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How to change front suspension strut on Volvo V50 MW – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VOLVO V50 (545) D4, VOLVO V50 (545) D3, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.4, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.4, VOLVO V50 (545) T5, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.0 D, VOLVO V50 (545) 1.8, VOLVO V50 (545) 1.6, VOLVO V50 (545) 1.6 D, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.0, VOLVO V50 (545) D5, VOLVO V50 (545) T5, VOLVO V50 (545) 1.8 FlexFuel, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.4 Tdi, VOLVO V50 (545) D2, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.0 FlexFuel, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.0 CDI, VOLVO V50 (545) 2.0 D4 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on VOLVO V50 1 (P12) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #15
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Combination spanner #21
                    
                      Impact socket №13
                    
                      Impact socket №15
                    
                      Impact socket №18
                    
                      Impact socket №21
                    
                      HEX bit no.H5.
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #19
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Ball joint puller
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Tip from AUTODOC:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Take the following steps:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 5

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 6

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 7

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #13. Use a tap wrench.
Step 8

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 9

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Professionals recommend:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 10

Remove the wheel.
Step 11

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 12

Disconnect the ABS sensor cable fastener.
Step 13

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use HEX No.H5. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 16

Detach the brake hose from the shock strut.
Step 17

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 18

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench. Use a tap wrench.
Step 19

Clean the fastener that connects the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 20

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #21.
Step 21

Disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 22

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle.
Step 23

Remove the drive shaft.
Step 24

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 25

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 26

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 27

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 28

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. AUTODOC experts recommend:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 29

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 30

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. AUTODOC recommends:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 31

Compress the spring.
Step 32

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #18. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33

Remove the top mount of the shock absorber strut together with the mount bearing.
Step 34

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 35

Release the coil spring.
Step 36

Remove the spring.
Step 37

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 38

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 39

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 40

Compress the spring.
Step 41

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 42

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 43

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Tip:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 44

Decompress the spring.
Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 46

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 47

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Volvo V50 MW
Step 48

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 49

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 50

Install the fastening bolt. Use a drive socket #15.
Step 51

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 52

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 53

Install the drive shaft.
Step 54

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 55

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Connect the lower arm to the steering knuckle.
Step 56

Tighten the ball joint fastener. Use a combination spanner #21. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 70 Nm torque.
Step 57

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #21. Use a ratchet wrench. Use a tap wrench.

Step 58

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 90 Nm torque.
Step 59

Fasten the brake hose on the strut.
Step 60

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 61

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use HEX No.H5. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 62

Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.
Step 63

Install and tighten the drive shaft bolt. Use a drive socket #13.
Step 64

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.

Step 65

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 66

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: suspension strut – Volvo V50 MW. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 67

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. Volvo V50 MW
Step 68

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 69

Lower the car.
Step 70

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 30 nm torque.
Step 71

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 72

Tighten the bolt connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 35 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 73

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 74

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 75

Close the hood.
Step 76

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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