Hi all

My wife's V50 T5 AWD needs new rear shocks, they started leaking. And that simple process started a whole mystery.

Easy task I thought and ordered shocks from my preferred local parts supplier using the car VIN as reference. They sent me Monroe 376233SP, which where longer than the old ones. Not just a bit, a lot longer, see pictures. The tube is about 45mm / 1 3/4" longer. Contacted them and they sent me KYB 343419. Those are too long as well, same as the Monroe.

All right I though, let’s go to the Volvo specialist: Scandix. Well… Scandix lists the same 343419 KYB for my VIN.

I check in VIDA, and get what I believe to be the correct Volvo part number: 30736772. Searching that number in the Scandix shop lists a different shock, supposedly to fit my VIN as well. I start to get confused and reach out for help. Scandix sales confirms this shock that lists with 30736772 will fit my car.

Very well, I order and get again a KYB that is longer than my old shocks.

Good, I though, so maybe my car had wrong shocks or someone was messing with it a while ago. But they look original. “Volvo” and part number 30736771 is stamped on them.

All right, so maybe Volvo superseded the mounts with longer ones. I measure how much the original shock can travel before it hits the buffer. 80mm / bit more than 3” with the wheel on the road. Sounds reasonable. But if I’d install the new longer shocks I’d only get less than 35mm / 1 1/3”. I have a hard time to believe that this is right.

Question: does anybody know if the rear shocks differ between AWD and FWD makes ? I believe they do because the mounting must be higher because probably the rear axle going to where the FWD shock mount sits.

Question 2: could please someone with original shocks measure from bottom to the upper end of the tube? (you can do that without dismantling anything, just squeeze the protector tube to find the end of the shock)

I read somewhere in a swede forum that there are no after market shocks for the AWD makes, only OEM will fit. Fine with me, just want to be sure that they really fit and are not just the same as all the aftermarkets I had in my hands so far.

Chassis number is 442143125561, so 25 for the rear shocks.

Sorry for the long text, and sorry in case that question is already answered, I found nothing with search.

Cheers

Chris

 

I meanwhile got Volvo OEM shocks with the part number 30736772. They are an exact fit and interestingly the number on them is 30736771 while the part number on the box is30736772

Thanks
Chris

 

I just looked up shocks for a 2007 V50 T5, on rockauto.com... All the ones that list the length match your OEM shock's compressed length (within a fraction of an inch, anyway). There were very economical options from KYB, Gabriel and Monroe (I'd choose KYB every time). In fact, IIRC, that's exactly what I did for the rear shocks for my 2006 V50 2.4i (aka "slow white"). Fit like a glove.

 

We are talking about AWD. I agree for FWD there are many options. The compressed lenght for these is 18.9" / 48cm. However the AWD shocks are shorter as you can see from my pic. They are 17.3" / 44cm. All non OEM options are for FWD only. Look up the KYB 343419 on the KYB product site: FWD only. Don't know why aftersale is offering these for AWD as well.
Of course you can install the longer shock into the AWD, and yes, it will fit like a glove. BUT, you limit your spring travel significantly because the rubber protection will hit the longer shock housing much earlier. In fact you limit the spring travel from 80mm / 3" down to 35mm / 1 1/3". Not sure if that is a good idea.
Chris

 

Thank you Chris for these informations. I had the same problem in getting the rear shocks for a V50 T5 AWD. Some people say FWD fits but it's not the same. Thanks for your picture. I finally bought a used pair of shocks from a scrapyard. They were in pretty good condition and came from a V50 T5 AWD. One is 30736771 and the other one is 30736348. They are both original Volvo (FomoCo) and both identical to 30736771. My old shocks on my car (2007) were 30736771.

 

I'd start with a dealer web store to get the correct part number and some guidance on what matches your car's suspension. You may need to research how to find the suspension set up (ie via a code marking or a build plate code) - but the dealer should be able to use the VIN to research the exact PN match for your model. Most sites I've used will show what the superceding factory part number is as well if you can see the PN on the existing shocks. Tasca Parts shows 30736772 as the PN for the left rear shock on a 2007 V50 T5 AWD ($95) but you'd have to call them to confirm the code marking for your car.

 

People will be glad to know that there is an aftermarket equivalent for 30736771 or 30736772 rear V50 AWD T5 P1 shock absorber. The part # is 8346781 and they are sold as pair with top mounts, dust covers and bumpers. They are often listed for T5 not specifiing AWD but they do fit for AWD. Hope this help!