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Volvo OEM strut mounts .. early Failure?

240 JAH

Savethevolvos.com
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Location
Richmond, VA
About a year and a half ago I replaced all the suspension components on my 1986 245 GL . I replaced all the rubber with polyurethane except the Volvo OEM strut mounts , I replaced the them with Volvo OEM strut mounts again from Volvo , not aftermarket , based off many warnings from other volvo enthusiast about the failure of aftermarket strut mounts. It seems that the mounts are already tearing apart ...The other things to note are I installed Bilstien HD strut inserts and strut reinforcement plates. It's been a while and I torqued them properly but I will be checking them for that when I get home again.

50954F6B-2A68-4F06-9C0F-AA2ACC136010.jpg

Drivers side

E6205AA7-CAE8-45FE-8B30-14C0001A2110.jpg

passengers side which doesn't look too out of the ordinary. I know they will show cracking and such but the drivers side looks like its not going to do the job for too long.

I almost bought solid camber plates a few years back but decided against it . I think I should look into that route again .

any thoughts on these photos? so far there is no noticeable suspension problems.
 
You need the 15A style plates.
With those, as long as the bearing is any good and rubber isn't horrible, I no longer worry about those.
I'd rather have old mounts with 15A plates.
 
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You need the 15A style plates.
With those, as long as the bearing is any good and rubber isn't horrible, I no longer worry about those.
I'd rather have old mounts with 15A plates.

Is this like the strut reinforcement plates from IPD because I installed those as well when I installed the mounts . I'm assuming you saw that I have the reinforcement plates and I think the only thing they do is reinforce the sheet metal.

So where do I find 15A plates ?
 
EDIT: the more I think about this the more it looks to me like the metal sleeve in the center is detaching from the rubber all together . thoughts?



thank you .

It sucks that I went to the trouble of installing the IPD reinforcement plates and that they do nothing for the rubber.

this photo that 15A posted shows the mounts to look perfectly intact even after 15k with no rips or tears . But mine have about the same and WTF they look mangled compared to this pic.
MountsX_zps7a6b1e4f.jpg


do you guys think these reinforcement plates will keep these things alive ? I am getting them regardless but I don't know why the volvo OEM ones failed, or seem to be failing, so quick.

here is photos of my mounts . They aren't blown out and like I said before I had IPD reinforcement plates which are similar to the 15A ones so I am not sure if the 15A ones will help me with this one.
3B80B351-4FE9-4857-AA9A-6018C9A51B7B.jpg

3C44F17D-BE54-4AD4-9AFE-FA5AF67ABE1C.jpg


Here is the IPD reinforcement plates also made out of 1/82 steel . It looks to me that the 15A one has a slightly tighter hole in the center than the ipd but thats just off looks .
fullsize_8815.jpg
 
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You aren't the only one with failing OE strut mounts. I paid good money for Volvo OE strut mounts 2 years ago when I put iPD springs in my car. I also put 15A's strut plates in. The rubber looks like above, all cracked and the pass front one makes a clicking sound when turning past a certain degree, bearings have gone bad I suspect.
I'm left with no options other than to replace them with more OE parts I guess.
I suspect the lowering springs may have had something to do with this, but the original ones lasted 20+ years, why can't the replacements last at least half as long
 
I'm going to try the aftermarket deutschparts (not sure about the spelling) mounts on ebay. I bought the plates from Chris on ebay as well. They are going in my 93 wagon after I do the clutch and swap the bad trans out.
 
The GT style plates WON'T halt failure of the strut mount as imaged here. The various made in China Volvo 240 strut mounts fail like this. Sometimes the cheapie made in Chinese junk strut mounts (Meyle/URO/APA/Febi) also fail by the bushing material separating from the center bearing cup. Sometimes the bushing material separates from the exterior plate with the three studs on to secure to the inner fender.

The Volvo OEM strut mount, ON 1272455 WAS built by Boge in Germany. The center bearing 'cup' assembly, made by SKG and now FAG of Spain, has an open to the top ball bearing race you stuff some grease occasionally. Best to use NLGI-1 or 2 silicon grease like SuperLube as it won't eat / melt the carbon vulcanized rubber versus hydrocarbon grease.

This is an issue about as critical as a ball joint failure. With or without Chris' GT plates, the strut piston will eventually pass through the strut mount bushing materials, and serious dent the underside of the hood.

This is a HUGE safety issue.

The only other brand of strut mount that may be useful is SKF. Doubtful they make these in Germany anymore.

It may be useful to see if anyone can source the Made in Germany Boge strut mounts.


I bought several sets from Tasca Volvo up to 2013 for my three 240s. I replaced all three sets of two. They are all going strong and are solid, not domes, no cracks, no distortion.

Tasca Volvo sells the strut mounts for 74$ Yellow bag inside the Volvo blue box as I last bought a set in 2013.

http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-volvo/1272455

Yes these are Volvo OEM.

<img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/rparts-sites/b0a0b93e061c59a634fb0e1a49af89e6/images/products/1272455.jpg">

<img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/rparts-illustrations/strapr1/374c23ab71ebec7976dbcb3552d76ba9/6f2a3712485b602025fc4d8144503657.png">

Tasca also sells the GT plates for 31$

http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-volvo/1247816

PLATE - Volvo (1247816)

<img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/rparts-sites/b0a0b93e061c59a634fb0e1a49af89e6/images/products/1247816.jpg">

<img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/rparts-illustrations/strapr1/a5e4c82e0eab2e0e5575bbdea0204d2d/e539aac4fc90ab2d472ed3af09c482c8.png">


What FCP Euro offer here may be Volvo OEM as they write here.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-suspension-strut-mount-240-1272455

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/202316/large/open-uri20150430-30080-b5aihq.?1430428649">

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/202318/large/open-uri20150430-30080-kas1uy.?1430428654">

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/202319/large/open-uri20150430-30080-1hx2wdz.?1430428656">

The bearing assembly look right.

A cheap strut mount uses a sealed bearing assembly as Meyle does.

What iPd has here also looks OEM, yet the shiny appearance is new.

iPd sells only the Volvo OEM strut mount. Yet, in the images above, what does that matter, if they fail like this, like Meyle or URO made in Chinese junk.

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/9743/120987-upper-strut-mount-240-260

<img src="https://www.ipdusa.com/uploads/images_products_slideshow/fullsize_12892.jpg">

<img src="https://www.ipdusa.com/uploads/images_products_slideshow/fullsize_12895.jpg">

<img src="https://www.ipdusa.com/uploads/images_products_slideshow/fullsize_12894.jpg">

iPd also sells the GT strut reinforcing plates. (Volvo PN 1247816.) Yet these plates WON'T halt a failure as shown in the images earlier in this post!

<img src="https://www.ipdusa.com/uploads/images_products_slideshow/fullsize_8816.jpg">


FCP Euro also sells KYB brand, made in Taiwan. These use sealed bearings. The sealed bearings cannot take the lateral stress too well, what is the up and down motion as the front strut moves. The bearings usually fail first, then the bushing material. Same as Meyle and URO and Febi in appearance and certainly design.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-suspension-strut-mount-242-244-245-262-264-265-240-sm5050

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/174716/large/open-uri20141104-28147-1ljiwsb.?1415108948">

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/174717/large/open-uri20141104-28147-trkxk7.?1415108951">

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/174718/large/open-uri20141104-28147-1q9hl5f.?1415108955">

This is Meyle, sold by FCP Groton. See the sealed bearing crimped in at four points. Garbage.

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/51259/large/1272455my.jpg">

<img src="https://dyw03owr7vs3n.cloudfront.net/public/assets/products/204827/large/open-uri20150513-28584-1xyqm5g.?1431551746">


Unless we have a quality solution, from Volvo OEM for PN 1272455, the best solution may be:

Kaplhenke 240 Offset Spherical Strut Mounts @ 185$ a piece.

http://www.kaplhenke.com/collections/240/products/240-spherical-offset-strut-mounts

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/SideTopprofile_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448034268">

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/sidebottomprofile_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448034268">

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/ToptextInstalled_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448034268">

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/bearingdetail_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448034268">

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/profileheight_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448034268">

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/luxeinstalled_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448034268">

<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0260/2623/products/3rdsetmin_1024x1024.jpg?v=1448042245">

I'd rather continue with the Made in Germany Boge Volvo OEM strut mounts. But the North American auto parts wholesalers and distributuion networks make it very hard to buy Made in Europa any more.

Whaddya think?

Thanks,

MacDuffed.
 
I'd rather continue with the Made in Germany Boge Volvo OEM strut mounts. But the North American auto parts wholesalers and distributuion networks make it very hard to buy Made in Europa any more.

Whaddya think?
The current OEM Volvo mounts suck just as bad as all of the aftermarket suppliers. No metal supporting plate is going to keep the rubber from tearing away from the center bearing cup. It's just another ****ty Volvo design that will fail over and over again with today's poor quality parts. 15A's plates may prolong it, but I'm not wanting to replace $150 worth of mounts every 20-40k miles.
 
I've just been skating by with used PNW rubber in good shape and 15A plates.
The 15A mounts solve it well enough for a boring DD and cool weather coastal PNW rubber. :e-shrug:

I see it as:
Used cool weather rubber and 15A plate or Kaplan, no in-between really.
 
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Just a comment from the peanut gallery, the Kaplhenke strut mounts are $185 for the PAIR, not each (92.50 EA before shipping). Have been lurking threads like these as I'm possibly headed into a suspension overhaul and would rather not dig back into it all after 20K Miles so this is of great interest to me.
 
Just a comment from the peanut gallery, the Kaplhenke strut mounts are $185 for the PAIR, not each (92.50 EA before shipping). Have been lurking threads like these as I'm possibly headed into a suspension overhaul and would rather not dig back into it all after 20K Miles so this is of great interest to me.

Yep, for the pair. Got the price wrong, yet with everything, it totals up a bit more for the set of two with the spring perches and such for $291.

Such bull****. How many Volvo 240 remain road worthy or maybe restored. Some 100,000 or 200,000 world wide?

Can we find out whether ZF-Boge of Germany makes these anymore?

Or would SKF still make them. I believe they made quality strut mounts for 240 and such RWD Volvo.

Maybe contact Volvo Cars of North America?

A failing strut mount can be sort of a dangerous thing, huh?

Globalism SUCKS!
 
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The originals go at around thirty years here, in our climate.

New stuff is not worth the time.

Ben's parts are very nice, I suggest the luxe-steer as well, better than OEM.
 
Eh, it's just that they don't manufacture them to OEM specs to last a 3year/36k mile warranty (or more for a chassis warranty) spec for 100k cars a year or however many they were pumping out in the day (~3million cars over 20ish years, 1986 USA models highest production year IIRC).

Brand name doesn't really mean anything, or not much anymore.

It becomes a low production volume B-string thing that doesn't have to be made to OEM (or better) specs.

Some bean counter notices that they are a low volume thing where stringent specs aren't important, they shove it on the B-strand, raw materials are cheapened and production is sent to wherever cheapest and something gets lost in translation on the design/build (which was never very good to begin with with this part), and here we are.

I've basically never replaced a single strut mount on a mid 90s camry or toyota of any kind. Almost never a ball joint or steering rack. They actually design them decently, what can I say? Euro trash cars, be prepared for vulcanized rubber parts that are just glued together no particular thoughts about shear strength that dry out/crack/wear out often.

Still, like I said, I've been doing fine with lower mile used PNW rubber with no cracks and 15A plates. Good enough for these cheap low level cars and their cheap owners. Better than anything you can buy new other than Kaplenke.

Kaplenke is nice stuff, the price is very fair considering he's willing to support the cars/products and work out bugs with decent quality all with super low volume and hit and miss sales volume. I'm amazed anyone bothers to make anything whatever that complicated/thin margins/low volume for Volvo guys...

Support Ben (Kaplenke), 15A and local wreckers like Roy (2manyturbos) with good used PNW rubber? They support you jokers more than any large companies do or ever will (current business trends being what they are and likely continuing into the future)..
 
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Support Ben (Kaplenke), 15A and local wreckers like Roy (2manyturbos) with good used PNW rubber? They support you jokers more than any large companies do or ever will (current business trends being what they are and likely continuing into the future)..

Oh yeah, this. People who make (or even just resell) nice stuff for our small market deserve our business.

A 15A plate and good used rubber mounts are a good combo too. His rear cam seal retainer is holding my engine's seal in.

The race to the bottom leads to dents in the hood.
 
Finally caught up to the brickboard.com. In this scenario, the original poster purchased what he was told was OEM Volvo strut mounts from FCP Groton. Please see here:

<b>FCPEURO OEM strut mount failure after only 10 months 200 1988 </b>

https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volv...cpeuro_oem_strut_mount_failure_10_months.html

I feel as if I bought the last Made by Boge. The last set I installed were marked Boge Germany and look like:

<img src="https://www.brickboard.com/IMAGELIB/_images/11081.jpg">

<img src="https://www.brickboard.com/IMAGELIB/_images/11082.jpg">

<img src="https://www.brickboard.com/IMAGELIB/_images/11590.jpg">

PN 1359110 must be the sub-assembly without the bearing assembly or the bushing material?

Still going strong. No problems.

<img src="http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/481/790/669.jpg">
 
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Another disappointed Volvo 240 OEM strut customer

Brickboard Member joekidd writes here:

https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1644522/220/240/260/280/strut_mounts.html

DO NOT USE OEM VOLVO MOUNTS. Replaced as PM as I was replacing struts and shocks, on my 88 original mounts rubber cracked a bit not bad bearings were fine. Within 2 months the rubber was separated from the inner bearing mount. COMPLETE GARBAGE.

As far as struts go Bilstein HDs will most likely outlast the car and provide the best overall durability, handling and stability on the road.

.................

Would anyone, can anyone suggest, rubber strut mount replacements other then the two Kaplhenke 240 strut mount camber plate options?

Thanks. Please consider this a bump.
 
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