Hello,

This is my first post, but this forum has already saved my but about a dozen times, usually I find the answer I need by searching the archives, but I struck out this time.

The trunk on my 87 240 sedan will not stay open. Great was my joy to locate a new pair of new ScanTech struts on eBay, but now I am a loss at how to install them. Where do you start? Is the first step to use a punch to drive the pin out? Any help would be appreciated.

Where on ebay did you get them from? I see them for other Volvos, but not the 240 sedan.

Thanks

The pin is not designed to be removed from the strut cartridge.

If you have the Bentley manual (highly recommended!) there's a picture on page 830-5 which shows the Volvo tool for removing and installing the struts.

The basic idea is that you close the trunk lid a little bit to compress the strut, and then slip the special tool over the strut to keep it compressed. Then, open the lid all the way, and the strut should drop free. It's normally held in a notch on one end, and on a pin at the other.

Do be careful, as they are under pressure at all times when installed.

Michel

1979 242dl
1988 244dl

Ah HA! Thank you, that pin does not look like it is ment too be messed with.... Now that I have the concept, I am sure I will find a way to compress the strut.

Thank You!

Proud caretaker of:
Blanka - 84 240DL automatic 214K (my wifes ride)
Silver - 87 240DL 5 speed 238K (my ride)
Bertha 70 VW Microbus ('cus sometimes I just have to move).

I have a wagon so can't help with specifics, am not trying to be a W/A but the first thing I would do is find a broom handle or stick long enough to hold the trunk lid open before you crawl in, it shuts on you, [there is no inside trunk release] and your friends file a missing persons report. Asking a friend to stand there holding it open is banned under the Geneva Conventions as cruel and unusual punishment. Is there a clip of some sort on the pin? Check both sides. Remove it then tap the pin. Note the side it was on and reassemble in the same manner. A little WD40 or similar sprayed on the fastener makes things slide better.

I've never done a set without the factory tool and for that matter have no desire to do one without. Having seen one of those shock assemblies explode I can tell you it would not be a pretty sight if you were in the way. It is nothing more than a small garage door spring compressed into that tube. The Volvo tool is so darn simple it is funny. When I opened my own shop I had no source for one so I made one out of a piece of scrap metal with a hack saw and a file and I still use it to this day.

Mark

Thanks everyone. I went to the hardware store and bought a couple of heavy duty shelf brackets, bolted them together, cut down the long bits, and used an angle grinder to shape the notches for the strut. It worked like a charm, and now I have $11 less in my wallet and a new tool to put on the shelf. Once I removed the old strut, I put a furniture clamp in a vice, and used this to compress the strut, CAREFULLY with a couple of bits of wood between the vice and the ends of the strut so nothing slipped. Compress the old strut, remove new tool. Uncompress old strut. Put new strut in clamp. Compress, install new tool, and back out to the car.. Repeat on the other side and now I can get to my tool box without the f#^*ng trunk lit clonking me on the head.

To any who follow, REALLY BE CAREFUL. The advice about the amount of power packed in these little babies is right on.

Thanks Again,

AirCooledConvert

Silver '87 240 5 speed sedan
Blanca '84 240 auto sedan
Betha '70 VW Bus (old dogs have to keep some of their tricks...)