Tsk... tsk... don't you know??? With your dealer, every time is the first time! You could bring them a car with a deflated tire, and that would be the first time they have seen that! A dirty car? Never seen that! It's ALWAYS the first time they have seen that problem. ALWAYS.

But, to be honest, I have not heard of this happening on SPA Volvos. When they new SPA platform was announced, there were a lot of press reports talking about this new fiber-reinforced composite material used to make leaf springs lighter. I think many of us where a bit fearful about long-term reliability... but this is the first report I read of one snapping.

 

I remember read about another one broken here some time last year.

Looks like they still need to improve it to as reliable as steel springs. Steel spring may snap broken too but it would be in very old days.

Yeh, this one:
https://forums.swedespeed.com/showt...d.php?597373-Rear-spring-broken-My-rear-leave-spring-is-broken-Less-than-15k-km

 

Personally, I think Volvo did a big mistake going with the Leaf Spring. The feeling of the rear suspension on my S90 is not as great as my previous S80 that had a fully independent rear suspension.

The S80 was just more comfortable and absorbed bumbs and potholes very well. I have always put heavy load on the trunk and never had a single issue. However, on my S90, I always think about that leaf spring it's gonna break whenever I put heavy load in the trunk hhhh. Also, it doesn't feel to be fully independent although, design wise, it's independent. It's just not good as regular springs.

Also, I don't see really any huge the benefits from the leaf spring other than being lighter a bit and save fuel. In reality, it's not worth it IMO.



Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

 

@XC90Moose:
It would be interesting to know what version your XC90 is (T5/6 or T8)
If you wish, you can also add some specifics to our signature.

 

Aside from the one other thread about it happening, I haven't seen it yet.

 

it is actually two pieces fused in the middle. I bet the fuse broke.


It's a piss poor design that is touted to be cutting edge. I bet we will see more.

Having done a lowering kit in one of these, you do NOT want to have to replace this. What a total PITA to mess with.

 

Can't see pictures in your posted image. Using tapatalk app allows you to post images.

While I feel much more comfortable with old fashion steel, composites are increasingly being used in all manufacturing. New aircraft designs include many composite parts on major structural parts such as the wing. I guess engineers knows something...

 

Sorry for delay in posting images, just got to install Tapatalk in my phone.

I hope you see them now

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Is yours an air suspension or standard strut?

As for the design and application, it's pretty clever and Volvo used it to improve ride and handling. It's not new technology; composite transverse leaf springs have been around for at least 40 years.

Composite Suspension Leaf Springs: The Smart Solution

The paper addresses three primary areas relative to Composite Springs: A basic primer on Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials and their applicationThe core topic discussed is low profile, space efficient Chassis Systems driving the need for Transverse Composite Leaf SpringsLongitudinal leaf spri

www.sae.org

Corvette switched to it back in 1981 with the C4. Daimler also uses them - not sure which vehicles and they're common in heavy duty applications as well.

Here's more info about them and materials, suppliers, etc. I believe Henkel is the manufacturer for Volvo's and Corvette's as well.

Composite leaf springs: Saving weight in production

Fast-reacting resins and speedier processes are making economical volume manufacturing possible.

www.compositesworld.com

 

duplicate

 

Air suspension doesn’t have any leaf springs.