'86 740 wagon strut/spring issue?

Discussion in 'Volvo 740' started by golgo13, Aug 23, 2006.

  1. golgo13

    golgo13 Guest

    hi all,

    thanks again for all the help that i've received here about compressors.
    i decided to do it myself (replace with a new compressor from ebay and
    do a retrofit as well).

    as i've been driving my new (old) baby, i've noticed something that
    might be a suspension issue. i've heard on cartalk that you can't test
    the spring/shock condition by bouncing on the car on a corner anymore
    (i.e. if it bounces like a yo-yo, it's time to replace).

    here's the symptom. i had to do a lane-drift correction (a mini-swerve
    manouver) at approximately 35 mph, and the tail of my 740 wagon felt
    like it was fish-tailing. i actually counter-steered in fear of wiping
    out. so i've taken her to a empty road and tested the mini-swerve in
    both directions. when i jerk the wheel to the left and correct to the
    right, she really fish-tails. the other direction seems not so bad. i've
    also noticed when crossing the railroad tracks at a non-90 degree angle,
    the back of the wagon really does jostle around.

    now the question is, i think the rear left shocks are gone. do you agree
    with my assessment? how easy is this to do by myself? i've done shock
    replacement on my 94 jetta, and that took two people and half a day. is
    the volvo just as easy? any special tools that one needs?

    thanks in advance again!
    jun
     
    golgo13, Aug 23, 2006
    #1
  2. golgo13

    Jamie Guest

    I would check not only the shocks, but the rear pan-hard rod as well.
    It is bolted up near the rear differential. Just make sure it is still
    secure.
     
    Jamie, Aug 23, 2006
    #2
  3. golgo13

    zencraps Guest

    g
    Screw cartalk.

    Push up and down and see what happens: old school.

    It's an easy R&R.
     
    zencraps, Aug 23, 2006
    #3
  4. Our 756T let us know when the shocks were bad - the tail bounced like any
    car does. In any event, the shocks are pretty straightforward to replace
    with common tools. I did it alone in a couple hours before I even had air
    tools, and I work very slowly. Rust on the bolts might modify that prospect
    :-(

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Aug 24, 2006
    #4
  5. golgo13

    Jamie Guest

    I'm going to be putting some Bilstein HDs on in the next couple months.
    I was planning on buying the spring compressors, but do I need the tool
    to remove the nut on top of the strut?

    I have an 87 740 and I see there is a tool that looks like a socket
    head welded to a spanning wrench.
     
    Jamie, Aug 24, 2006
    #5
  6. No - on ours it was a matter of removing the wheels, unfastening the brake
    calipers and then removing the bolts that held the shocks. Yours might be
    different, it occurs to me, because the 765T had Nivomats and might mount
    differently. Anyway, the shocks limit the travel of the rear axle. Look at
    yours to do a sanity check, but the springs on mine are unloaded when the
    shocks are removed and the axle is left to dangle.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Aug 25, 2006
    #6
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