ICQ>

This is a more detailed response to my recent "strut length" and "strut clunk" posts.

First of all I want to thank everybody for the input.

The sticking with deCarbons is sound advice, although I have no idea how much Volvo charges for these unique monsters. They do fit as designed, work well and last stinking forever. At 187K miles mine were original!! One was pretty shot, but sorta worked and the other actually had life in it!!

So basically I was a victim. (Nothing is ever MY fault ;-). Pure speculation: I was victim of "tolerance stackup"......Tubes at max length,... strut carts, cap "nuts" and spacers at min length....so when all is put together the strut body is not held firmly in the tube.

Someone had suggested that something was crushed or suseptible to crushing either the spacer or the end of the after market shock. I saw no evidence of this, although I could tell the shock was moving in the tube (not good), by the paint on the shock wear marks.

So here is what I recommend for strut swapping on 240T's:

Buy the deCarbons ($?) and be happy.

Either make your own custom spacers or just use a stack of washers (somebody with a Bertone did this with sucess last year or so, who was this?). Even with Bilsteins you will need a spacer. The Volvo spacers fit nicely in the tube base (they are directional), but they could use another 0.100" or 0.200" in height. The Volvo spacers cost me about $5.00. I bought a variety of stainless and galvanized large washers at Eagle for trial and error.

Whilst at the local Eagle hardware store I bought a $29 3/8" air ratshit. (I still plan on buying "good" air tools!!) This thing actually works pretty well. It has a max torque of 50 ft lbs. Believe it or not, once my lug nuts where broken loose I used it to remove and thread them on. (Followed by torque wrench to 85 ft lbs. of course). The front sway bar tie ends were too easy. But best of all with a 15/16" socket (3/8 drive - rare?) the spring compressors were pure joy. No more hand torture.

A single 5/8" x 1 3/8"(approx) x .090" (approx) stainless washer was all it took to lock the carts firmly in place. I did use medium strength (blue) loctite on the large cap "nut".

That's about it....240 T owners: Just do it right the first time and you won't have to tear your struts apart again!!!!

Please post questions or abuse.....I like to read this stuff....