Installed Bilstein HD's in my 91 740 two days ago; replaced strut mounts and strut rod bushings as well. In less than 100 miles of driving, the Bilsteins have busted/popped the new strut mounts. I got the mounts (which are scan-tech from FCP Groton) thinking they were fine as no one has ever mentioned heavy duty strut mounts (are there such a thing?) when installing Bilsteins. Why has this happened do you think? Are the Bilsteins that strong or the Scan tech mounts that weak? I NEED to replace these mounts ASAP (I can't drive with them the way they are) and need to order replacements tomorrow. What brand/type of mounts do I need to withstand the pressure of the Bilsteins? Any help is appreciated as I'm in a tight bind time-wise; I need to get to school and back so I need a car! Thanks.

my email is roguls@hotmail.com

Roguls
New York, USA

Well there's your problem. You've got ScanTech parts. Of course they're completely crap. Call Nick up and ask for either a replacement non-ST part or a complete refund.

If they don't have a proper replacement, it's time to make friends with a local discount Volvo dealer. I believe, among others, Borton Volvo in Florida does stuff mail order.. and sells stuff at 20% off list price to anyone.

- alex

'85 244 Turbo
'84 245 Turbo

I usually get my parts OEM from Boston Volvo; they're priced right around Borton and close to home. 2 strut mount assemblies from them? 270 bucks BEFORE shipping. I ended up getting SKF mounts (the same as iPD) for 160 overnighted from www.thepartsbin.com. Nick said I will be refunded when I send them a coupla brand new destroyed mounts...I still can't believe how fast they popped...

Roguls
New York, USA

I'd get Groton on the phone first thing in the morning. I've talked with them a couple of times and they seem very reasonable. I'd be very surprised if they didn't make good with replacements at the very least. I hate to learn a lesson at your expense but when I replace mine I'll bite the bullet and go with OEM mounts.

Good luck!
--
Erwin in Memphis, '88 745t 183,000 miles, '95 855t For Sale

My experience is with the 240 mounts, but maybe some of it applies...

ScanTech upper strut mounts SUCK! I got 2, one of them popped/busted like you said, the minute the car went on the ground. I got another free from FCPG, and guess what, it didn't fit! The studs were slightly off. So I just returned it and ended up using the old Volvo mount.

The other scan tech mount is still on the car, but it flexes upwards more than the 13 year old Volvo mount. Gonna throw it (the ST part) out sometime, the quality is just not there.

My suggestion:
Go Volvo brand, and you'll be ok. Boge is the supplier, so if you can get the Boge mount, that should be just as good.

Greg
--
http://home.earthlink.net/~greg.wong/

Are you sure you installed these correctly? This sounds VERY strange. I've not experienced anything like that, and I've got Bilsteins.

Now everyone is telling me how shitty Scan-tech mounts are. DAMN IT. The Volvo master tech champion of '83 is my mechanic and he is a phenominal one at that; and I watched/participated in the install.

Roguls
New York, USA

Roguls,

FCP should give you a refund... Scan Tech has quality control issues and Groton knows that. You'll often get a good part from them, but there is a ton of junk rolling outta their factory. I have Scan Tech strut mounts in my ride, with Boge Pro Gas struts, and to date everything is dandy. But, I recently bought a brand new ST tail light that leaks into my trunk like a fountain. The good and bad of aftermarket parts... Hopefully, you did'nt do something wrong on the install. However, 100 miles is insufficient. So you deserve, and should receive, your money back -or free replacement parts.

I've got close to 80,000 miles on my HD Bilsteins with zero problems. My strut mounts are the original Volvo Factory mounts that I replaced with new bushings when I replaced the struts. I would say it isn't the struts but the cheap after market mounts.

When I did the hd's on my 240, I almost replaced the mounts but the originals were fine. However, I have a Datsun 280Z that I replaced the struts with stiff adjustable units and the rear mounts broke withing a few hundred miles. I would relace with oe units and you shouldn't have a problem. BTW my 240 now has 176,ooo miles with hd's,original mounts, and stiff sport springs. Thanks for the enlightening.
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92 244 lowered, Bilsteins, IPD sways, Unitek cam/header, TSW Revo 18x8's - 94 965 Niiice MONEY PIT! - 76 Datsun 280Z lowered, modified head, cam, headers, intake