850 front end

[michael98632]

Ok.. so here's the dirt. Its a 95 850 turbo. The left front corner has been getting louder and louder with this clunking noise at city speeds. I can't seem to figure it out. One site said its possibly the spring seat or something along that line. I need any real and educated advice plz and thanks

 

[JonBot]

strut top or link rod most likely

the strut top fails around where the strut rod goes through, usually makes a pretty bad banging noise

link rods get play in the ball joint bit and make noise

 

[vvpete]

Open the hood, look at the top of the strut suspension mounts, at each side of the engine bay. Do they look cracked or pushing upward?

That is one of the most common probs of P80/P2 cars are worn upper strut and spring mounts. Take note the upper mounts are in addition to upper spring mounts, the front end parts seem to have a very coincidentally similar lifespan and all wear and need replacement at the same time. Everything. That's why they sell kits. BT,DT

 

[Chris_R]

Clunking over bumps is typically the sway bar endlinks. I've had the bolt come loose on me before. Check those and the strut tops as suggested above.

 

[Chris_R]

Clunking over bumps is typically the sway bar endlinks. I've had the bolt come loose on me before. Check those and the strut tops as suggested above.

 

[michael98632]

So on said car.. what is the easiest way to check the end links. I've looked at the top of the struts from under the hood. All look pretty good. The struts are still nice and painted up. No rust on them.

 

[kampman]

The endlinks connect to the strut at one end and the swaybar at the other. With the wheels turned to full lock you should be able to see them if you look into the rear of the wheel wells.

 

[michael98632]

That almost sounds as if it were a tie rod and link not a sway nar end link. I'll look tomorrow

 

[LloydDobler]

Also a quick test for the spring seats - put a wrench on the strut nut and you shouldn't be able to turn it very far (like 30 degrees max) and it should spring back to where you started. If it spins your spring seats are busted.

 

[vvpete]

I've looked at the top of the struts from under the hood. All look pretty good. The struts are still nice and painted up. No rust on them.

It does sound like upper mounts and/or spring seats. If the struts themselves look new-ish then the problem was worsened by not doing the spring seats and mounts at the same time.

In addition to the test above, look for a small separation of the rubber and steel collar just below the top strut nut. Everything can look fine, but if the rubber separates at the top of the spring seat, it'll clunk. This causes the strut top to be un-connected to anything else on the car and can shoot the strut top through the hood.
And get the Volvo XC90 spring seats, they are reinforced as this is far too common on these cars..

 

[Chris_R]

That almost sounds as if it were a tie rod and link not a sway nar end link. I'll look tomorrow

These go up-down, not wheel-to-motor, but same idea. You should be able to tell visually if they are loose.