07 S40 2.4i: Rear Sway Bar Link Options (Ford Focus?) Topic is solved

[theWIFES_S70]

Hi everyone, I've recently acquired an S40. What a difference from the S70... Anyhow, I love both cars. (And plan on keeping them as long as possible.) One question I had was about rear end links.

FCP lists that this is the part for my car:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... it-trw-kit

Of course, I ordered these without checking... Apparently, I have these the annoying kind of rear sway bar links.Four Volvo-specific pieces... https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 0-30760237 etc. As you can imagine, they're pricey: $73.92 for the set...

Of course, I go onto Rockauto and see if there's something else. They only have this:

An URO piece coming in at $6 each. (I know enough not to put URO stuff on my cars.)

So...

After some research, I found that these P1s share many parts with Fords. (Especially the Ford Focus.) I watched a few videos and it seems that the Ford Focus on the S40 share very similar rear suspension parts. It's pretty identical. (And some pieces, like the rear control arm pieces are cross listed...)

I purchased these:

Mevotech Surpreme MK90130 @$6.15/each. (Yes, I guess I could get the Uro parts at this price... hahaha )

I should have some time to wrench around this weekend... I'll keep you all posted.

Source:
https://youtu.be/cy39YZbZzzc Ford Focus
https://youtu.be/j-63sFcR_mo Volvo C30/S40/etc.

[RickHaleParker]

After some research, I found that these P1s share many parts with Fords. (Especially the Ford Focus.)

The S40 II shares parts with:
2003–2008 Mazda Axela/Mazda 3 (BK) (Note: production continued in China through 2013)
2003–2010 Ford Focus C-Max (first generation).
2004–2010 Ford Focus (second generation, Europe).
2004–2012 Volvo S40 II (P11)
2004–2012 Volvo V50 (P12)
2005–2010 Mazda Premacy/Mazda 5 (CR) (and related Ford i-Max)
2006–2013 Volvo C70 II (P15)
2007–2013 Volvo C30 (P14)
2008–2012 Ford Kuga (C394)
2008–2013 Mazda Biante.

All of these cars are built on the Ford C1 Platform. "The floorpans are different, but the front- and rear-subframes, suspension, steering, braking, safety, and some electrical components are shared."

[theWIFES_S70]

Wow, thanks Rick! I knew it!!! I'll still post pictures when I get to this. I will try to measure the pieces.

I didn't know this was the case until I remove the gas pedal to replace the cabin air filter and saw the "FO MO CO" written in classic Ford script on it...

Who knew!

[theWIFES_S70]

Okay, here are some updates:
This is what were were looking at. Not sure I understand how a few bad bushings would make the rear so loud, but that's Volvo...

Bushings were completely dried out. Some were severely cracked.

The Ford piece does come with a screw that is a little bit longer than the Volvo one. But it works. We're only looking at a little more than half an inch/.

Here's the final install. The rear end feels super tight now. (I also had to remove my shocks and screw down a shock that I hadn't quite torqued down...)

Final thoughts... Is this better than The URO piece? Not sure. These bushings are made in America. (They say so on each bushing.) Hopefully, that's a good thing. Will definitely keep an eye on this moving forward. The real test of any rubber in NYC (hahaha) is how well it does after a winter.

Part used: MEVOTECH MK90130 Supreme, $6.15/each