Hi,
A few weeks back, I ordered a pair of Lemforder upper strut mounts for my 92 940. When I started the job, I discovered one wasn't the right part. I went ahead and did one side of the car and the vendor shipped out another one which looks like the right part but it has an extra washer in the box that the first one didn't have. The washer is thick (at least .25") and is rounded on one surface and flat on the other. I'm sure it is made to go against the bottom of the strut mount in place of the Volvo concave washer. The mount has three little tabs on it that this washer kind of snaps into. The first strut mount didn't come with this washer and I don't remember the little tabs but could easily have missed them. The vendor's picture doesn't show this either. When I did the first one, I just reinstalled the concave washer like I have always done in the past.

So, is this a new improvement or was my first mount missing this part? And will the concave washer be ok? It really does look like a pretty nice improvement. I really don't want to have to pull the strut again if I don't need to but also don't want a strut coming through the hood.

Thanks!

FWIW, I just replaced the strut mounts on a 1997 V90 with Lemforder units and found then them to be decent quality. Bearings actual seemed better quality than the original units. One mount had a different washer than the other, but they both fit with no issues.

Vendor decided that part was missing and shipped a replacement washer. Now I just need to tear that side apart. Again. I hate doing struts with having to compress springs, etc.

The Lemforder mount looks like nice quality overall and I think this "washer" is a nice improvement. The missing part is obviously some degree of quality control failure but leaving a part out of the box is the kind of thing any of us could do. I'm more concerned about intentionally lowering quality to cut costs.

Thanks all!

Hi lrisius,

Your message had been hangin' owt here for some day, so, I thought I'd chime in.

Many others are far more qualified than I to answer your question here.

Many folks have come to know that the Made by Germany Boge strut mounts for RWD Volvo. Boge is owned by ZF and both are based in Germany. The original 700-900 strut mounts were made by Boge. Usually quality bearings come from SKF, Timken, and others. Now it is INA.

More and more of the OEM brands you used to see on Europa autos are now made in China with corresponding quality and packaging issues. Lemförder does build in China more and more. Though I used to think Lemförder as Mercedes OEM. Wholly avoid Meyle.

Though what are quality aftermarket brands, unless from the OEM manufacturer vendor, well, others no better than I. I don't want to research your issue in dial-up modumb.

The fact you were missing pieces clearly indicates a quality issue.

As for what missing pieces, I'll leave that up to those that have replaced strut mounts on 700/900/90 Volvos more recently than me. (It used to be the bushing would well outlast the bearing on 700/900. Now uses INA bearings, like INA timing belt tensioner on the engine of your 940 and my 240.) The washer may be the spacer some refer to. In Volvo speak, the strut mount itself is called a Support Plate.

You should contact the retail vendor and request a replacement. May I suggest Volvo OEM, with caveat, below.

A writer at FCP Groton wrote a procedure to replace the Volvo 940 strut mounts:

http://blog.fcpeuro.com/2014/11/24/replace-strut-mounts-bearings-and-boots-on-a-volvo-940/

The article here lists a preference for Volvo OEM, which FCP Groton and iPd USA have for sale.

And Volvo 940 OEM strut mount from Tasca:

http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-volvo/1387188

Though the bearing and spacer may come separately. Should be a kit with all three parts as you see from iPd and FCP Groton.

You can call your local Volvo dealership and ask for the proper parts numbers and a price list.

However, a review of all Volvo forums clearly indicate a degradation of Volvo OEM parts quality, certainly for out of production models.

I'd hope Volvo would consider parts manufacturing in North America more so, with the new Volvo manufacturing plant in the (North or South) Carolina.

Still wish the Volvo Halifax plant remained in operation all these years. making more RWD Volvo automobile, with a wonderful Canadian Accent, as nearly all RWD Volvos in the Americas were assembled at the Halifax plant. Your 940 and my 240s.

Hope that helps.

Friday Morning Earl Grey Tea Boyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
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The Volvo 164: The Mightiest of All Volvo Automobiles in Perpetuity