How labor-intense are these to change compared to the front? Had anybody done them? I did the fronts on my own a month or two ago, but I think the rears need to be done. I honestly don't feel like doing them myself, but if they aren't too difficult and time consuming, why not. They look fairly easy but some people say they are a pain.

 

They are not bad at all. Worse part is getting to the top nut. You have to remove some interior stuff to get to them.

 

I used a cordless impact to remove the top nuts. Came off easily. Worked great since you can't get in there with a wrench and counterhold. Just remove the floor panel directly behind the 2nd row, move the soundproofing to the side and you'll see the top nuts. Use a T-25 torx to remove the little plastic piece that is in your way. It's simpler than it sounds.

 

I haven't even looked at the shocks yet, but I have been able to get to the nut with no problem.

Is the shock inside the spring or outside? (I should know this already) It sounds like a piece of cake compared to the fronts.

Been a busy week...

 

I just looked them up and they have two different kinds, with and without self-levelling. How do I know which ones I need? Was that some kind of option?

 

It was an option. You most likely don't have it. The shock is inside the spring. Put the rear on jack stands as high as you can and block the front wheels. Remove the top nut, remove the bottom bolt, and just pass the shock through the control arm out the bottom. Easy job, reassembly is just opposite of that.

 

That easy huh? What a welcome change. Thanks for the info. I'll look into buying them. They usually have them on eBay for not too much.

 

Just don't buy knockoffs

 

Nope. I bought sachs for the front and I'll buy sachs for the back.

 

Atta boy! Too many people buy junk to save a buck.

 

Here's a kinda off question; If I buy stiffer rear shocks, like Koni or some other HP ones, will that stiffen up the overall ride, as far as lean while cornerning is concerned, even a bit, or would I need them all the way around? I figure if they are so easy to change and since there are quite a few HP options for shocks, maybe I'll get some nicer ones so I'll have less body sway while cornering, and yes, I do corner that way sometimes at least.

 

You want a sweet ride in your V70? I've got Eibach Sport springs and Koni shocks/struts. In normal driving it's a tad stiffer, but in cornering it's glued to the pavement. Even if you're not into lowered vehicles, check out the eibachs, they only dropped my height a little over an inch. They advertise 1.2", I'd say mine was less than that slightly.

 

I used to have my xB lowered and I would have done that but since I got such a good deal on the Sachs front struts I just went stock. I literally just installed them about 1 1/2 months ago so I'm passed the stage where I'm going to spend more to drop it, but I figure I have the chance to at least stiffen it up a bit more with the rears since the Konis and Bilsteins are only a few bucks more then the stock ones.