Thanks for all of this!

Best regards

Ian F

yeah fcp.com has them

Not that I can find on their website?

Ian F

Probably not necessary, but I feel compelled to ask this question. Where exactly is the rust? On top of the fender or underneath? My 90 240DL had severe rust on the strut mount next to the spring seat. Visible from the top. It’s not strut mount rust, is it? Just double-checking…. Much cheaper fix!

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Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

The corrosion is on the lower spring pan, the part which is welded to the strut itself and it includes the stub axle. It may well be strong enough to last for years, but it is difficult to tell without dismantling. My MoT tester said that the spring itself was very corroded, so if I am changing those I may as well address all of the rust.

Ian F

People have been known to weld on a new spring saddle (as it's called) so do some further research on that. In the very back of my mind, it's like these saddles were separately availabe or easily taken off other struts.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Agreed, if your spring is corroded and the strut housing is rusty then it makes sense to replace the whole unit.

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Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

The Genuine Volvo one is discontinued, but I'm seeing a fair bit of aftermarket out there, including in Europe. I'm not sure who the OE manufacturer was, but maybe someone else does (likely Sachs/Boge or Bilstein).

Is your 1991 940 wagon an SE model (independent rear suspension)? If so then yes, these sometimes are more difficult to lookup doing a vehicle search. I believe all 740/760/780/940/960 use the same front shock strut insert. So try looking up under the 1991 GL/GLE models or as a 1992.

Better is to do a parts search. Use the Volvo p/n and also lookup under the superceded part numbers. My lookup says the Volvo part number is 274215, with fitment listed for all 700/900 sedan and wagon (other superseded Volvo part numbers are 274040, 274041, 321351 & 3530273 in case you see those).

Some of the aftermarkets out there, many at more affordable prices, are those by Sachs, Bilstein, KYB, Koni and Meyle. I don't know who currently makes the ones sold under the ProParts Sweden and ScanTec names, so I wouldn't touch those.

If you want a high end strut and don't mind blowing the budget, consider the Koni Sport or Bilstein B6 Performance. RockAuto (out of New York, also ships international) has the Bilstein B6 (a heavy duty shock, good for wagons if you haul loads, especially on the roof as it raises your centre of gravity). It's usually hard to beat RockAuto pricing and their international shipping costs are often better than others as they use drop shipping whenever they can. They're my go to source for OEM parts to Canada.

To view the various aftermarket makes and their manufacturer part numbers, check out what FCPEuro carries out of the Eastern US using this link https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/940/Shock-and-Struts/. They ship International.

To try sourcing them in Europe I'd try Amazon.co.UK using the manufacturer name and their part number, which you can get off the FCP and RockAuto websites.

Last set I got way back for my 940 wagon were Sachs Advantage HD Gas Turbo from FCP. That was the last of the stock they had that were still being made in Europe before switching to their plant in Mexico and reportedly the quality did drop.

Hope that helps.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Thanks both for these replies. What I am needing is the strut itself, not the strut inserts. I may have overlooked it, but I think everything you have referred me to are strut inserts. These are easily obtainable over here in the UK, but the actual struts are not!

Ian F

Ah, I was wondering why you were asking for a common strut, meaning insert, like I couldn't imagine how Brexit would cut you off from a part like that, lol.

If you do end up deciding you need a used one (hopefully not) then I'm seeing where the early 740/760 ones may be slightly different, with p/n 1330824 listed with fitment only for 1985-1987 non-ABS. I was suprised to see a left one of those is still listed as being orderable in the Volvo parts chain and costing a small fortune, like 437 EUR plus shipping.

The large Chapman Motors Volvo wrecking yard in western Canada would be another source over here that could easily supply you with a good used one, but their prices aren't cheap and international shipping to the UK would be a killer. You could probably buy an entire 700/900 wreck near you for the price of two from here, possibly even in running condition. Good thing I don't have room for a parts car, but I did almost grab an irresistable one a couple of years ago for dirt cheap with a rough running 16-valve the guy couldn't fix and that I knew likely just had a couple of slightly damaged or bent valves after a broken timing belt (B234F is an interference engine). Leather upholstery was excellent, whereas my stitching is failing and a few too many dogs jumping in and out of the car over all the years I've had it is opening up the seams a bit.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Thanks everyone for these replies, it looks like a good used pair is what I will have to find.
I will venture down to my local auto breaker sometime this week, haven't been there for many years though.
I am not very hopeful as unless you go to a specialist breaker the yards are more interested in modern cars where the money is for spare parts. Most old stuff is sent fairly rapidly to the crushers because they can't afford the space.

Best regards

Ian F

Dear OwenF,

Hope you're well and stay so! You noted that in Scotland, salt is used during the winter to keep roads passable. Thus, any 940 at your local salvage yard is likely to suffer from salt corrosion.

You might want to check with salvage yards in the Home Counties, or the southwest, i.e., Devon and Cornwall. Cars there are less likely to be salt-corroded. Shipping costs are a consideration. But it is better to get sound parts, that with a few coats of an epoxy paint on well-cleaned surfaces, will serve well for many years.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Dear OwenF,

Hope you're well and stay so. Mea culpa: I did not realize you sought the strut housings. These are long NLA from Volvo and - so far as I know - there's no aftermarket part.

I can't recall a post reporting the need to replace the strut housings, absent a severe front-end impact.

You'll need to find a salvage yard, that has a 740/940 with strut housings in good shape. These housings are very sturdy and so heavy. Were you to find a set at a U.S. salvage yard, the shipping cost would be very high.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Thanks spook. I guessed that would be the situation, but you folks in the USA seem to have lots of stock of all sorts of old car parts I thought it was worth asking.
Although my struts appear rusty I wouldn't really be able to judge their condition until I took them off, so it's useful to hear your opinion that they seldom need replacing. I am sure a dry state car (California etc) would have struts in good condition, but we get a lot of salt on the roads here in Scotland.

Ian F

This used Volvo parts store/recycler has an excellent reputation and they specialize in older Volvo parts. Plus, they are in Atlanta where it rarely snows.

https://store.voluparts.com/brands/Used-OEM.html

Another used Volvo parts store is in New York.

https://www.erievovo.com/

I seem to remember one in California but can’t remember the name.


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Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

Dear OwenF,

Hope you're well and stay so! Front struts for Volvo 940s are available in the U.S.

See, for example: https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/940/?year=1994&m=20&e=914&t=5&b=6&d=34&v=11&keywords=274215 .
See also: https://eeuroparts.com/?s=274215&post_type=product .

I'm sure there are other sellers.

is likely to be pricey. Note that fcpgroton is on the U.S. East coast, so shipping costs may be less than would be charged by a West coast supplier.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook