05 plate V70 diesel- crashy suspension

[rogdodge]

Hi there, much as I love my trusty V70 5 pot diesel, ever since I’ve owned the car (188k miles), the suspension seems to have little ‘control’.
Local MOT station says shocks are fine… no idea when last replaced… and suspension bushes ok.

Is this how they all are? Any changes I can consider
Thanks
Rig

[olliecampbell]

Do you have the Four-C switchable suspension?

I’m going to guess that the suspension struts could be old and due a replacement. You can’t really tell until you take them off, compress them and watch them rebound (or not!). I’m not sure if the V70 is particularly crashy but it’s all very subjective anyway. Is there another one locally that you can go out in to compare?

[mcfe]

To me crashy means only one thing. It's as if the whole suspension is one rigid thing and every pothole feels like you are crashing. That's how my S60 2005 feels.
On the other hand I've been driven in a Ford Mondeo 2000 Mk1 and...that thing rides better than my S60, the guy was going over 100kmh over potholes and stuff and I couldn't feel a thing.

I've handled hundreds of struts but could never tell if one was bad or not. Mine compress with effort but don't return, I know brand new ones spring back when compressed. But some people say it's fine, others might say no.

Let's not forget that springs also lose compression with age.

[stuart bowes]

mine is definitely what I would call 'crashy' despite brand new shocks all round, and new springs on the front (rears seem ok and are agro to change) new bushes up front (polybush though which does make a difference) and regular good maintenance, low mileage, etc

I think it's just the design of the car itself, it's a very heavy old lump and in my case at least early on in the P2 development

you have to have something reasonably modern and technically advanced I think, if you want good cornering AND smooth rides, given the choice of one or the other, I go for handling

also lets not forget there's rough roads and rough roads .. you might be there going well whenever I go over the bumps and dips it's smooth as anything... well come and try that round this way where some of the dips are more like caverns and the speed bumps are huge. just making the point that it can vary from place to place

it's the same with MPG, when you get someone who says well mine does over 30mpg.. yes but you live right near the A road and you go everywhere at 49mph lol there's a lot of variables you can't just directly compare your car to someone elses

[mcfe]

To be honest I don't like the crashy feel of the car considering a Ford from the year 2000 rides smoother and handles potholes and speed bumps as if they aren't there.

I wonder if these cars were like this when brand new, but I don't think we would find anyone here who has bought one when new and has accurate recollection of the ride quality.

The potholes here are very bad and very pronounced especially in rural areas.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by rogdodge

Hi there, much as I love my trusty V70 5 pot diesel, ever since I’ve owned the car (188k miles), the suspension seems to have little ‘control’.
Local MOT station says shocks are fine… no idea when last replaced… and suspension bushes ok.

Is this how they all are? Any changes I can consider
Thanks
Rig

They can't tell the shocks are fine just by looking at them. They'd have to take them off the car and do a compression check.

A tell tale sign of worn shocks are crashing over bumps, wobbly steering when you hit a bump, leaks from the shocks themselves, "diving" whilst you brake.

At 188k, I'd expect there to be wear and would change the shocks and top mounts. Make sure you buy decent branded ones (not cheap junk).

Originally Posted by mcfe

To me crashy means only one thing. It's as if the whole suspension is one rigid thing and every pothole feels like you are crashing. That's how my S60 2005 feels.
On the other hand I've been driven in a Ford Mondeo 2000 Mk1 and...that thing rides better than my S60, the guy was going over 100kmh over potholes and stuff and I couldn't feel a thing.

I've handled hundreds of struts but could never tell if one was bad or not. Mine compress with effort but don't return, I know brand new ones spring back when compressed. But some people say it's fine, others might say no.

Let's not forget that springs also lose compression with age.

If they don't return, the shock is goosed.

One thing to consider though is alloy size. A car that has smaller alloys, therefore has a bigger sidewall on the tyre, will do better over bumps and imperfections.

I know from experience with my own car. When I bought it, there were aftermarket 18" alloys on it. I hated the ride and changed them for 17"... the difference was remarkable.

[Simmy]

at that mileage if the shocks have not been replaced before they will definitely be tired . on my car on removal of the spring the top part of the shock dropped down inside the lower part. it had no resistance whatsoever. it should be held up by gas and oil pressure which meant that the car was riding lower than it should. the other side was similar new shocks transformed the car . another failure item is the top rubber spring mount. the inner bush part detaches from the outer. the 45 profile tires do little to help this problem. ps the new shocks solved my constant headlight bulb failure problem.

[rogdodge]

Thanks for the replies folks,
The car came with next to no detailed service history, so very little to go on. I’m a trade plate driver and get to drive all sorts of vehicles of all ages and states of mechanical repair ….. my Volvo is sadly the worst. I sense a winter project to order replacement shocks and replace them (assuming the old ones show lack of rebound).

[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.

[olliecampbell]

Originally Posted by rogdodge

Thanks for the replies folks,
The car came with next to no detailed service history, so very little to go on. I’m a trade plate driver and get to drive all sorts of vehicles of all ages and states of mechanical repair ….. my Volvo is sadly the worst. I sense a winter project to order replacement shocks and replace them (assuming the old ones show lack of rebound).

Does it have the switchable four-c suspension? Might need a SUM adaption, I think it’s called.