SharkGTS Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 OK I took an impact driver to the top nut - thing was on tight! The strut expands on it's own so there is no worry of the strut arm dropping. Car has wheels on the ground so it's got +/- 1000lb of compression at each spring in case you are wondering. Findings: 1. There is no cross nut installed (of course!) The Cross nut is there just to elevate the top strut/retaining washer. The whole system is supposed to float - you know why? In order for the sway bars to act properly, and the inside wheel to stay connected to the road in a turn (or say on washboard bumps) the wheel needs to deflect or travel downward, when unweighted. This mojo is critical of course for proper handling - as are your sway bar links (replace every 60K miles) and sway bar itself. 2. The <insert> mechanic, who was quite creative, but completely bonkers, silicone sealed a strut washer from ????? with a rubber bushing, over top of the strut bearing!! In shop re-design if you can believe it! He then cranked the top strut washer to that rubber bushing washer to slam the strut rod and prevent any downward travel! I guess he knew better lol. He did not - it handled like cheap GM Cavalier Now what the heck to do. I grabbed a nut from my stock that fit over the strut and used that in place of the cross nut. Then installed the strut washer and nut so it is in the right location. I left the sealed rubber washer in for now. I can't see that hurting the situation, actually looks really nice. Handling is back to normal. I'll order the cross nuts and probably go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzantushka1568908311 Posted July 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) Wow. So the lesson learnt is never trust a mechanic who doesn't understand Volvos. - are you going to go back and complain that the job wasn't done right? Who knows what other creative ghetto engineering they have done... You can order the cross nut from ipd, Tasca, and most online Volvo parts stores. Just make sure you counterhold the strut shaft (Torx T50) whilst you tighten the cross nut and strut top nut. Edited July 26, 2015 by Tzantushka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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