V70 Rear Springs Change

[stuart bowes]

Can you take a picture and show us?

Have you got the rubber piece in place (if there was one..)

Strangely even though I don't have a rear roll bar I did find that having both sides jacked equally was seemingly the only way to get the control arm bolt back in.. so there does seem to be some sort of effect

[Tam9n]

Interesting, I’ll get the other side jacked up to see if it makes any difference.

Yep, I’ve got the rubber piece still indeed.

[Tam9n]

So, spent another few hours today on this. Got everything perfect, everything bolted back up perfect. The rubber was seated great (had the rubber hat taped round it too. Cleaned the top cup up with the wire wheel, and then used washing up liquid. The bottom of the spring looked great too; and was where it was supposed to be.

Got everything bolted up, snugged up.

Then slowly let the spring compressors off as the final thing, then BONG.

The bottom of the spring just popped forward on me.

At a loss now!

[stuart bowes]

hate to be that guy but .. are you sure they're in the right way up.. and the right springs

you must be pulling your hair out by now, what a palava

[Tam9n]

Nah I’m glad you quizzed me.

Springs look like they’re the same either way.

BUT: I did find out the springs KYB RA7007 which are actually reenforced springs (which I didn’t know until I googled them!)

Would this be why?

[stuart bowes]

dunno.. have you got the originals there to look at the positioning of the spring ends (relative, top to bottom, are they aligned the same?)

other than that, diameter, length, etc, can't think of any other reason why it would pop out but maybe someone else will come along with other ideas

and if you haven't done the other side yet maybe looking at that will give some clues?

[Tam9n]

Appreciating all the info and help btw!

Sadly the original spring came out in three pieces, so there was no proper way to confirm this.

I’ve had a thought, when I slackened off the spring compressors for the last time, the weight of the hub was pulling the entire control arm down, in reality I should have keep a jack underneath to keep it up a bit, then places the shock up in and bolted up?

So maybe because the hub was allowed to drop a little (unsupported) then the new spring popped out?

[TLPower]

First things first, please accept my condolences. They can be a complete tw*t of a job, mine were bad enough (no compressors due to fitting Eibach lowered springs).

My suggestion would be check the number of total coils on the remnants of the old spring, check the wire diameter, count the number of coils and if possible piece it together to gain some idea of a free-length. If the new springs are an upgrade the wire diameter should be slight thicker. Alternatively they might have reduced the number of coils to increase the rate, increasing the free length only increases the ride height.

My next suggestion regarding fitting requires a degree of bravery and stupidity. Compress the spring off the car and the bind them with what are going to be sacrificial 1" ratchet straps. Simply (lol) fit them to the car, seat them, remove the clamps but leave the ratchet straps in place, bolt up the lower arm and when everything is in place cut the ratchet straps and remove.

Or buy the correct springs from Volvo as a last resort.

If you have to do this also buy some custard to go with your humble pie as its' hard to swallow by itself.

Peace and love, peace and love.

[jnmonaghan]

Or buy the correct springs from Volvo as a last resort.


The designation plate on the near side wing, in the engine bay, specifies the correct Volvo springs

Jude

[TLPower]

I'm so sorry, I miss read the thread and I thought you had non oem. Many apologies and I hope you have a happy outcome.