New lower torque rod is WAY too loose...

Post by **clarkerussell** » 15 Feb 2019, 23:49

Hello all,

I'm replacing all the motor mounts on my S70 and when I got to the lower torque rod (the dog bone looking one), I realized that the bushing on the new mount was crazy loose. I can easily move it with my finger from left to right. The original Volvo one that I was going to replace is TIGHT, even after all these years. And it's not tight like it's old and hard, there is significantly more bushing material there. Is this normal? I don't see how this mount would even begin to contain any torque with the bushing like it is.

And by the way, it was the Hutchinson OE mount made in France, just like the Volvo one. It even has the ground off Volvo markings.

New one with just finger pressure:

Old one:

Very little bushing in new one material:

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 16 Feb 2019, 01:48

Could be a QC problem at Hutchinson - aka the Friday afternoon as the plant is shutting down model. I know my mount isn't that loose (Orig. V70 mount from ~12/98)

Post by **oragex** » 16 Feb 2019, 04:21

What is the back and forth play? The rotation shown in the first picture would not be a problem. One thing about these torque mounts is that they may not be designed to work the way we think (maybe when we think these are just like a suspension bushing).

The play in such rod may actually be good for the other 'standard' engine mounts, and may be a design choice. I've also noticed the redesigned upper torque mount - the one with a square bushing - has been redesigned with a lot more play than the original part installed when the car was new.

The Volvo guys may have realized after a few years of production that it was perhaps better to allow more play into these torque mounts, than it was originally thought.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Feb 2019, 05:26

It is fore-aft play that matters indeed. The slop may well damp vibrations and be in the design sphere, as an improvement.

Post by **precopster** » 16 Feb 2019, 05:32

The Chinese one I got for my T5 was much harder than that one and cracked very quickly...perhaps they should be soft.
I have bought the ground off ones as well but were in Swag boxes...fitted them to customer's cars. They were soft too.

Post by **scot850** » 16 Feb 2019, 11:58

I've also noticed the newer versions for the FWD cars are a lot softer than the originals. Of course the AWD are N/A. Only options seem to be the IPD rear poly-bush option at ridiculous price for AWD.

Neil.

Post by **clarkerussell** » 16 Feb 2019, 16:08

The front/back play was just as sloppy as the left right play.

I wanted 100% new mounts all around so I went ahead and replaced it. I'll keep my old mount around if this one fails quickly...

Post by **Clemens** » 17 Feb 2019, 01:01

keeping the old one as a spare might be a good idea.