850 - Control Arms - Aluminum swap Steel

[cmdz]

I have a 1994 850, non Turbo automatic. - chassis 124288

I purchased control arms for my 850 a few months ago and hadn't got around to swapping them out yet.

I purchased the Lemforder Volvo Control Arm 2 bolts from FCP

Today when looking at VIDA, it says that the cars produced up until december of 1993 were aluminum, switching to steel in January of 1994

although the car is 1994, I believe it was manufactured in 1993, because of the copyright on some of the window stickers.

Does any one know if I can swap out the aluminum for steel without any problems or mods?

Or do I need to 1. make mods to fit the steel or 2. need to order aluminum LCAs?

thank you all in advance!

[scot850]

Yes. They are interchangeable. Don't throw away the old aluminum ones as some folk like them as they are lighter and you can just swap out the ball-joint and not the whole arm. I had a set and a guy twisted my arm in desperation to get his hands on them for that reason.

Neil.

[cmdz]

Yes. They are interchangeable. Don't throw away the old aluminum ones as some folk like them as they are lighter and you can just swap out the ball-joint and not the whole arm. I had a set and a guy twisted my arm in desperation to get his hands on them for that reason.

Neil.

Thank you!!

Yeah, as I've been googling around all day it seems like there is big love for those aluminum ones, because of the weight and the bushings being independent.

Funny. Good note, will def throw them up on Ebay afterwards.
Do you feel you lost anything by switching?

I see some posts mentioning they needed to go to a shop to get the bushings when they have the aluminum.
Think I'll be able to get them out with any special tools or run into trouble if I try to do in the driveway?

appreciate you

[scot850]

No. They operate the same way. The only advantage is the flexibility like you mention. I di hear that the ball-joints can be hard to find so that may be an issue going forward.

Neil.