Just want to know how to know when to change struts:
It squeeks (rubber type sound) in the front when I go over medium bumps at a slow speed. Otherwise handles OK. Had the car about a year with no clear repair history. Is there a kind of "test" for struts?

And timing belt. I know how many miles ago it was changed. Just want to know how many miles between changes? It LOOKS alright.

i changed my timing belt last dec. before it was changed i had a terrible knocking problem , usually just going up hills or even inclines, the timing wasn't that far off as far as the distributor setting goes, as soon as i changed the belt the knocking was gone so i would say thats a sign. it was over due about 10,000 miles

Like B.C., I agree only handling will reveal worn struts. Best way to tell is own more than one 240 and drive them both around the same lumpy curves, with new struts in one. The comparison will get you ordering them for the second car, where with none to compare with, you'll get used to the slowly degraded road-holding. Same with rear shocks. Bounce test won't clue you in on time. Lots of pros go by mileage, but it isn't their money and because the pass/fail criteria are so subjective you can't argue against it.

Check squeaks with a helper if you can get it to happen at a standstill. Common squeaks are dry anti-sway bar bushings (mounting) and broken A-arm bushings.

Timing belts can last a lot longer if the seals don't leak, particularly the cam seal. Conversely, if the front of the motor is wet, don't expect the belt to make its rated life. Get a new tensioner before you start the job, unless you know it was changed with the last belt. Even then, they are inexpensive enough to warrant having it ready to use in case.

--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Change struts when you can't stand the handling and/or noise any more.

Change timing belt every 60,000 miles (240 1988 and older) like a religious rite.

The belts that have failed on my 240s have looked pretty good. They just won't move since the cogs on the belt have sheared off at the place where the belt wraps the crankshaft pulley.


Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

I'm not sure how many miles you have on the car, but I have found shot struts on 240s that had 135K and 230K. As far as a rubber squeak sound, thats not something a strut will cause. I have diagnosed this twice as a bad inner tie rod that was caused by a power steering rack leak under the boot. If the PS rack boots are wet/oily, check the inner tie rods as the squeak culprit. Other possibilities are bushings.

On the timing belt, the recommended replacement period is 50K miles according to Volvo and Bentley manuals.

jorrell