Suspension: Shock abosorber?

[Joe Harding]

Driving around on welsh roads yesterday, every slight pothole resounded through the rear of the car with a noticeable bang.

Checked tyres, offside rear 10psi low, but when reinflated, didn't make much difference.

Bounced rear of car, did seem quite free moving. Am I looking at new shock absorbers?

v70 series 2, 137,000 miles.

Just to repeat, big symptom was banging over every bump in the road. Otherwise ride fine. (Car worse when heavy laden.)

Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks

[BobS]

Hi,

Could be any of the suspension links or mountings. Also check the middle and rear exhaust mountings as they are known to break and cause rattles and bangs.

Hope it nothing too expensive,
Bob

[swedishandgerman]

Originally Posted by Joe Harding

Am I looking at new shock absorbers?

From your description, shock absorbers would certainly be my first point of attention as if it was the result of a worn bush or drop link , it is likely that you would notice a more constant knocking/rattling rather than banging when you hit potholes

However, as in the above post, there are many things on these cars you should check, particularly that broken exhaust hanger. You can buy a bolt on hanger from Partsforvolvos for very little cost

What is your car?

Poverty models (like mine) had no rear anti-roll bar, so no possibility of rattling anti-roll bar drop links. "How to" guide here ( the rears are similar to the fronts): http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=102267

Poverty models also had normal shock absorbers instead of Nivomats (self levelling), so considerably cheaper and easier to replace

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, At 137K I'd expect any shock/strut/damper to be gone. I got my 4 corners' parts ready and did the rears first. Even though the bounce test we grew up with wasn't conclusive, I couldn't believe the improvement in doing just the rears. And yes, it's true, I've been procrastinating over the fronts. Now that it's Spring I'll change them out. Kira

[Joe Harding]

2 rear shocks replaced. Driver side apparently not working at all.

Thanks for contributions/ advice etc.

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, Did you take notice of the mounting points for a rear sway bar? They're there and it's an effective add on in your case since your roads are rough. Kira

[Joe Harding]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

Hello, Did you take notice of the mounting points for a rear sway bar? They're there and it's an effective add on in your case since your roads are rough. Kira

I would have if I knew what a rear sway bar is. Our local garage (Marlen Motors) always offers excellent service so I let him have the job. He told me that the one shock was virtually non-functional.

However, underneath the rear axle, acting like a link from one hub through to the other is a bar mounted in bushes and secured by drop-links. Is that it?

[outnumbered]

yes thats the sway bar or ARB as we call it .
mike

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, I'd love to hear about the improvement in ride with just the rears done. I was amazed how much the new rear shocks bettered my V70's handling. Would installing a junkyard ARB (Sway Bar) on my poverty model cause any problems? There must be many out there. Anybody ever done it? Kira