05 plate V70 diesel- crashy suspension

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Simmy

the bounce test is of little use on a volvo it will show nothing shocks are fairly cheap but you may find it easier to cut off the drop links for ease and speed prepare to find other components worn bearing plate and top spring mounts . please be careful as spring compressors can maim and possibly kill keep posted with your progress.

Why will it show nothing? If the shocks are worn, won't it bounce like any other car that has bad shocks? By "bounce test", I assume you mean putting your hands on the bonnet and "bouncing" the car up and down.

The true test is taking the shock completely out of the car, then pushing the pin of the shock to see if it rebounds quick (good) or slowly (getting bad), or not at all (completely failed).

[Simmy]

go and give it a try you will see it not an effective test a car standing on its wheels is already a third of its way through its travel / movement of the shock . when working on the car watch how high the body rises before the wheel lifts when its jacked up . as you said the only fool proof way is to remove the shock but this is beyond the ability of the majority of drivers.

[NeedforsweedeUK]

Personally if your mechanic says your shocks and bushes are good and there's no obvious play then I would suggest looking at your subframe bushings. Especially as your car has done 188k. If they haven't been done I would suggest getting them checked out. Worn bushings can cause waywardness and hard jolts to come through the cabin on potholes. I used delrin solid subframe mounts and did away with bushings on my t5 and it actually improved the ride, whilst tightening up the handling dramatically. My subfrsme bushings where shot at 181k

[Dazza95]

For what it’s worth, I think “crashy” is how I would describe the ride in my old S60 in the year before I sold it. I just put it down to the suspension components being very tired on a car with over 250k miles on it.

[Georgeandkira]

Nowhere was driving care mentioned.
One man's rate of speed is another man's reckless driving.

Find a section of good, winding road and try to push it through at a speed at the top of the allowed limit. The absence of noises and wobbliness will be an indication of OK shocks and OK bushings.

Remember, assessments of crashy or twitchy are highly subjective. Some would say possibly psychosomatic. I know a guy who calls all rides twitchy if they're not 'boulevard marshmallows'.

Also remember that cheap or old, hardened tyres can hop about as they reestablish grip on the road.

[stuart bowes]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

Remember, assessments of crashy or twitchy are highly subjective

100% agreed, depends what you're used to / what you had previously

[volvo2]

Personally I think my V70 (2002 petrol) has a particularly good ride (others have even comment on it). I do have the 15 inch wheels though.

[Simmy]

yes the 15in wheels will help a lot its the 17s with the 45 profile tires that are not good and even worse if the shocks are past there best..

[DieselDoNicely]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

Nowhere was driving care mentioned.
One man's rate of speed is another man's reckless driving.

Find a section of good, winding road and try to push it through at a speed at the top of the allowed limit. The absence of noises and wobbliness will be an indication of OK shocks and OK bushings.

Remember, assessments of crashy or twitchy are highly subjective. Some would say possibly psychosomatic. I know a guy who calls all rides twitchy if they're not 'boulevard marshmallows'.

Also remember that cheap or old, hardened tyres can hop about as they reestablish grip on the road.

Good god George I thought you were dead :-) DDN

[DieselDoNicely]

Originally Posted by volvo2

Personally I think my V70 (2002 petrol) has a particularly good ride (others have even comment on it). I do have the 15 inch wheels though.

I thought the 16 inch were low, didnt realise they did 15 inch.