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Hit a curb going 10-15mph. Front driver-side wheel is running into wheel-well, strut is bent back toward cabin. This happened at 10:40pm, so I couldn't see the damage very clearly after I parked it a few feet from the curb-attack, luckily this was 1/3rd a mile from my house.
I feel fortunate the 940 is a RWD car, due to my perceived ideas that this will be "cheaper to fix" than a FWD car.
Just from popping the hood, it doesn't appear that area the Macpherson strut attaches to is bent or damaged in any way.
Seeing how we do not have a Volvo mechanic for over 100 miles, I'm assuming a dealership with other RWD vehicles (Ford trucks?) would be able to handle this kind of repair.
With it being winter, and me having shadetree knowledge and experience, I guess I should be asking what I should be looking to purchase to keep prices low on repairs. EX: Where to find a strut housing that won't destroy my bank acct.
Photos in the morning.
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Well, 14" of snow since last night. Photos are a no-go at this point. I'll post asap.
I'm looking through some of my documents on my HDD, I'm having difficulty finding specs for the 940, but many for the 960. Here are some links:
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=00136475177427285878 (Wheel alignment)
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=00461932441116704904 (Front suspension)
Were these similar enough?
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Hi wvcycling,
How did you hit a curb? Did you went over it or wedged your wheel against it?
You might just need a wheel alignment, inspect your steering rack boots & fluid level.
I am assuming that you are getting snow. Clean Snow/ice build-up in wheel well and go for a test drive again.
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Hello,
My beloved 940 had hit a curb in the rain while trying to avoid another car about 3 years ago. The tyre rim edge was badly bent and the tire had burst. The entire right front suspension assembly was pushed in backwards. After replacing the tire with the spare the car was STILL drivable to home albeit very slowly. Could not steer much as the tire would rub in against the fenders.
At home the damage was assessed. The control arm stay (the one with 'flying saucer bushings') was badly bent. The strut tower looks ok. The stabiliser bar link was detached at its lower bushing. My trusted mechanic (ex-Volvo actually as now he owns a shop) was about 45 mins drive from home. Next day I was able to drive the car there slowly keeping the speed below 30kmh.
The mechanic inspected the front assembly. In the end he changed the control arm stay (plus new bushings), lower ball joint and stabiliser bar link. I had to look for another tyre (plus rim) as a spare. Luckily the chassis remained intact. Wheel alignment was done uneventfully. The front wheel bearing, strut tower and upper strut mounting remain in use till today, no noise no hard steering. But I plan to change these in near future.
However this is my story. Do keep in mind the concerns from other brickboard members!
Regards,
Amarin.
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From the cars I have seen and worked on, the diagonal arm/control arm stay will be bent, and probably the strut insert, the shock itself, is also bent. The control arm is a maybe.
A stay is cheap at the JY, and a complete strut will run $50 or so.
Re: interchangability, you need a strut that will take the sensor for the anti-lock brakes; early struts will not work. Some 91's and I believe all later ones will work.
The rack and tie rod, you may be lucky. Most have been that I have seen.
The wheel and tire, have it spun on a balancer, that will tell the tale.
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Dear wvcycling,
Hope you're well. The bulk of the impact's energy was dissipated by bending
the sway bar link and the strut's rod. That spared the sway bar and possibly the strut tube and the strut mount. I'd replace the strut mount, because it can fail totally, leaving the car undriveable.
An impact speed under 15 mph may have spared the hub, which should be removed, so that the bearings can be inspected. If the bearings have no "scuff" marks - caused by being driven into each other - then the hub likely is fine.
From the photos, it is not clear that the tie rod has been bent. Even so, I'd replace it, along with the tie rod end.
The tire - ruined, even if not obviously damaged - should be removed and the wheel spun on a balancer. That will determine if the wheel is usable or scrap.
All told, this could have been way worse.
Hope this helps.
Yours faithfully,
Spook
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You need;
one control arm stay
one sway bar end link
one pr strut inserts
You may need;
one left side control arm
one wheel
one tire
I don't think you need;
left side strut assy
sway bar
tie rod
But I could be wrong, it is a long distance in 2D to be going over this. But that is where I would start, and look carefully at everything, hopefully with someone who knows/has a good idea.
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Out of what is available, what strut inserts/shocks would you suggest? I have the Bilstein HD rear shocks, which have been pretty reliable.
Luckily (or unluckily) these are my snow tires on spare wheels.
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Probably a good idea to match struts with your rear shocks - Bilstein HD. Although not necessary.
Understand the Billy HD can be quite stiff. Koni, Bilstein Touring or Boge/Sachs are some other options.
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I would add that this situation may lend itself to a very high estimate, with many parts being cited that may not really be necessary.
A similar situation I helped someone with had an est of over 2k, and it was fixed fully and completely with good used parts for less than $500, which included a headlight.
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Take this to a body shop. They will have to bend to spec the control arm and control rod mounts as well as likely replace both as well as the strut. You have more damage than just a bent strut.
--
See the 700/900 "FAQ" at the menu bar top screen left side.
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Dear wvcycling,
Hope you're well. Any competent garage should be able to handle the repair. The key question is whether or not the strut tower was distorted by the impact. I'd guess not, because the strut mounting plate has a rubber insert. That likely absorbed most of the impact, so should be replaced, even if not obviously damaged. If the strut tower has been distorted, a body shop can attend to that.
As the wheel has been pushed out of its normal position, then the impact surely ruined the tire and the wheel. The tie rod and control arms likely have been bent.
The tube - that holds the strut and from which the stub axle protrudes - may have survived the impact, because it was pushed backwards. The strut cartridge's rod, that is secured to the strut mounting plate, may have bent. If so, the strut cartridge (and its mate on the other side) should be replaced.
The wheel hub - even if not obviously damaged - should be replaced, because the hub's bearing took a hard hit. The damage may not be obvious, but in due course, the hub will fail.
If needed, source a strut housing (with hub) from a salvage yard. I believe the strut housing (with stub axle) was used for 1987 and later 740s, 760s, all 780s, all 940s, and 960s (up to and including 1994). A strut housing costs about $460 at a dealer (MSRP).
In short, most suspension parts have been damaged. In some cases, the damage will be obvious. In others, the impact's damage is inobvious, and will - if not now repaired - lead to problems.
Hope this helps.
Yours faithfully,
Spook
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