The previous owner put Goodyear Eagle HP's on the car before I purchased it and it had a vibration at 65mph which I wanteed removed. I took the car back to Sears where the PO had purchased the tires and they agreed to kindly rebalance the tires to get the vibration out. They did a pretty good job there (still slight vibration, that no one but myself seems to claim). Having also taken off the wheels today to install "new" KYB rear shocks, I noticed that the lug nuts were placed back on the car, incorrectly, I think, with the domed side facing me as I removed them, and the flat side mating with the actual rim itself. It would seem that if the domed side of the lug nuts were not facing the rim, that the rim would sloosh around the 5 lugs when the car hit moderate obstacles. It may be my own mind, but having driven it around after I fixed all four wheels, the car seems unable to make the clunking sounds and feeling as though the body of the car is going to keep going as the frame comes to a stop at lights. I just don't know.

Additional information is that I found a brand new set of KYB gas charged shocks at the local do it yourself junkyard. $3.30 each and into the trash with the original Volvo (made in Germany) hydraulic shocks. Nice improvement! I know the KYB is the least expensive of the brands, but a far cry from the old hydraulics that were on there...definate rear end bottoming out running over such things as fleas, matchsticks, toothpics, fingernail clippings, etc. Plus the total price of $6.60 for a whole new set was like Christmas today.

Cracking sound still present in the car, under the hood, under light acceleration and light deceleration. Can't decide if its the harmonic balancer or not....definately sounds like plastic crackling, "almost" like pinging, but I just don't think it's pinging. ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! No real good harmonic balancers at the dyi junkyard either.

Thanks to all for the support and help.

Sincerely,

JB