Starbucks,s Awesome 2004 XC70 buy!

[- Pete -]

The XC arms are easier than the V70/S60 shorter arms to press new bushings into. However...it is easier yet to just put in new arms w/bushings already installed. You need to get the bushings “clocked” exactly right and also set to the correct depth in their respective holes. I debated on saving the money & pressing them in myself but ultimately ended up buying complete control arms.

And yes, it is that easy! The only money you are out is whatever it costs to ship your old parts back to FCP.

ViDA is great, a real must have in certain situations, but I use an ELM327 type Bluetooth scanner most frequently.

[abscate]

Thank you. Hope do you guys condition your seats? I like my cars to look as new/good as possible.

Also, what are your experiences with the lifetime warranty of FCP. I've bought Bavarian parts from them before but nothing has broken yet. Are you saying if I buy my control arm bushings from them and they wear out normally, I'll send the old boys back and get new ones? Also, is there any reason I should buy loaded control arms?

Anyone here have the VIDA thing? It's on my list to buy.

It’s a DIY dream

You buy a part at X , it dies/breaks/ wears out, you buy the replacement , send in your old within 30 days, and you get store credit for the price you paid , X , to use in their store.

They have always been flexible to me about crediting for upgrades etc, if I want a slightly different part, etc, but they also check with my parole officer first, so YMMV.

The accept oil, filters, coolant even. I have to be careful and be fair that I keep my fleet of three 1999s straight

I even destroyed a BMW PCV canister with user error that they cheerfully covered under warranty , even after I came clean that I tried to lever it on with a broomstick.

[abscate]

I vote,,,,,GOLD!

[BlackBart]

I vote black....only because Betty is black....OHoh BlackBetty.... She looks good with all the plastic trim, more like one solid shape.

And Betty is a she obviously. Are you sure it's a he? (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

I bought the ipd heavy duty front control arms, as they are supposedly better built with new rubber, not recycled. So far so good. I've not had to use the FCP warranty thing as nothing has broken or worn out. I'm really careful about buying either OE, OEM, or a top aftermarket supplier.

[Starbuck]

Let me know when I'm supposed to tell you what color he is. He spoke 'he' to me so Ben Wash it is.

I was looking at a kit with the ball joint separate and the video had a special tool to seat it. I generally try to avoid special tools I don't make myself especially if I'm only going to use the thing once a year (potholes breed like rabbits here). Opinions? Is there a reason I can't seat the thing with the bolts? I have enough patience to turn them a flat at a time, believe me. Especially if it saves $120, that's 9 Prancing Moose stickers!

Anyone else to weigh in on the v70 Haynes manual thing?

[- Pete -]

There’s no need to use/buy the special ball joint tool. I have one you can use for free (shipping) if you really want to give it a whirl. Personally I think it’s easier & faster to just put the control arm in a vise and use a large socket to tap the ball joint into the CA. Obviously you’ll want to leave the plastic boot guard in place. I would advise you NOT to use the bolts to seat the ball joint. I have done this once and only once as I was in the middle of nowhere and had but one option only. It’s a pretty snug fit and designed to be that way so don’t go sanding anything down. Clean up the hole and tap tappy tap tap.

Last I had read Volvo had issued a cease & desist against whomever was making the moose logos. You found some?

I’d assume the V70 manual simply doesn’t cover the bevel gear, driveshaft & Haldex/final drive sections. But I’ve never had a paper P2 manual. I do love my 240 Paper manual though, even though I don’t own a 240

[abscate]

Colour contest runsthroughFriday...vote early and often !

[Starbuck]

Wow, thanks Pete! I might have to take you up on that. The shop said the suspension was fine for now and instead advised changing every fluid, filter and belt. This includes the timing belt which was done at 115k. I'll look at kits on the Euro site for that since I plan on owning this car until I'm too old to drive.

There are still moose logos on Ebay although if word gets out and you guys buy them all up before I do I'll cry.

HA! Here I thought I was the only one who did that! I have a really old Triumph manual despite never owning or intending on purchasing a Triumph. Hilarious. I have a weakness for shop manuals...

[- Pete -]

Have you verified that the ball joints are bad? It's a pretty quick thing to check, if not.

I do all my timing belt (et al) at 80k intervals. I'd just do you next one and (water pump/coolant) just shy of 200k. Read up on water pumps also. Basically anything that touches the timing belt needs to be of very high quality, for all the obvious reasons. Don't skimp on the serpentine belt (et al) either. No need to replace the entire serp. tensioner though, just the pulley.

For the trans, when I acquire a new P2 I like to do a full "Gibbons" type atf flush. There's videos & such depicting the process. Very simple, plan on having 12-13 qts on hand, though. Then after that, I do an atf drain & fill every other oil change for the next 20k miles (based on 4k mile oil change intervals). It's roughly ~4 qts to drain & fill. Also, a lot of people, myself included, endorse the addition of SeaFoam TransTune to the ATF just before a flush/drain & fill. Make sure you get the correct stuff, not the Hydra version.

Triumph car or motorcycle? I caught your R6 rebuild mention earlier & wondered.

[BlackBart]

Instead of the factory ball joint tool, I followed a tip to use a short length of steel plumbing pipe that fits over the boot, and a cap screwed on the end to pound on. Standard stuff off the Ace Hardware shelf, couple of bucks. Tap / pound the ball joint straight in, check that it's going in true periodically.

I have the Haynes paper manual. It's fine. It's not a Bentley. Not everything on the XC is covered. My main beef with those is poor b&w photos printed on cheap newsprint paper, so the photos to explain things are often worthless.

I had Meese stickers on the flanks on my red 850 wagon. Some kids at a stoplight took offense at my wannabe F-car, until they saw the moose and laughed and laughed. But eventually they just weathered off.