HELP!

So I'm under the car grinding away body rust, painting and undercoating in preparation for the up comming salt and rust season this winter when I see my driver's side front strut. The freaking lower spring cup steel is flaking like a Grands Buttermilk Biscuit hot from the oven. It looks as if it could tenson unload at any time. Did I mention my wife hates this car and looks for any reason to prompt me to sell it? Did I also mention this is my 126 mile a day commuter?

Well, I start calling auto parts stores - no luck. I then start calling Volvo dealers - three different deler parts guys say things like "Oh Sh8T" or "No Way" or "Jesus H..." when they see that their employer wants $500 for a single front strut. It appears that the spring seat is not sold as a stand alone item and that the only option from them is a healthy conjugal visit to their cashier's cage. (BTW - don't even ask about financing a part - even if you are joking - that brought some chuckles)

So, anybody else solve this problem? I'm not very close to a salvage yard. To get to one may mean a day away from my brand new job. So, lend an old brickster your best advice.

PS - I'm an hour North of KCMO.

Anybody else get the sense that the dealers wish the old Volvo guys that sqeeze the life out of our cars (Which they just love to mention in their ads) are just considered a nusiance? I get the feeling that unless I'm there to buy an XC90 for cash with my life partner Mitch and our Pommeranian Leo, that they could give a flying um....gosh darn. I'm supprised they don't have a 240-740 owner's entrance and drinking fountain around back so the real customers don't see us unwashed types. Do I come off a bit pissed in this post? Well then that would be an accurate read. :)
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1985 244GL - St. Joseph, Missouri

You could order one from Hirsh industries in AZ...I have resorted to this before when the local rust yards were without. Cost with shipping was $75 to 90, not so cheap, but it was perfect and sometimes you have to pay the price.(better than the dealer and car downtime while welding)

Excellent post. Total empathy here.

As to the struts, I just replaced both sides with a pair from "the yard" for about $20 ea. If you go this route, post back and I'll give you some shortcut tips.

A quicker alternative I've seen is 2 or 3 triangular steel support gussets welded in place (1/4" or thicker as I recall). This could probably be done right on the car, and fairly cheaply considering time saved.

This gusset fix was still fine when the '76 went to some farm kids for pasture fun at over 255K miles.
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

1) Find a good used strut assembly from a donor. I've done this 3-4 times, and the strut usually costs about $25. At most, it takes several hours to swap it over.

2) Buy new replacement galvanized spring cups from the dealer and have them MIG welded to your existing strut tubes. I've never done this but know of others who've been very successful with this approach.

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

I have a replacement strut seat if interested please e-mail me. Dan
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85 245 M46 194K, 92 245 A70 122K

You don't work 7 days a week, do you? Most pick-n-pulls are open on weekends....

I'm supprised they don't have a 240-740 owner's entrance and drinking fountain around back so the real customers don't see us unwashed types.

I've been to one dealership that practicly did. I was not able to get parts through the dealership, I had to walk almost to the f*@king airport, and then when I did get there, I found the service center, sort of like an executive lounge where you can read the paper while they charge you $300 to change the plugs in your range rover. Right up the back of all this is the spare parts window, which is sort of a Wizard-of-Oz-Gates-Of-The-Emerald-City-Who-Rang-That-Bell experience.

The mechs are actually quite nice once you find them.
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Drive it like you hate it

I damn near snotted on my keyboard reading your post!!! I have had similar experiences getting replacement struts as well. I have had great luck at the local salvage yards for struts, a quick inspection and I am sure you will find most are in great shape...good luck.
Nocones
(goddamn that was funny!)
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keep the R's up!