hi all

i have a 2002 s60 awd that i have, like others, experienced noises coming from the front suspension.

i took the vehicle to the dealership and a can of spray lubricant later i left with the noise (grinding at the time) still intact.

not wanting to go back to dealer and be charged for the repair (a possibility i was told) i investigated the noises my self.

the noises i heard included

1) rattling / knocking and,
2) grinding / squeeling

what i found the problem to be was as follows:

at the bottom of the front spring (spring seat) there is a plastic bushing that fits between the bottom coil of the spring and the spring seat. this bushing had worked its way up the spring and was allowing the steel spring to make contact with the steel spring seat. the rattling noise was from the steel to steel contact. the grinding noise was caused by sand working in between the spring and seat (i live in minnesota and the road sand gets thrown up into the wheel well.

i was able to partially compress the spring (with a spring compresser) after i raised the wheel off the ground and force the bushing back where it belongs.

hope this helps

petr