• Hello Guest, welcome to the initial stages of our new platform!
    You can find some additional information about where we are in the process of migrating the board and setting up our new software here

    Thank you for being a part of our community!

Genuine Volvo 240 Struts Inserts are Rebranded Monroe?

Wren

Porkchop Sandwiches
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Location
Athens, GA
I'm replacing the strut inserts in a buddy's 240 and bought new Volvo units only to find that they are made by Monroe in Spain.
I don't see how these could be of the same quality that the old German inserts were that always seemed to last a long time.
I know that Monroe products are typically of a lower quality than I would expect to get from Volvo and I'm a bit leery about using them.

Does anyone have experience with these?
 
I'm replacing the strut inserts in a buddy's 240 and bought new Volvo units only to find that they are made by Monroe in Spain.
I don't see how these could be of the same quality that the old German inserts were that always seemed to last a long time.
I know that Monroe products are typically of a lower quality than I would expect to get from Volvo and I'm a bit leery about using them.

Does anyone have experience with these?
I've never heard of this, but if they are monroes,

BE ADVISED:

Monroe inserts are garbage, no amount of volvo stickers will make them any better. Return them and pick up some billy's.
 
Volvo seems to be making an effort to continue to support their older models, but they also seem to be buying mid-grade aftermarket parts and branding them OE Volvo. I continue to buy OE parts, like a sucker, and lately I am getting stuff that looks identical to, or worse than, cheap aftermarket parts.

For instance, I bought new heater and radiator hoses recently, because the only aftermarket available locally was dirt cheap URO; the OE Volvo hoses look almost identical, except maybe thinner.
 
I bought the Volvo struts for my 960 a few years ago, and they were labled Volvo, Monroe.
One strut busted in less than a year, got a free replacement from the local dealer. I though they were softer than what the 960's used before. They were cheap, very competitively priced,(cheaper from Volvo than from Monroe) but not very good quality, and they are the only choice for a late 960.
 
Volvo seems to be making an effort to continue to support their older models, but they also seem to be buying mid-grade aftermarket parts and branding them OE Volvo. I continue to buy OE parts, like a sucker, and lately I am getting stuff that looks identical to, or worse than, cheap aftermarket parts.

For instance, I bought new heater and radiator hoses recently, because the only aftermarket available locally was dirt cheap URO; the OE Volvo hoses look almost identical, except maybe thinner.

Sounds isolated.... all of the Volvo bits I've been getting have been of the highest quality/fitment.

Agree on the Monroe: return and get Sachs/Boge for less.... Bil TC seems a better bet after I got a set of Sachs inserts with undersized gland nuts.

-Ryan
 
Sounds isolated.... all of the Volvo bits I've been getting have been of the highest quality/fitment.

Agree on the Monroe: return and get Sachs/Boge for less.... Bil TC seems a better bet after I got a set of Sachs inserts with undersized gland nuts.

-Ryan

Not all blue box stuff is blue box anymore.
 
I've never had OEM monroe on a 240, thought originals were boge but that doesn't mean they haven't changed to crap. As others have said return them and get a set of sachs/boge. Much better and cheap. I am limited to monroe OEM on my S90 front but that might change with some small mods.
It is unfortunate that the late models have monroes for the 4C setup.
 
I've never had OEM monroe on a 240, thought originals were boge but that doesn't mean they haven't changed to crap. As others have said return them and get a set of sachs/boge. Much better and cheap. I am limited to monroe OEM on my S90 front but that might change with some small mods.
It is unfortunate that the late models have monroes for the 4C setup.

I had a set of the Monroe Gas-A-Just on my 245 when I got it, and they weren't that bad, (certainly better than KYB gas) but they are not the same as an OEM hydraulic shock, they are far better.

I got a set of new Monroe Gas-A-Just strut inserts for my '84 244 with the car, but haven't put them in yet. If I compare the compression/rebound by moving the piston on the Monroe Gas-A-Just vs the hydraulic 960 inserts, the Monroe Gas-A-Just are like Bil HD's by comparison.
Volvo has engineered the shocks to be soft and mushy on purpose, and as a result the spec'd shock made by Monroe has mediocre quality but offer a ride as soft as a baby's ass.
 
Well unfortunately when it comes to the shocks the words Monroe and Volvo and Made in Spain are stamped into the shock tube.
There is no guessing, like brake discs that say Volvo Made in China, which was on my last purchase for an 06 S60 I was working on for a customer.
 
The last parts I bought from volvo were trailing arm bushings, and they were made in WEST germany :wtf: The Berlin wall came down in 89, can you say new old stock? I just hope the rubber didn't deteriorate in the packaging as it gathered dust on a shelf...
 
FWIW. I talked with a buddy who works at the local dealer and he said some of the techs there had used them and had no complaints.

I figure I may as well put them in. I've had pretty crappy results out of the current crop of Sachs/Boge junk. One friend got less than a year from her made in Mexico junk.
 
As long as your 240 is not lowered...If can't afford Konis or Billy HDs, try GABRIAL ULTRAS front & rear ULTRAS are cheap, stiff, and last pretty good for the $ spent, in my personal experience.

I have a set of rear used 1 year old ULTRAS shocks I'll sell you cheap. I removed them shortly after installed as I lowerd my 240.

Anything is better than Monroes, IMHO I've seen butter churns stiffer than Monroes.:lol:
 
The spark plugs i bought from the dealer were from France and the rad hoses were from Germany. So far so good. The packaging on the plugs looked old school, so i am guessing NOS. I just wish my local dealer stocked more common items for the 240, so i wouldn`t have to wait two days every time i order parts.
 
As long as your 240 is not lowered...If can't afford Konis or Billy HDs, try GABRIAL ULTRAS front & rear ULTRAS are cheap, stiff, and last pretty good for the $ spent, in my personal experience.

I have a set of rear used 1 year old ULTRAS shocks I'll sell you cheap. I removed them shortly after installed as I lowerd my 240.

Anything is better than Monroes, IMHO I've seen butter churns stiffer than Monroes.
__________________
__________________
 
I've had 4c shocks crap out on some low mile cars. Most Monroe stuff past and present for most of the passenger cars I've worked on of all brands has been absolutely terrible for both ride control and quality.

Some of the later made in spain ones last more or less fine.

The original set of Sachs lasted almost 300k in the 90 245 and similarly long in a 240. I don't know if tokico still makes stuff for 240s, but for 240s and tons of other cars those have been wonderful. Dead reliable, reasonable price, good ride. Hit and miss with the kybs on the euro cars for whatever reason. I've been putting kybs in Hondas and toyotas for a long time, as has Honda and toyota usually 50-150k depending where and how it was driven with no super nasty surprises or failures.
 
My KYBs handle fine: GR-2 front, Gas-A-Just rear (paired with IPD overload springs) (740). Both sets made in Japan. My long-time Volvo specialist shop uses KYB because they are reliable and handle reasonably (daily driving). Over 18 mo., no problems...
 
Back
Top