1993 Volvo 960 sedan. Rear suspension is visibly sagging. I bought a pair of KYB struts but I haven’t put them on yet. Now I’m wondering if maybe it’s actually the springs. Is a sag necessarily one or the other? If not how can I tell which one it is? I did check the struts and they don’t seem to be all oily, but is it possible that it all leaked out and then dried up too? The car did sit for 2-3 years before it was given to me a few months ago.
Your springs are shot. Struts basically dampen movement (you can grab them with your bare hands and compress them). Springs are there to keep your ride height in the proper position as you add weight to the car.
wondering if maybe it’s actually the springs.
it definitely is. Shock absorbers do only, exactly their name implies. They do nothing towards ride height.
I bought a pair of KYB struts
struts have springs on them. Unless you mean you bought shocks
just shocks yes
For the cost of doing the springs, I would think you would be better off doing shocks too while you are at it. Unless you are planning to do it yourself, but springs can be a pain, and dangerous unless you have the right equipment.
I am planning to do them myself but I've watched scotty's video and it looks fairly easy. the spring compressors I can borrow from O'Reilly's. the shocks i already bought so i might as well throw them on otherwise I'd have to go through the hassle of trying to return them and i may have to pay the shipping too, and who knows, after all these years the original ones are probably near worn out if not already