V70 front susp knocking - strut top mounts?

[dern]

Hi,

I've had for the last week a knocking from the front left suspension. I've just replaced the wishbones a few weeks ago and have checked all the bolts are tight and they are.

The knocking happens over bumps, nothing more specific than that.

If I grab the top of the wheel and push and pull it in and out of the car the knock appears. If I grab the top suspension mount (the rubber bit on top of the shock) from within the engine bay and push it back and forth the suspension knocks. It takes quite a bit of effort to do this by the way, it's not loose as such. The other side is quite firm.

I can also spin the suspension top mount rubber bit (with a bit of effort). The other side can't be spun.

Am I right in thinking the top suspension mount is the most likely culprit?

Is it safe to drive like this?

How much work is required to change the top mount?

I've got a receipt for the top suspension mounts being done just over a year and 10k miles ago... seems quite soon for one to go again.

The car is a 2001 v70 2.3 T5. It has 110k miles on it.

Any advice would be most welcome.

Thanks,

Mark

PS. Also had the tracking done and it was miles out... car now starting to wander very slightly again. I guess it's related so though I'd mention it.

[Tunku]

My V70 started knocking at the same mileage, it was a worn bottom end balljoint.

[stevieturbo]

Knocking like that on any modern car can often be anti-roll bad drop links.

Only takes the smallest amount of play, to make a lot of noise.

[dern]

Thanks for the suggestions although neither of those would cause the play at the top.

Stripped it all down at the weekend and no major wear to anything. The splines on the top spring seat were a little worn as were the one of the top mount with the bearing. No play in the bearing. Star nut was far too easy to take off though.

Couldn't get new parts from the volvo dealers so had no choice but to bolt it all back together and then order the spring seat and top mount during the week. There were no cracks or signs of either part failing so was pretty sure it was safe to reassemble temporarily.

However, after reassembly there's no play and no knock any more. Only thing I can thing of is that the star nut was unwinding allowing play and wear to the splines as the top bit rubbed against each other. Who ever assembled it probably didn't do the star nut up properly.

I'll keep an eye on it but feels fine now.

Cheers,

Mark

PS. There's no way the top mount had been replaced a year ago... too much surface corrosion on it for that. I assume the previous owner took it in for the driver's side, they charged him for both and just replaced the driver's side... nice.

[adyady1066]

The Volvo's suffer from the top strut bush mounting plates wearing out. I've changed loads in my time and the easiest way to check them is raise the front of the car on both sides, put your hands around the shock itself and shake it. Do it on both sides and see if there is excessive movement inside the chassis turret. Also check the gap between the top surface of the tyre and the wheel arch for different measurements.

What they typically do is tear the rubber bush inside the mount and cause the noise by excessive movement. You can get these from an after market place as they are quite expensive from main dealers. You'll know by tugging at the shock within a little whether it is moving excessively and can make you're own judgements then. The noise they make is a loud thud from what seems like inside the engine bay. If it is the drop links as suggested it will sound like someone thumping the floor pan as you hit the bumps. Could be either but at least you can now check the top struts for a better idea. If you want to check for movement in the drop links remember that the car must be on stands and you will have to raise the wheel slightly (put a level bar under it) and move the wheel up and down. You'll feel it in the drop links this way just by touching them as you level the wheel.