Front suspension - what to do....

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Carl
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Front suspension - what to do....

Post by Carl » 29 Jun 2006 11:06 pm

This weekend I was planning to renew the front suspension (springs, dampers, top mounts and bushes). Unfortunately the top mounts haven't turned up and I've probably left it too late to get some from Volvo (my local dealers dont stock 300 parts so it's a 3 day wait to get it from the Swedish warehouse).

Do I fit all the new bits but use the old top mounts? Not ideal, but surely there'll still be a noticeable improvement over the current bits.

Or do I just leave it? The problem with this is that I'm doing a 12-car in a few weeks so probably wont have the time to get it done if I dont do it this weekend. I really should get the cambelt done too, as gawd knows when this was last done!

I'm gonna have a ring round a few motor factors tomorrow on the off chance they might have a pair of mounts, but I dont like my chances!

What do you think?

Cheers

Carl
Carl
Rover SD1 Vitesse (and no Volvos :()
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Post by 340GLT » 30 Jun 2006 12:17 am

Personally mate i'd order soem genuine, my volvo dealer gets them next day from their central depot not sweden, so yours should be the same!!
The aftermarket ones are SHITE as the rubber is a softer compound, and so wear out much quicker, i have new mounts dampers springs etc and it has transformed the car!!!!
Adam
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Post by SteveP » 30 Jun 2006 09:27 am

How much are the top mounts from the dealer? I think I might well replace these when I do my suspension shortly... My dealer also gets stock in next day/two days from a bigger dealership in Daventry.
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
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Post by 340GLT » 30 Jun 2006 12:32 pm

Bout £22 each to me trade, not sure what they are retail? Well worth the money though!!
Adam
F559 LFE - 340R 2.0 16v
C208 CTR - 340 1.8 16v
D300 LBO - 360 GLT 3 Door Turbo project!! (and restoration)
F706 RBX - 350R in process!!!

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Post by Carl » 30 Jun 2006 04:34 pm

£57.81 for the pair from the dealer. Not bad at all. But they cant get them in till next week now.

Gotta go to the dealer tomorrow to pick up something else so I think I'm just gonna order them then. And try and squeeze the suspension change in sometime over the next few weeks. Will get the engine done instead on Sunday.
Carl
Rover SD1 Vitesse (and no Volvos :()
But previously:
1988 Volvo 360GLT
1988 Volvo 360GLT
1984 Volvo 340DL
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Post by jtbo » 30 Jun 2006 05:09 pm

I would say that get top mounts too, those seem to be broken in quite many of 300-serie cars, rubber gets old and so. Those also cause steering to feel heavy and all kind of other trouble.

I bought top bearings as I did though those were whole top rubber parts too, but as they did arrive that was not the case so I put all other parts new, but those top mounts are old and that really feels.
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Post by SteveP » 30 Jun 2006 05:23 pm

Anyone got the part number for these? My dealer has a habit of cocking numbers up...
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
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Post by jtbo » 30 Jun 2006 05:49 pm

SteveP wrote:Anyone got the part number for these? My dealer has a habit of cocking numbers up...
3212267 is top mount, part that has this rubber thing.
3201269 is top spring plate, part that is against spring, this is often quite rotten.
3266405 This is bearing, it really is not anything else.
3268720 is some kind of bushing, I guess, is between top mount and bearing. This I don't remember seeing in my car, but my car did miss also bump stops too...

These are for Mk3 1988 GLT RHD model, but I think those are same for LHD models too.
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Post by 340GLT » 30 Jun 2006 09:12 pm

jtbo wrote: 3268720 is some kind of bushing,
Mine didnt have anything there unless it refers to the bellow that covers damper etc??
Adam
F559 LFE - 340R 2.0 16v
C208 CTR - 340 1.8 16v
D300 LBO - 360 GLT 3 Door Turbo project!! (and restoration)
F706 RBX - 350R in process!!!

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Post by Carl » 01 Jul 2006 12:56 pm

Well been down the dealers to pick up a part for the master cylinder plus and oil filter and sump plug washer. And have now ordered some top mounts too - the parts guy was very helpful - showed me the exloded diagram of the strut on the PC to confirm which bit I wanted and they're going to be here Monday morning.

Unfortunately the guy I spoke to in the week was wrong - they had one in stock in a central warehouse, so I might have been able to get them for today. Ah well.

Have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by the decent service and the good prices too from the dealer. Might have to start using them more often!!
Carl
Rover SD1 Vitesse (and no Volvos :()
But previously:
1988 Volvo 360GLT
1988 Volvo 360GLT
1984 Volvo 340DL
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Post by mac » 01 Jul 2006 04:04 pm

Hi Carl,

Don't know if this is any use to you.

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all the best - Mac.

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Post by pettaw » 01 Jul 2006 07:57 pm

yeah, 3268720 isn't present so you won't need it. I bought 2 and couldn't get them to fit cos I think the top mounts have been modified so the bushing is already in it.

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Post by Carl » 01 Jul 2006 08:51 pm

Yep, that's the diagram he showed me!! Got a couple of number 12s for now.
Carl
Rover SD1 Vitesse (and no Volvos :()
But previously:
1988 Volvo 360GLT
1988 Volvo 360GLT
1984 Volvo 340DL
www.carlgibbs.com/gallery

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340GLT
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Post by 340GLT » 01 Jul 2006 11:51 pm

Yeh if you look at the profile of early top mounts they are rounded over, these have the separate bushing under it, whereas the newer squarer top mounts dont need them!!
Adam
F559 LFE - 340R 2.0 16v
C208 CTR - 340 1.8 16v
D300 LBO - 360 GLT 3 Door Turbo project!! (and restoration)
F706 RBX - 350R in process!!!

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Post by Chris_C » 03 Jul 2006 11:55 am

Carl, is this Kings? Both the island and the soton docks Kings parts desks are superb, 10% VOC discount too... (the soton docks one is the guy who was trying to get me to put a B280 into a 360... seemingly one of his mates did it a while back)
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