1974-1981 / Coupe / Sedan / Estate / Sweden
Bouncy ride, nose-diving under braking, oil on the damper body.
Dampers wear out. Seals fail.
Replace in pairs (both fronts or both rears).
Bilstein or Koni are good aftermarket options.
OEM Volvo dampers are fine but pricey.
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Submit an updateVague steering, clunking over bumps, uneven tyre wear, wandering on the road.
Whining noise from the pump, heavy steering, puddles of ATF (power steering fluid), steering suddenly goes heavy.
You'll notice the temp gauge creeping up, puddles of coolant under the car, or the heater not working properly. The engine may consume coolant without obvious external leaks.
The V6 is reluctant to start when cold, runs rough for a few minutes, or won't start at all. Once warm it's usually better.
Oil spots on the driveway, oily residue on the underside of the engine, falling oil level.
Uneven idle, hesitation under acceleration, flat spots, check engine light (if fitted).