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98 S70 When should you replace your stabilizer bar?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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theWIFES_S70
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98 S70 When should you replace your stabilizer bar?

Post by theWIFES_S70 »

Looking underneath the S70 and trying to figure out where some clunks are coming from. The car is now an absolute dream on the highway. But at slow speeds, the creaks and clunks abound... I found a tear in the transmission mount. (Oh Proparts!) Will DIY fix that this week and will install a new upper torque mount bushing. But I also saw this...

I've got tears in my stabilizer bar bushings. :o

What kind of "hesitation" and/or "clunks" would this cause? When do you know you have to, or should, replace your stabilizer bar? It sucks that you can't just replace the rubber. Is it possible to squirt Vulkem in there? Or is that an absolute hack way to tackle this? As always, many thanks for the insight everyone!
stabilizer_bar_bushing.jpg
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K

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misha
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Post by misha »

theWIFES_S70 wrote:...It sucks that you can't just replace the rubber....
How do you mean you can't just replace the rubber?
That bushing is replaceable part.
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
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'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

I thought it was all one piece? Rubber that's vulcanized to the bar? Man, please tell this is easily replaceable like on Jeeps!!

http://www.tascaparts.com/volvo/s70/917 ... ilizer-bar
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K

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misha
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Post by misha »

It's not vulcanised to the bar!
It's easily replaceable part. ;)

Lower part of that bushing have the opening which serves to spread fit the bushing onto sway bar.

It looks like this:
images.jpeg
images.jpeg (1.36 KiB) Viewed 1869 times
Here is the link for poly bushings:
http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/ind ... 46_538_561
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

Thanks Misha! I knew IPD made these pieces. But I know they only fit onto their stabilizer bars.

You have to drop the subframe for this job right? Or is there enough clearance to hit those bolts with a wrench???

I'm not really good at dropping the subframe... :?
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K

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misha
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Post by misha »

I don't think that you would need to drop the subframe.

Whole front end in the air on jack stands to release the tension from sway bar and go for it.
If you have acces to a lift or channel it would be a lot easier.
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

JRL
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Post by JRL »

You DO need to drop the subframe and this is not the way to go
Buy a set of IPD sway bars, it will be quiet and...the car will handle 100% better
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

zhenya
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Year and Model: 97 855 T5,98 V70 AWD
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Post by zhenya »

Worn subframe bushings make the whole front end of the car feel like it's falling apart. My T5 was sold to a family member who owned it for several years before giving it back to me this summer. When I drove it home it felt like it needed every part in the front end and an alignment. I knew from experience however that I just needed to replace the ipd poly subframe bushings and when I did, everything tightened up and no alignment necessary.

I agree that the IPD bars are a great upgrade, but those poly inserts don't last long. I'd reckon they need to be replaced every 25k or so at least on the kind of roads we have around here.

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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

Wow, that IPD kit is expensive... Sigh, I guess we'll just have to live with it for now. Thanks for the insight everyone.
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K

zhenya
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Joined: 15 February 2008
Year and Model: 97 855 T5,98 V70 AWD
Location: Ithaca, NY

Post by zhenya »

You can still replace the bushings independent of getting the ipd kit. I would do that with a regular Volvo part.

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