Just because it is a little cold out and snowing east of the Mississippi, this has been a slow week!

So, I have been wondering. When do I know that my shocks need replacing????? Not that I can afford to replace anything, but with 2 cars with hard as a rock sport suspension, how can I determine when the shocks need to be replaced.

Obviously, pushing down on the corner of the car doesn't work. It goes down, and it comes up> Whoopee. Driving around with fresh pot holes is a pain in the butt. The rear of the V70 doesn't bounce, but you can feel every tar strip if you are sitting in the back seat. Neither car leans in the corner, just as advertised with sport suspension.

Do I need to load the cars with 5 people and do some autocross? Perhaps a few extra sandbags in the R? LOL I really don't want to buy new shocks and then find out that it was not necessary.

Help me out,

Klaus
--
1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi

I think unless one of the shocks or struts breaks or leaks it is like getting eyeglasses. You'll know when you need 'em, cause the car won't do things it used to do.

I've replaced shocks once or twice on previous cars when a shop tech suggested they were "worn" (where I myself had not suspected any problem) and was disappointed to find out I couldn't tell the difference between old and new.

I also think ride and handling quality depends on the combination of shocks/struts, tires (and their inflation), and the suspension design, all working together (or against one another). So changing one item may or may not make a big difference. My personal experience is that changing to a different brand or better grade of tire has had the most noticeable effects on overall driving satisfaction.

Hi,
I'm been wondering the same issue: shocks keep going on...
I test my shocks every year when I take my family to ski up north 1k km i.e 4 to 5 persons in, 8 to 10 pairs of skis (down hill & cross country) on the roof and all gears for a week or so in the back. And the car is amzingly stable on the road.

In addition the annual car inspection measures the shocks their way and I keep record of the measurement value to see any major change-but no.

The fact is I still have the set originally came with the car 9 years ago with 60k km on it. As I two years ago renewed the dust covers in the rear the local Volvo couldn't identify those nor sell me any and I used similar from Mazda.

So I don't know if those are original factory ones. Do admit I use the car as family combi rather than a sports wagon.
The 850 is propably running the original ones from the factory.

Tapsa
855 N/A -94 245k km
850 N/A -94 200k km

Having lived in Duluth, Eden Prarie and Rochester, believe you should wait until the shock fluids can return to normal viscosity. My old VW's felt like lumber wangons at 0. If you are not leaning and bouncing the shocks may still be good. I replaced the rears on my 98 T5 but left the fronts alone as they still don't bounce and also handle well with 106K.

Great weather for garage work here in TX where I just remove the head from daughter-in-law's 98 S-70 GLT.

dick

Yeh, yeh, rub it in :) My brother used to live in Austin and Buda and complain about having too many tomatos in March! And his kids used to go in the back yard and catch scorpions to scare the girls.
I envy your warm garage. My wife has not conceded to having a heater installed, yet. It would be nice to at least have the temp at 55F.
How are your valves? Did you find the coolant leak yet? I hope you take lots of pics.

Klaus
--
1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi

Took the head and associated parts in to the machine shop yesterday. It definitely is cylinder 2 and a little problem possibly on 3. The leak was not great and not real obvious just where. I believe it is near the oil return by #2 where the head locater stud is located. Here the gasket is narrowest and close to where coolant can blow into the oil return passage. Anyway, head is being checked for cracks and all other things. Car has almost 110k and the inside looks like new---Mobil 1. Car was over boosted for awhile by son-in-law and this may have started the slow leak a couple of year ago. Pictures, yes and will keep you informed.

dick