I took my S80 to a mechanic last week to replace the front struts after hearing noise on the passenger side, and after putting it together, he says I need a bearing. I prepay to order the part, show up a week later and the owner never ordered it. Another mechanic looks at it, finds a loose part (tie rod?) not attached to the strut assembly, fixes it, then says that's the problem. It helped, but the ride on that side seems hard. The guy still owes me for the part he never installed. I've read a suggestion about spring seats, fcgroton isn't working, eeuroparts doesn't have it listed, and partsamerica.com suggests I'm looking for a part for a 1970 SIATA. So I'm still not sure what I need.

 

http://www.swedishpartswholesale.com...=Spring%20Seat

About half way down the page you will find it. It is a KYB part.

 

Thank you for the link, that's the part I suspected.

 

If you want to check yourself if it is bad get a wrench and try spinning the top strut nut.
If it turns freely it is bad. If it feels rubbery it is most likely good. Unless it is cracked pretty bad but not broke.

 

Feels rubbery turning, but there is almost 1/3 inch space between the bearing and the plate, about twice as much as the other side, and the noise is getting worse, like a spring.

 

Maybe someone put it back wrong.

 

Could be, but another mechanic at the same shop noticed the control arm bushings are shot. So he wants to press new ones in and take a look at the strut assembly to make sure it's correct and make sure the new strut isn't defective.

 

Ok keep us updated on how it goes.