V70 Suspension: Suspension 'ping/clonk' NOT ARB links

[A lex]

Hello folks, looking for a bit of advice - ill try to explain as succinctly as possible without going on forever!

Car:

2001 V70 T5 (p2). 152k miles.

Problem:

An occasional LOUD noise from the suspension - sometimes it sounds like its something under stress being released, sometimes just a big old clunk. Can happen when articulating the suspension, i.e. over a speed bump, rough surface, or change in road surface.

Angle of steering makes no difference as far as I can tell. Best guess says coming from left side, but not 100% sure.

Diagnosis thus far:

Had car on ramps at my local garage. Not a Volvo specialist but works on them often enough (5 of them for sale on his forecourt). Its definitely NOT the ARB droplinks, we ordered these in thinking they would be the problem but they arent :S

Nothing else on the front suspension looks to be amiss, all tight and in serviceable condition.

Apparently top mounts were replaced by previous owner 2yrs / 10k miles ago but I have no proof.

Any ideas?....... Something, obviously, is not quite right - yet nothing appears wrong when under the car.

:S

Ta!

[mrc1501]

Originally Posted by A lex

Hello folks, looking for a bit of advice - ill try to explain as succinctly as possible without going on forever!

WOW........I've just had to google that!! Fantastic choice of word......must remember that!

Anyway, my first thoughts were maybe a broken or unseated spring. Top spring mounts do crack and "clatter" rather than "clunk". I'm sure if you put a spanner on the strut centre nut and try turning it and see if there is any movement. At the same time, look under the wing to the top of the strut spring and see if the spring seat is turning (it locates the end of the spring so if it turns, then it is worn). May need long arms though!

[mrc1501]

Could be an engine mount....

[A lex]

Thanks - some good points to look for there.

I definitely think its suspension related, as it happens when it is being articulated. The thing that puzzles me is that the garage (who I trust to a reasonable extent) says they can see nothing wrong.

The spring would also make sense to me - but surely this should be immediately noticable to any half decent mechanic?

[mrc1501]

I think that is you intend on keeping the car, or like you say, cannot totally vouch that the previous owner had the spring seats replaced, is to indeed have these replaced anyway. The spring seats are rubber with an inner metal sleeve, and over time, the rubber cracks and breaks at the point were the inner metal sleeve is, and this what causes the clatter.

Its a good starting point, and you can find threads on here on how to dismantle the strut.

[A lex]

Thanks, I will start reading further into it.

I forgot to mention that sometimes *usually when its cold* the steering makes a squeaking noise (sounds a bit like a fart actually!!) when being turned at low speed.

Likely related?

[Rover Saloon]

First of all, are you absolutely certain it's not the drop link - they can appear tight and in order until removed only to find that one or both of the balljoints is actually quite floppy and loose.

Secondly, it could be the strut moving in the top mount. If they didn't use genuine replacement parts when it was overhauled but Scantech stuff, then their rubber componets are well known for a very short lifespan. Another possile source of the noise is the spring moving in its bottom mounting cup. I think that, when built, Volvo put a rubber cushion/seating in but these can work out and fall off allowing metal to metal contact.

Over time, I have had to replace both upper mounts and bearings, the drop links as well as the control arms. Having said that, well before I started this 'Forth Bridge painting exercise - it seemed to go on for years!) my suspension often gave out a loud clunk with no rhyme or reason but yet never failed it's MOT. It was only when the wishbone mounts started to fail that I began the overhaul.

So, to summarise, if you haven't already done so, remove the drop links (not difficult) to check they are ok.

Inspecting the upper mounts is not that difficult either - strut removal with the correct tools (some fairly large ring spanners) takes well under an hour. Just make sure you remove the driveshaft bolt before anything else and take care not to tug the driveshaft as the cv joint can be pulled apart with spectacular results.

[kdst5]

How about the shock absorber. I seem to remember somebody on this forum had replaced everything but the shock absorber so finaly did this and it solved the clunk.