S70 Rear shocks (Bilstein) question

My car is clunking, and I sort of know why.

I have a 1998 S70 T5 with Bilstein's installed in the front and rear.
After dealing with the clunking for a while, I finally got smart and
lifted up all the carpeting in my trunk and noticed the tops of the
shocks. If I bounce the rear of the car on either side, the tops move
around. So, I've uncovered the problem. Now the question is, how do I
solve it.

Can someone describe what I can't see under the car? The only thing I can
see topside is a nut and a bolt. Will simply tightening the bolt solve my
problem?

I would try myself, but I don't have a socket that is deep enough to clear
the protruding bolt. I made some headway with a pair of needlenose pliers,
but then I noticed that the bolt was twisting with it. What the heck! If
those things can both turn, how are things connected down below.

last question ... is there a bushing that might have died, thus making the
connection loose? I loathe paying for more bushings after replacing 3
engine mount bushings 2 months ago, but if that's what it takes, so be it.

Thanks,
Mike

 

From what you are describing it sounds like either the rear shock's are lose
or the rear shock mounts are faulty
Glenn

--
"*-344-*Never Forgotten"
Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001.
The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life
aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as long
as I live,
nor should any American.
"Mow Green"

 

Well, they are definitely loose. I can't readily tell if the mounts are bad.

How do I tighten the lock nut? I can't turn it w/o the bolt also turning.
The inside of the bolt is hollow at the top, and I've tried to put in an
allen wrench, but the 5mm is too small and the 6mm is too big. I did have
luck fitting my Volvo toolkit's torx into it. I bought a deep 17mm socket
to turn the nut, but how do I turn the nut AND keep the bolt? Do they make
a special tool?

Mike

 

Had a similar sound from OEM rear suspension. Dealer tightened the "spring
seats", and the sound went away. Not sure this is your situation or not

gud luck

 

Yes there is a special tool that holds the nut still & you turn the center
of the shock to tighten since this is not available to you if you have a set
of jack stands raise the car of the ground so the rear shocks are loaded
then you will be able to tighten the shock nuts without much struggle
Glenn

--
"*-344-*Never Forgotten"
Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001.
The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life
aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as long
as I live,
nor should any American.
"Mow Green"

 

Oh, so I want to turn the bolt and not the nut!

I can vise grip the deep socket that I bought, and I think I might be able
to find a way to turn the center with a torx. The torx fits snugly, but I
hope it is the right tool. Do they make a 5.5mm allen wrench that fits
inside the center?

How can I be certain that this looseness is from the nut coming loose and
not from a blown shock mount? When I bounce the car up and down, only the
bolt moves, but of course I haven't been really able to bounce the car
hard enough to make the louder sounds I sometimes hear.

Thanks,
Mike