91, 740
155,000

Here is the most complete list I could develop. There may be other special tools as well. Btw, I posted this unfder the 200 forum as well. Didn't get any hits on the ALL/ALL forum.


740 Steering wheel tool, #998 8695
740 Strut holder hook tool #5045
740 Strut tool bushing drift #2704
740 Control Arm Ball Joint Press # 5259
740 Control Arm Bushing Press out # 5091, 5240
740 Control Arm Bushing Press in # 2904
740 Track Rod tools in/out bushings# 2731, 2733; 2706


Automatic trans drive flange holder and seal driver # 5075 and # 5149.

Brake tool # 2919 piston chamfer tilter, to stop squealing
Brake tool # 2918 for 20 degree tilt

Cam & Intermediate shaft sprocket holder, #5034
Cam and Intermediate shaft, Seal driver # 5025

Clutch Alignment tool, # 5111

Control Arm (740) - # 5356, 5359, 5078
Control Arm tool, to remove & install Front control arm bushing, # 5084, # 5085, # 5091
Control Arm tool, to remove & install Rear control arm bushing, # 5082, # 5083, # 1801

Crank Pulley holder # 5284
Crank Seal Intstaller # 5283

Engine Stand and fixture, # 2520 & 5297
Engine Rear Oil Seal tools #5276, # 1801
Engine Removal Install Lifting Sling & Yoke, # 2810 & # 5035
Engine Holding tools, for oil pan/motor mounts, # 5006, 5115, 5035 (2x5003?), 5871

FI pressure tester # 5011, #5228, #5229

Flywheel locking tool # 5112


Ignition switch/steering # 5294, #5295 to press out lock

Man.Trans, 5th gear tools: #"s 5986; 5973; 998-7693; 5262; 5305; 2985; 5058; 5148; 5147
Manual trans oil filter and check valve remover and installer, etc. #2836

Pressure Gauge, # 2834

Rear axle puller and bearing puller # 2709
Rear axle puller for flange # 2261
Rear axle seal puller # 5069

Shock Absorber holder and Strut loosening tool # 5036, # 5037

Steering arm, to press rod out of # 5043

Strut camber adj tool # 5038
Strut tools for front cartridge # 5039, # 5046, # 5303

Suspension, Rear torque arm bushing tool # 5086, # 5087
Suspension, Rear track rod bushing tools # 2731, # 2733, # 2706
Suspension, Rear Trailing Arm bushing, #5078, #5079
Suspension, Front Trailing Arm bushing, # 5087, #5088

Transmission, manual trans pilot bearing remover # 4090
Transmission, manual trans pilot bearing installer # 1426
Transmission support for install and removal # 5972

Trunk lid tool - to remove & install sedan lid gas shock, # 2744, # 5211

Valve guide press out tool # 5218
Valve guide reaming tool # 5224
Valve clearance measuring tool # 5222
Valve compressor, Intake & exhaust # 5022
Valve disc remover # 5026

Wheel tool - to press out wheel studs # 2862
Wheel tool - to remove front wheel hub # 2722


thanks -- diyer

It depends what jobs are you going to do? None of them are absolutely needed, there are always other ways to get by without. Generic tools will do for most of the work in any event. The high cost of the special tools does not justify the rare occasions when we need them. Most will never be needed. I know for a fact that well equipped dealers don't even bother with most of them.

--
David Hunter

The crank pulley holder, 5284, is the one I'd vote for. I've used mine many times to replace the timing belt and for the front seals. There are times when I'd like to check the fuel pressure also. I'll probably make my own.

In many cases you can either make your own tool or substitute another tool. For example, I use a pipe wrench on the strut gland nut instead of the special tool. On my old 240, I found sockets and pipe fittings to use along with a inexpensive shop press to replace torque rod bushings. You could also have some work like this done by taking the part into an auto machine shop.

For repairs which are made rarely, I'd just take the car into a Volvo shop. For example, to replace the rear main seal, the tranny has to come out. I've done this years ago but have no desire to do it again. This would be a shop job.

I think in many cases the cost of special tools makes them cost-effective only in a shop where the cost is spread over many repairs or the reduction in time makes that a good savings.

NOTE: my primary reason for asking this question, concerns repairs I have not done yet - never did any suspension work yet. Are air tools needed? Can't find a shop that would say NO to that question. Funny, the shops agree with my getting any or all of these tools, and the majority of the people at this board say I do not need them. So, I'm skeptical about the answers I've gotten because most people here at this board have car troubles and do not seem to be handling that too well (except for the seasoned regulars), so why trust their answers? Also, although an independent shop might not opt to buy a dealership tool, they are also more experienced in using generic tools, but at any rate, they have "special generic tools" for the same task, so what's the difference? Why should I look at a dealership tool any differently than I would any other tool? See, if the reason why the answers I got were advising against dealership tools because those tools just didn't work as well as certain other name brand generic tools, then not telling me that fact was just laziness, or the answers I got was just plain incompetent (not yours, you gave your reasons and you were not lazy) and the answerer does not know they are incompetent. I think there is more to it than meets the eye.



"The crank pulley holder, 5284, is the one I'd vote for. I've used mine many times to replace the timing belt and for the front seals" ...

I have that tool, and I agree, it has been very, very useful. But before I purchased it, I asked the same question here on this board before, and got the same basic responses - YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF EM! Well, I started the timing belt job, and tried (frustratingly) to use general purpose crank holders and they are crap (all of them). A Volvo tech talked me into getting the 5284, and the job went like a breeze and saved me aggravation and time. If nothing else, that alone was worth the cost of the tool, and that is why I asked the question, to find out tools really worth getting. (I will need to use it again too).

On the other hand, I also know and agree that there are probably some that really are either an exaggeration of a need, or not even effective. For instance, I personally do not like the Volvo Oxy sensor socket. I prefer the Snappy style. Again, the snappy cost me more than the Volvo tool, but it works so much better. So, isn't a tool just a tool regardless of what we label it? I suppose what irks me about some of the responses is that none of them are saying anything like what I just said - that the Volvo tool is not as good as the generic tool. To me that is an entirely different reason for not buying those dealership tools.



"On my old 240, I found sockets and pipe fittings to use along with a inexpensive shop press to replace torque rod bushings. You could also have some work like this done by taking the part into an auto machine shop" ...

That's good to hear. I've yet to do any suspension work and wondered about that.



"For repairs which are made rarely, I'd just take the car into a Volvo shop. For example, to replace the rear main seal, the tranny has to come out. I've done this years ago but have no desire to do it again. This would be a shop job" ...

Ok, now this is something that makes me curious about your reason why, unless you just really hated doing that job. My car has a leaky rear main. Volvo prices for that job, plus extras exceed the cost of what a quality trans jack would cost me, so the jack would pay for itself from just one use. I also have an engine that need to be dropped out of the bottom of another vehicle and that same trans jack would serve that purpose as well; I could loan the tool to less fortunate souls in need of such a tool; not to mention that I could rent it out to the more fortunate souls; get the experience of doing a tranny job; or if nothing else just sell the tool after doing the job. Chris Herbst was one of the guys that got me started seeing things this way. Guess I don't see a tranny jack as a SST. Yet there are those that would call it a special tool. So, just when is a tool a special tool, and when is a tool not a special tool? Maybe I should have not used that term "special" but rather "dealership" tools. I still think that a rose is a rose is a rose.



"I think in many cases the cost of special tools makes them cost-effective only in a shop where the cost is spread over many repairs or the reduction in time makes that a good savings."

Well, I feel that if buying a tool saves me what I would have to pay for Volvo or a shop to do the job, then it pays to buy the tool and do the job myself. Other reasons I mentioned above. But I understand your reasoning and agree with it generally. It's just that in practice I look at "some" special tools like I would just like a regular needed tool." So, I guess I'm saying that if a SST does not work, or if it does not save any time, or if it does not make the job easier, or safer, well, then yes, I agree, you just don't need it.

And if that's true then Volvo has done one really good deceptive marketing job. I mean, that means they are basically lying to dealerships and the shops and the public about their tools being necessary.


diyer

Boy, that's a lot of questions. I can't answer all but you raise some fundamental issues about the purchase and use of tools. In the case of the Volvo special tools, some of them are a specific size to fit the need while generic tools may not be. For example, the tools used to press in or out the suspension bushings are an exact fit. My use of pipe fittings and sockets meant that I had to search quite awhile to find the right size and could not always find one. There's no way a Volvo shop would take that time.

Another issue has to do with the DIY's frequency of use and budget. I saved enough on replacing the rear bushings in my 240 to pay for the shop press and rear suspension bushing tool, and the parts. As you mention in your discussion of buying a transmission jack, this seemed like a good way to go although it was still a tough job. If I wanted to hold the engine while doing a tranny removal, I'd build my own holder since I'm sure it would cost less and be just as usable. When I buy hand tools, I try to buy decent quality for frequently used ones such as wrenches and sockets but I can't justify professional grade such as SK or Proto. I buy Craftsman and I've tried some Chinese wrenches and found they hold up to my use just fine. A professional mechanic would probably go with the more expensive tools since they have to stand up to harder use and have to last.

You ask why I won't do the rear seal. It's purely personal. I know how, but I'm getting a little too old (70) to work under a car and have a medical problem (vertigo) which makes it hard to work there. The last two times I did a clutch job I bench pressed the tranny back up onto the bell housing. What a job that was! I should have gotten a tranny jack but was on a real tight budget.

You asked about air tools. I've only limited experience with them but can say this much. Don't scrimp on the compressor. My old compressor lacked the capacity to run an impact wrench for more than a few bursts at a time. I ended up getting a larger compressor. Also don't scrimp on the impact wrench. I bought an inexpensive Chinese one and it can barely take off lug nuts. It was very useful in removing the top strut nut when a manual strut tool just shattered on my 5th strut removal. I find I don't use the air tools much but that may be habit. If you have much rust on your suspension fittings, I'll bet the impact wrench would be a great help.

Lastly, please let one who has reached senior citizen status in one piece, more or less, suggest that you not take offense at replies to your questions. I have found over the last few years that folks on this board are really trying to help. Sometimes you'll get a flippant answer or one which doesn't get at the question the way you'd prefer. You may need to rephrase your question and ask again. There's no call for flaming and I've seen boards where this happens and I won't go on them. You ask some good questions about the special tools and I'm interested in the answers.

Diyer,
Thank you for the valuable information which I have copied into my files.
Keith
--
1990 740GL Wagon 223k AW70L B230F 8 Valve Non-Turbo Regina

Yeah sure ok bud, now, please contribute to the question. I am hardly doing this for my health and never intended for someone to get a copy of my hard earned and worked list for nothing. I won't be doing anymore of them, you can believe that (I have compiled tons of lists on my own, and now I know to keep my mouth shut). I have many times asked for such lists, on this board, about many volvo subjects, never once to receive such valuable and hard to come by info. What a pityful bunch.

diyer

Diyer... what the hell did you expect? Please don't insult the bunch of us based on one person... ACtually, I think your list is great and it obviously shows that you put some work into it.

Personally, I haven't completely rebuilt my car, so I can't answer all of your questions...

But of the jobs I've done, the crank balancer holder tool is essential for keeping the harmonic balancer from moving as you are trying to remove the bolt that holds it on... vital for maintaining the engine timing.

I recently removed the rear end from my car... Volvo specifies a certain tool/bracket to hold the rear end in place.... never saw the need for it.

One tool that looks really interesting is the one that holds your engine in place as you are doing a clutch job... looks like it might help, but I can imagine that it costs a couple hundred bucks, so I'd find a different way.


Mike

Well, maybe that other guy was a newbie and needs the list. I hate to have done all that work, though, and be told it is all worthless. Another thing about this SST issue is that I got the info from the Bentley and Haynes manuals, not Volvo!!! Perhaps, Mr. Duck would like to write a letter to Bentley them telling they are all wrong. But feel free to copy it if you need to. I won't be posting any more, though. Takes many hours to prepare the data, to get it all correct (fingers crossed).

I agree absolutely totally 100% with your analysis. BUT Mike, there was one guy that just told me I didn't need "any" of the Volvo tools - including the timing one (I doubt that guy is a Volvo tech or even comes close to being one). These days you need to give people reasons when you make a blanket statement.

Bottom line I just wanted to hear from people who know about ALL those SST;s and what their opinion was.

diyer

Diyer...

I don't think you're going to get responses about ALL of the special service tools. It's just not going to happen. I would bet real money that even the most experienced mechanics won't/don't use the "volvo recommended tool" because it is either too expensive, or they can think of a better way to do the job.

In reference to the crank tool that we talked about... I could think of a couple ways to hold the harmonic balancer in place without the tool... but it would have been sketchy... In fact one method that I thougt particularly distasteful was the one where they say to jam a screwdriver in the balancer, then crank over the engine to loosen the bolt... sounds like a disaster. When I did the job with the tool, it was like a dream. The guy who told you you don't need any volvo tools was technically correct... he might have another way to do the things that he needs... the volvo tools just make the job a bit easier.

So I suppose you need to re ask your question.... and tailor it to a specific job... like doing a clutch... which tools would be nice/helpful, etc. Then you might get a few more constructive responses.

My 2c.

Mike

BTW... did you win the lottery or something? How could you possibly afford to buy all the volvo tools? :)

"I don't think you're going to get responses about ALL of the special service tools. It's just not going to happen. I would bet real money that even the most experienced mechanics won't/don't use the "Volvo recommended tool" because it is either too expensive, or they can think of a better way to do the job" ...

Ok, I accept that. I just wanted to know which ones you guys thought were REALLY USEFUL.



"In reference to the crank tool that we talked about... I could think of a couple ways to hold the harmonic balancer in place without the tool... but it would have been sketchy... In fact one method that I thougt particularly distasteful was the one where they say to jam a screwdriver in the balancer, then crank over the engine to loosen the bolt... sounds like a disaster" ...

I tried it and believe me it is a disaster - screwdrivers break! (even thick ones)



"When I did the job with the tool, it was like a dream." ...

Yes, very sweet.



"The guy who told you you don't need any volvo tools was technically correct... he might have another way to do the things that he needs... the volvo tools just make the job a bit easier" ...

I sure hope so.

BTW, Steve Ringlee at times has recommended quite a few of these tools as being very helpful. He did not specifically say you absolutely had to have the but he thought they were a wise choice. Since he has remained silent on this one I can only assume he no longer feels the engine holder tool [he previously recommended] is worth getting for the safety it provides. I'm just trying to be a good Volvo mechanic.



"So I suppose you need to re ask your question ... and tailor it to a specific job... like doing a clutch... which tools would be nice/helpful, etc. Then you might get a few more constructive responses" ...

Good advice. Will take it as it comes.



"BTW... did you win the lottery or something? How could you possibly afford to buy all the volvo tools?"

No. But I only use and work on a few vehicles, so, getting the special tools has always been cheaper than what I would pay for labor and parts costs from any shop. Btw, I have never needed ALL the SST's, but the ones I have gotten have proved to be worthwhile for whatever reason. I can understand that a general purpose shop could never financially afford ALL of the various vehicle mfrs SST's. But if you only work on one vehicle brand it becomes another story. I have three B230F engines to maintain. To me it is worth having the really unique SST's. Some of them are just too generalized and some don't even work well, so I don't bother with them. But I thought some Volvo enthusiast just might have knowledge of all of these tools, and I would have made a note of which ones to get. But, to answer your last question, no I have not yet won the lottery - someone local guy advertised a boatload of Volvo tools and I wanted to take advantage of the ridiculously cheap prices he was selling them at. However, as you all made it very, very clear, if I don't need it then it really isn't such a great deal after all. I was trying to jump on the deal quickly but I think someone else has already scooped them up. Oh well!

End of post.
diyer