Suspension Hoes...er i mean Woes

[i hate my volvo]

sorry for any redundancy. my car has the common ambiguous ''clunk'' coming from the right front corner. i've come to the conclusion that it is probably the strut mounts, spring seats, sway bar link, control arm/ball joints and/or sway bar end/drop link (really narrows it down). it has progressively gotten worse for the last 6 months. when i first heard the noise it would only happen at low speed over bumps i.e. parking lots, dirt roads. when on dirt roads the steering wheel wont bounce around in my hands, but i can feel something loose, jerky or playful sending feedback through the wheel suggestive of a worn steering rack or tie rod? i took the car to les schwab which was my first mistake; but i was busy and they were close. they replaced a tie rod end that they said was worn. now i look under the car and find the boot on one of the tie rod ends to be completely torn. i'm sure the magnificently qualified technician at les schwab didn't miss that, so it must've completely deteriorated in 5 months time . the rubber piece on top of the strut was also replaced when i bought the car -- this is a common failure point, correct? however legitimate the russian gentleman i bought my car from may have been, he was a wholesale dealer and there is a stereotypical stigma surrounding the situation. so, before wasting anymore time and money and risking high speed failure, i want to fix the problem. i am mechanically inclined as far as installing or replacing parts but i suck at diagnosing anything but a vw bug. so i figured on this package put together by fcpgroton.com for a little under $500 . they claim "It will eliminate any vibration/ shimmy/ clunking/ rattling that you may be experiencing" . i am wary of the quality of most aftermarket parts. is URO a reputable company, or will it fall apart in 6 months. here is the link: http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/p ... ory_id/181 also they have a rebuilt steering rack for under $300, is that a deal? thank you all, i am eternally grateful for any input.

[charlyW]

I would say it's either your drop links or your anti roll bar bushes. My UK Spec had the same problem replaced both drop links along with both anti roll bar bushes now the noise has gone.

[cattledog]

That's a great deal on those parts.
Upper strut mounts, pop the plastic caps off the top of the strut under the hood at the strut tower. Use a wrench and see if you can rotate the nut, if it rotates with no problem the upper strut mount is broken. If on the other hand it moves alittle but you feel springy resistance, and it wants to return to where you started, it not broken....yet. You can use XC90 upper strut mounts, they're slightly heavier duty.

[polskamafia mjl]

Stay away from URO!!!!! lol They can't make radiator hoses I doubt they can make quality suspension parts.

[i hate my volvo]

that's all i needed to hear. i figured if the price sounded too cheap to be true it was. i'll try the above stated parts as well as the obvious torn tie rod end boot. thanks guys. any other suggestions would be appreciated

[cattledog]

i hate my volvo....what's up with your name?

[jblackburn]

+1 on the XC90 spring mounts. Just try to twist it with your hand...if it spins right around, it's bad. If it turns a little bit, do the bounce test with the fender of the car.

Upper shock mounts rarely go bad. But it does happen. Sway bar endlinks will give you a lot of clunking too.

If you replace them, you'll need to rent a spring compressor. Make sure you have an alignment done afterwards, or your tires will wear out awfully quick.

[polskamafia mjl]

i hate my volvo....what's up with your name?

I love my Volvo. lol

[i hate my volvo]

+1 on the XC90 spring mounts. Just try to twist it with your hand...if it spins right around, it's bad. If it turns a little bit, do the bounce test with the fender of the car.

Upper shock mounts rarely go bad. But it does happen. Sway bar endlinks will give you a lot of clunking too.

If you replace them, you'll need to rent a spring compressor. Make sure you have an alignment done afterwards, or your tires will wear out awfully quick.

which year xc90 mounts? i think i'm replacing upper spring mounts, sway bar endlinks inner and outer tie rod, probably struts and rebuilt steer rack soon. i'm nervous...why do i always get the maintenance nightmares. what aftermarket manufacturer IS known for their quality? what about meyle?

[i hate my volvo]

i hate my volvo....what's up with your name?

let's trade for your v70r ..it is a tag that was created out of frustration. i bought my car with 104k on it which was fairly low for a 10 year old car. i test drove it for 15 minutes and it felt okay and had a mechanic check it out to the tune of $500. since i brought it home the seat completely tore apart, the unit that receives the chip signal from the key failed, the abs/trac computer failed, the transmission that is ''good for life'' needed overhauling, the suspension needs an overhaul now, the rear gate fell apart, my rear wiper and squirter broke, several interior lights failed, my odo gear stripped, water pump needed replacement (found to be leaking when timing belt and pulley were done), timing belt and pulley, two coil packs, new rotors, interior door panels are have all delaminated, vacuum control for two of the door locks is intermittent at best, and a partrage in a pear tree. and for someone who can hear a pebble stuck in my tire at freeway speed (ocd) this car's little noises, creaks and clunks are enough to make you scratch your ears off your head.

that is a lot considering i've owned the car less than a year. i've fixed everything except the door panels and now the suspension and i could've bought a parts car for cheaper. i understand my plight is unlikely to be typical, it has been a bad first experience. but i'm hanging in there thanks to many helpful people such as yourself. thanks again.