Need new struts - hope to get some good recommendations

**Gene-M** · 08-17-2017, 11:14 AM

I just had my '04 XC70 inspected and the tech told me that I'd probably be needing new front struts soon. I had been anyway thinking that with close to 84k on it they were probably getting to a good point to replace them. I have a Volvo/Jeep enthusiast friend who will be helping with the installation.

After seriously considering the Genuine Volvo replacement parts on FCP's website, I called them and they told me that the Sachs kit was as good in quality as the "Genuine Volvo" and is sold as OEM. I find the price to be very reasonable, plus whatever parts in the kit turn out to be unneeded, they can be returned as long as they have a skew number of their own. Also I'm assuming that a car with 83k is not going to need new springs with the front struts.

Has anyone used this kit? Are there any other recommendations you would want to make?

Also an acquaintance of mine accidentally bought the wrong control arms for his V70 and is wants to sell them to me for $50. I don't know the brand, but they are the $150 set from Carparts.com. I wonder if they'd be worth buying and installing at the same time.

TIA for any comments or suggestions.

**goldxc70** · 08-17-2017, 03:06 PM

I replaced the original struts on my 04 about 2 years ago at about 140,000 miles. The original spring was broken on the passenger side and the original strut on the same side was shot. The struts were Sachs. I actually put on Sensen Quickstruts which worked reasonably well but I would not recommend them. If - when - doing this job again, I would definitely go with Sachs or better. While I was doing the struts, I did everything else there as well - control arms, ball joints, etc. Doing the lot at the same time makes the job much easier. Don't forget that you will need to have the alignment checked immediately after doing this job.

The job itself was reasonably straight forward with no special tools required and, if I remember correctly, it took about 4 hours a side.

**youropeen** · 08-17-2017, 05:00 PM

Personally, I would replace the springs as well. They are known to break and it actually happened to one of mine with less than 100K on them.

**Gene-M** · 08-17-2017, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the responses guys. I definitely want the job to last a while (using good quality stuff) but I'm hoping to stay within a certain budget. But keep the suggestions coming, I'm listening.

**Reverend** · 08-19-2017, 08:07 PM

Slightly different car, I have a 2006 V70, but I made the mistake of using the QuickStruts. FCP had a lifetime warranty so I got another set which ALSO failed within 3000 miles.
I replaced them with a set of Bilstein B4s all around the car and have been very happy with them.

My OEMs were good for about 120K miles, replaced around 145K (well, before that, with two sets of ****e QuickStruts).

If you like the OEM ride quality, then you can't go wrong with OEM.

**Astro14** · 08-20-2017, 06:28 AM

Sachs build the Volvo struts. Go with a OEM/Sachs and the kits represent a good deal. Replace all the parts. Do it right so you only do it once.

**Gene-M** · 08-20-2017, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Astro14

Sachs build the Volvo struts. Go with a OEM/Sachs and the kits represent a good deal. Replace all the parts. Do it right so you only do it once.

Thanks for that vote of confidence for the Sachs kit I really do only want to do this once, and this kit is looking like a really good bet.

Any comments on the economy control arms that's i've been offered? Would you also go for the springs and ball joints that FCP is offering in the expanded kit?

**Astro14** · 08-20-2017, 04:32 PM

Avoid economy suspension parts like the plague...seriously. There is some real junk out there!

Volvo OE are pricey, but Lemforder makes excellent parts. The lower control arm front bushings are the Achilles heel of this chassis....followed closely by the strut bushings. If you're doing suspension work, which I loathe because it is heavy, dangerous, hard work, then a few bucks one way or the other isn't the issue, the parts lasting IS...

**vtl** · 08-20-2017, 06:23 PM

Double (triple, quadruple) OE parts.Zero problems since rebuilt suspension in my 05 XC70 using Volvo parts. Unlike aftermarket parts used in V70, where I spend 2x money and did 3x job until figured out that only OE works.

**Gene-M** · 08-20-2017, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Astro14

If you're doing suspension work, which I loathe because it is heavy, dangerous, hard work, then a few bucks one way or the other isn't the issue, the parts lasting IS...

I once changed shocks on a Ford van, lol. That's my only experience with suspension work, and I do consider this a particular challenge that I don't want to do again any time soon. I have a guy who I plan to have help me, and hopefully he will find this a little more of a run of the mill task.

Originally Posted by vtl

Double (triple, quadruple) OE parts.Zero problems since rebuilt suspension in my 05 XC70 using Volvo parts. Unlike aftermarket parts used in V70, where I spend 2x money and did 3x job until figured out that only OE works.

Did you purchase "Genuine Volvo parts" from the dealer, or did you buy one of the kits available like the ones from FCP with mainly "OEM"Sachs parts?