it is the mount to these cars that disentegrade about the mileage that you are now. You will need alingnment afterwards.

 

What is a good indication that the strut mounts are bad?

 

You would hear a thump now and then under the hood whenever you hit a bump. This could mean the rubber insulator is shot and and not insulating the strut from the body.

 

You can also check to see if they are broke.
Open the hood and with a 13/16 wrench try turning the nut for the top of the strut.
If it turns it is bad. If it feels rubbery and won't turn it is good.

 

I have a 98' volvo s70 glt 110,000miles

To tech: you state that if the main strut bolt turns then something is bad. Last week I changed my cv joints, left lower control arm and l and r front struts. I spent about 600 in parts (includes two new wheels and tires) . Well after installing the new struts tothe springs and strut mounts and mounting the struts to the car. I observed a 1/4- 1/2 inch gap between the sealed bearing and the rubber bumper. the gap cant be removed because there is a four sided nut in between the rubber bumper and the sealed bearing. Anyway I dont see how the main nut(above the bumper) could possibly turn considering theres a nut right below the bumper. Anyway. My dad claims that gap is fine(its on both sides too) and that the bumper is only meant to absorb vibrations when hitting more significant bumps. I swore there was never a gap before i even touched the shocks, but i cant prove it. Maybe someone with a volvo s70 glt 98 can see if there is a gap or not. Another reason why i think there shouldnt be a gap is on todays test drive, i notice a creak or groan right at the end of my braking to a stop and also when i begin moving again. I suspect there is forward/ backward play in the front suspension and its coming from the gap between the bumper and sealed bearings. Also when the car was on jack stands, the downward weight from the spline/strut assembly and wheels removed the gap. Only when the car was on the ground(upward force) was there a gap. So i suspect thats defintite play there! What do yall think? Am i obsessive focused on the wrong thing?

 

There will be a slight gap there.
But it should not spin.
I am guessing one of 2 things happened.
1. The 4 sided nut isn't tightened enough.
2. The upper spring seat(Rubber plate that the bearing goes on) is broke.

Also when you replaced the control arms did you Load them properly?

 

A Few months later, but in the same topic.

I recently bought a 98 S70 GLT with 88,000 miles. I'm not sure if the Struts have been changed, but I was wondering about the gap as well. The car drives ok, no noises and the rubber on the bushing up top looks good. So I took some pics.

Left and Right Gaps. Are these ok?



[IMG]local://upfiles/9857/C280DD87D9AC4D6C8E232A7AD7FD1B4B.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/9857/223E590EAF114E7A94D1A76BB0B6298D.jpg[/IMG]

 

On the same subject, my 99 S70 has only about 58,000 miles on it. It has a clucky ride. This was my mother in-law's car and was in Florida. It is now in NJ. Many of the rubber parts have dry rot because of the intense temperature that is saw consistently for its first 6 years of life. It is possible that the rubber mounts are bad but struts are okay. How would I know?

 

If you push down on the front end and it just comes back up and stops it is ok.
If you push down and it comes back up then bounces back down and up again they are weak.