Planning on replacing front shocks on my '96 850 wagon w/140,000 miles.

Noticed a lot of parts available for replacement, besides the actual strut itself.

For those who have done this before, in addition to the strut itself, what would you recommend replacing.

Rubber dust boot
Rubber bump stop
Rubber spring seat
Strut mount
Fitting (is this just a fancy-looking nut?)
Cap (is this just a cover for the Fitting?)

FCPGroton also lists various other bolts and washers.

I don't want to take apart the suspension and then have to wait a week for parts I should have ordered up-front.

Does anyone have suggestions as to what I should plan on replacing and what is likely okay to re-use?

Thanks.

I did Bilstein HDs all the way around today, 12/27/07. Rear shock mounts were fine. For struts, my spring seats were fine at 135,000. I needed bump stops, strut mounts (bearings were rough) and the big washer (rusty). The Bilsteins HDs are great contrary to some reports of doom I read here and elsewhere. On 12/24 I put Bilstein touring all around on my 244 and they too are wonderful, contrary to what some experienced.

I'd definitely get the spring seats. Get the Volvo parts, not the Chinese knockoffs.

I tried to economize by recycling the rear shock mounts. A couple years later I had a shock go through the trunk floor.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 175k mi, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension, Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, JB Weld, Original Duck tape, zip-ties, two Honda license plate nut impressions in back bumper (gift from daughter), Mobil-1 since new.

I just did that, too. And ordered too many parts from FCP. I should have reused the large bolts that hold the strut to the steering, the FCP bolts look less robust. I did not use the 3 little "locking" nuts at the top, the original nuts looked better than what they sent.
The boot and holder are probably OK on your car, but new boots work just nicely. Boot holder doesn't get worn out.
My V70 had a rubber/plastic spacer between the boot holder and the rubber bump stop. I had to go to the dealer to get new ones, mine were broken.
The 4 pronged star nut and large nut on top were reused, not new.

If your sway bar endlinks are even a little bit loose, get new ones from IPD.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Agree on teh sway bar end links. I bought some from FCP, and although I like them and most of thier parts, ut the rubber dust boots cracked within a year, and of course, the end links wore out quickley, New IPD end links are on the way.

I'm just in the process of doing this on my 850. I'd say DEFINITELY do the rubber spring seats. On my car the metal cylinder was completely detached from the rubber. The spring mounts are probably also worth replacing. Unless your dust boot is torn and your bump stop is toast, I'd reuse those. The fitting IS a fancy looking nut and the cap goes in-between that and the main strut nut. I've reused mine as well with those parts. The old ones, at 230,000 miles, still look fine.

Hope this helps

Nate
--
1997 850, 1979 242GT, 1990 740GL

Don't forget the Volvo crush spacer that sits on top of the spring seat under the bearing plate.

Don't forget the Volvo crush spacer that sits on top of the spring seat under the bearing plate.

Don't forget the Volvo crush spacer that sits on top of the spring seat under the bearing plate.

Don't forget the Volvo crush spacer that sits on top of the spring seat under the bearing plate.

I just did the struts in my 95 sedan....Bilstein Touring. Absolutely needed new spring seats. Watch out, once I got in there...well I now have new control arms (ball joints), sway links and full set of tie rod ends on the way. These 850's are hard on front ends. I cheated and re-used the front and rear strut mounts.

I have a question: After my struts were installed the larger cap washer sits about 1/2" above the strut mount. I meticulously installed the boot, spring seat, star nut, cap washer and new locking nut from Bilstein. Am I missing something? It rides fine, but looks a little odd.

Finally, I think my sway bar bushings (not end links) are shot and I cannot justify (afford) $400 (well...$395) for a set of new IPD sways. Any recommendations for replacing the front sway or bushings?
--
'92 745 B230F, '95 850 Sedan B5254

I did 3 sets of these this week alone. I had a customer ask me when do you usually need to replace the struts on these cars? The short answer is about 150K or so. The long answer is that it is not so much the condition of the strut that dictates it's replacement but the condition of the spring seats. Often times I am in replacing the spring seat at around 70-90K and I always reused the struts unless they are an exceptional case. However, when you are back there in another 70-90K at around the 150K mark you will typically recommend and replace the struts because by 225-250K they are pretty much overdue for replacement. What I find when I am in there is that most all of the hardware is in decent shape and re-usable with the exception of the hammered upper spring seat. I do stock a single set of bellows and rubber bump stops just in case and as the other guy pointed out, if the link rods are even kind of iffy then just throw a new set in while you have them half way out anyhow. If you purchase factory Volvo struts they will come with new mount hardware, if you get the Boge struts (same thing) you will get now hardware. Myself, I run the Boges and I re-use the mount hardware.

To recap, I'd inspect the boots (bellows) and bump stops with a flash light, concentrate on the bump stops as the boots rarely wear, and I'd order up Boge struts and spring seats and if the boots and bump stops were hammered then order them up too.

Mark

Yeah, even at 140,000, the shocks themselves are still good. But the links are clicking and, for the last 20,000 miles, the front-end has been making creaking spring noises--which I assume are the spring seats deterioriating. I figured that, while I am in there cleaning up those issues, I might a well replace the strut--as they can't last forever.

Thanks everyone for the great advice.