Ball joint/control arm survey

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 08 Nov 2009, 05:27

I would like to hear everyone's experiences with different brand control arms/ball joints. I am faced with replacing mine for the third time since I have owned the car and it will be at least the fourth time in the car's life. I bought the car with 107,000 miles on it and replaced the ball joints not too long after that. The original ball joints had already been replaced at least once with aftermarket. The car now has about 178,000 on it. I have tried ScanTech (before I knew anything about them) and then the Uro brand. Others I know of are OEM (don't know the manufacturer), Beck/Arnley, Febi. Probably others. Lets hear it!!

Post by **JRL** » 08 Nov 2009, 05:45

Use VOLVO OEM parts for this, the best out there.
Most suspension parts (except actual shock and springs) that you should install should be OEM Volvo, still the best available and will last the longest!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 08 Nov 2009, 14:48

JRL speaks the truth- all other brands are junk and you'll be redoing the work within a year again (no lie).

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 08 Nov 2009, 16:38

I agree w/ JRL and MIJ, OEM is the only way to go on this.

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 09 Nov 2009, 04:50

Who makes the OEM part?

Post by **renns** » 09 Nov 2009, 05:25

What's the std failure mode of the OEM control arm? Mine was OEM volvo, and the ball joint was completely shot. The bushings, on the other hand, looked fine. If the ball joint is the common 1st failure point, perhaps it'd be worth looking into a repair method to allow replacement of the outer joint only. It seems a shame to toss out the whole assembly when it's only that outer joint that needs replacing.

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 09 Nov 2009, 06:00

Mine went through two sets of OEM ball joints in about 120,000 miles. The second time was definitely the ball joint and not the bushings. I have had aftermarket control arms go through the bushings before the ball joint though it seemed close. I think the moral of the story is, the control arm design standards are poor.

Post by **renns** » 09 Nov 2009, 06:40

turbotim2 wrote:Mine went through two sets of OEM ball joints in about 120,000 miles. The second time was definitely the ball joint and not the bushings. I have had aftermarket control arms go through the bushings before the ball joint though it seemed close. I think the moral of the story is, the control arm design standards are poor.

I just finished installing one of the cheapee FCP control arms a couple weeks back. Unfortunately, FCP only stocks the $38 and $145 versions, and in a moment of weakness I went down the low road. It'd be nice if there were a mid-range option to choose from. Another on-line place I found lists four different versions in order from cheapest to most expensive: ScanTech, URO, Bilstein/Febi, Lemforder. Any feedback on these different brands?

Post by **confused_al** » 09 Nov 2009, 07:11

My original control arms lasted 160k/14years (a huge pothole killed pass side one last winter).

mdempst_79 · Post by **mdempst_79** » 09 Nov 2009, 07:15

I went with the Uro Parts control arms on my V70, and they lasted roughly 6 months before the balljoint boot rubbers started rotting, and then water took over killing the joint. Went and bought Volvo OEM arms, and I have not looked back.. 9 months later they still look like brand new.

Dont cheap out unless you are okay doing them again in less than a year. You get what you pay for with this kind of stuff.

Mark