Can anyone tell me how to access the top shock absorber mounting points on a
1997 850 station wagon. Do the rear seats have to be removed?- posted
18 years ago
Can anyone tell me how to access the top shock absorber mounting points on a
1997 850 station wagon. Do the rear seats have to be removed?
They're under the trunk floor wood/carpet pieces just behind the base of the rear seat. The rear seat does not need to be removed, folding it down will get it out of the way. If you lift the hatch for the underfloor storage, you can see the metal brackets where they are bolted to the frame that hold these panels down.
Thanks Mike, Turned out to be the simplest job I've ever done on the Volvo. Right hand top mount was broken and left hand shock absorber was useless. 2 new mounts and 2 new shockers fitted and it drives like a new car. I've been told the top mounts are only good for 80,000 miles, mine has
115,000 so I've not done too bad. Thanks again Maureen850 (England)Maureen, when suspecting top mount what were the symptoms? I have a 850 and it rattles at the rear top when it goes over a bump. I took off the top mount, but it looks fine. I have put a rubber washer underneath and a metal washer on the top but the noise is still there. Could it be a faulty shock? Adam
I just did this on my S70 with 275k km. The right one was separated, the left appeared fine. Interestingly the clunks from the rear were very infrequent, considering the condition of the right mount. This car still has the original shocks.
There are a couple of other suspension bushings underneath that can cause clunks too, have a look at them. Also check the rubber holding up the exhaust. If you have clunks and all rubber bushings/mounts look fine, then the shocks are the next suspect.
Mike,
Main symptom was a knock behind the rear seat when going over any kind of bump in the road. This was due to the rubber becoming separated from the metal part of the top mount. This allowed the shock absorber to come up through the floor and knock against the underside of the wooden trunk floor. You will also note that the car bounces a number of times if you push down hard and release on the rear bumber. It should really go down come back to its original position and stop. Any kind of cyclicle bouncing points towards shock absorbers or top mounts.
hope I've got the terminology correct You say trunk, we say boot You say fender, we say wing You say hood, we say bonnet etc.etc.
Sorry Mike and Adam,
My last reply should have been addressed to Adam, Mike you already have experience of this problem
Maureen
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