850 rear shock absorber top mounts

Can anyone tell me how to access the top shock absorber mounting point
on a 1997 850 station wagon. Do the rear seats have to be removed

 

They're under the trunk floor wood/carpet pieces just behind the base of
the rear seat. The rear seat does not need to be removed, folding it
down will get it out of the way. If you lift the hatch for the
underfloor storage, you can see the metal brackets where they are bolted
to the frame that hold these panels down.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Thanks Mike,
Turned out to be the simplest job I've ever done on the Volvo. Righ
hand top mount was broken and left hand shock absorber was useless.
new mounts and 2 new shockers fitted and it drives like a new car. I'v
been told the top mounts are only good for 80,000 miles, mine ha
115,000 so I've not done too bad.
Thanks again
Maureen850 (England

 

Maureen, when suspecting top mount what were the symptoms? I have a 850 and
it rattles at the rear top when it goes over a bump. I took off the top
mount, but it looks fine. I have put a rubber washer underneath and a metal
washer on the top but the noise is still there. Could it be a faulty shock?
Adam

 

I just did this on my S70 with 275k km. The right one was separated,
the left appeared fine. Interestingly the clunks from the rear were
very infrequent, considering the condition of the right mount. This car
still has the original shocks.

There are a couple of other suspension bushings underneath that can
cause clunks too, have a look at them. Also check the rubber holding up
the exhaust. If you have clunks and all rubber bushings/mounts look
fine, then the shocks are the next suspect.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Mike,

Main symptom was a knock behind the rear seat when going over any kin
of bump in the road. This was due to the rubber becoming separated fro
the metal part of the top mount. This allowed the shock absorber to com
up through the floor and knock against the underside of the wooden trun
floor. You will also note that the car bounces a number of times if yo
push down hard and release on the rear bumber. It should really go dow
come back to its original position and stop. Any kind of cyclicl
bouncing points towards shock absorbers or top mounts.

hope I've got the terminology correct
You say trunk, we say boot
You say fender, we say wing
You say hood, we say bonnet
etc.etc

 

Sorry Mike and Adam,

My last reply should have been addressed to Adam, Mike you already hav
experience of this problem

Mauree