S70 Rear shocks (Bilstein) question

Aug 19, 2004 5 Replies
M

My car is clunking, and I sort of know why.



I have a 1998 S70 T5 with Bilstein's installed in the front and rear. After dealing with the clunking for a while, I finally got smart and lifted up all the carpeting in my trunk and noticed the tops of the shocks. If I bounce the rear of the car on either side, the tops move around. So, I've uncovered the problem. Now the question is, how do I solve it.



Can someone describe what I can't see under the car? The only thing I can see topside is a nut and a bolt. Will simply tightening the bolt solve my problem?



I would try myself, but I don't have a socket that is deep enough to clear the protruding bolt. I made some headway with a pair of needlenose pliers, but then I noticed that the bolt was twisting with it. What the heck! If those things can both turn, how are things connected down below.



last question ... is there a bushing that might have died, thus making the connection loose? I loathe paying for more bushings after replacing 3 engine mount bushings 2 months ago, but if that's what it takes, so be it.



Thanks, Mike


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G

From what you are describing it sounds like either the rear shock's are lose or the rear shock mounts are faulty Glenn

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M

Well, they are definitely loose. I can't readily tell if the mounts are bad.

How do I tighten the lock nut? I can't turn it w/o the bolt also turning. The inside of the bolt is hollow at the top, and I've tried to put in an allen wrench, but the 5mm is too small and the 6mm is too big. I did have luck fitting my Volvo toolkit's torx into it. I bought a deep 17mm socket to turn the nut, but how do I turn the nut AND keep the bolt? Do they make a special tool?

Mike

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S

Had a similar sound from OEM rear suspension. Dealer tightened the "spring seats", and the sound went away. Not sure this is your situation or not

gud luck

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G

Yes there is a special tool that holds the nut still & you turn the center of the shock to tighten since this is not available to you if you have a set of jack stands raise the car of the ground so the rear shocks are loaded then you will be able to tighten the shock nuts without much struggle Glenn

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M

Oh, so I want to turn the bolt and not the nut!

I can vise grip the deep socket that I bought, and I think I might be able to find a way to turn the center with a torx. The torx fits snugly, but I hope it is the right tool. Do they make a 5.5mm allen wrench that fits inside the center?

How can I be certain that this looseness is from the nut coming loose and not from a blown shock mount? When I bounce the car up and down, only the bolt moves, but of course I haven't been really able to bounce the car hard enough to make the louder sounds I sometimes hear.

Thanks, Mike

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