Ride Quality with HD Control Arms and Ball Joints ?

Post by **vtl** » 23 Mar 2023, 07:56

xHeart wrote: 23 Mar 2023, 07:29 Lol! I'm running on Meyle HD LCA since 3/18/2013; paid $85.65 each! FWIW, I did a complete front refresh after reading CN90's posts.

Volvo LCA bushings since 10/2015, did 88k miles, including ~15k miles offroad. Still strong. The originals were replaced at 140k miles.

Mike98 · Post by **Mike98** » 23 Mar 2023, 13:06

chris11211 wrote: 23 Mar 2023, 03:16 .......
My 2 ipd ball joint didn't last 2 years, as well as the silicone top engine mount.
.......
I'd 100% be ready for those ball joints to fail. Silicone boots is the entire point for selling this thing and it doesn't hold up to new england seasons.

Did the blue silicone boots fail on your IPD HD ball joints ? So far my boots look OK after 10K miles but the winter climate in Va is mild compared to New England.

chris11211 · Post by **chris11211** » 23 Mar 2023, 19:55

Mike98 wrote: 23 Mar 2023, 13:06
Did the blue silicone boots fail on your IPD HD ball joints ? So far my boots look OK after 10K miles but the winter climate in Va is mild compared to New England.

Yes they actually failed 1.5 years in. I heard very loud squeaking while turning late fall, but I just couldn't get to it until the spring.

I'd say I almost got to 10k so I think you should give it an inspection, but the only way to get a full 360 view on the boots is to remove the knuckle off and see whats going on. Also, I actually thought it was only one boot, but one was squeaking while the other I could see it broken.

And then there was this weird corrosion coming off the boot. Made the entire knuckle somehow glued to the control arm.

Mike98 · Post by **Mike98** » 23 Mar 2023, 22:13

chris11211 wrote: 23 Mar 2023, 19:55
Yes they actually failed 1.5 years in. I heard very loud squeaking while turning late fall, but I just couldn't get to it until the spring.

I'd say I almost got to 10k so I think you should give it an inspection, but the only way to get a full 360 view on the boots is to remove the knuckle off and see whats going on. Also, I actually thought it was only one boot, but one was squeaking while the other I could see it broken.

And then there was this weird corrosion coming off the boot. Made the entire knuckle somehow glued to the control arm.

The ball joint boot in your pictures looks black. The IPD HD ball joints that I bought directly from IPD in August 2021 have blue boots. Did IPD change the boot color or material ?

chris11211 · Post by **chris11211** » 24 Mar 2023, 10:35

Mike98 wrote: 23 Mar 2023, 22:13 The ball joint boot in your pictures looks black. The IPD HD ball joints that I bought directly from IPD in August 2021 have blue boots. Did IPD change the boot color or material ?

I got it indigo just like what's on their picture on the website. Also it's just darkened due to just where it's at.

Mines is older, and I think they just tend to buy the cheapest blues at whatever time they order it from Taiwan.

Mike98 · Post by **Mike98** » 30 Jun 2024, 22:37

I never followed up with the resolution of my ride harshness problem. I made these changes to the front and rear suspension:

1. Bilstein B4 front struts and rear shocks replaced with Sachs OE from FCP Euro.
2. Installed new Febi 18481 strut mount bearings even though the existing Febi 18481s only had 10,000 miles of use.
3. Replaced IPD HD spring seats with Sachs 30683637 (Heavy Duty version from XC90)
4. Kept IPD HD control arms as they looked fine after 10,000 miles of use
5. Kept IPD HD ball joints as they looked fine after 10,000 miles of use

The result was that ride harshness was eliminated. Driving over expansion joints and minor road surface irregularities is no longer excruciating. The car is now pleasant to drive even on rough roads.

Mike

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 01 Jul 2024, 04:33

I think the biggest difference to the ride quality is the SACHS shocks. Spring seats I guess somewhat. But mostly in my opinion shocks and LCA bushings.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 01 Jul 2024, 11:06

dikidera wrote: 01 Jul 2024, 04:33 I think the biggest difference to the ride quality is the SACHS shocks. Spring seats I guess somewhat. But mostly in my opinion shocks and LCA bushings.

.
+1 on the SACHS. All the other suspension parts contribute to a handling issue / feel in the wheel. Ride is mainly from struts and shocks and springs it you go aftermarket. We are not talking about any of the parts aforementioned being broken but just wear and tear.
.
As for the photo I didn't read the entire post thoroughly but to be fair the IPD ball joint boot was pinched / mechanical damaged and not from failure.
.

.

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 01 Jul 2024, 11:26

My shocks are dead. When I removed mine from the car...it compressed all by itself. I had a hard time putting it all back together until I find replacements.

Post by **BlackBart** » 01 Jul 2024, 11:39

Mike98 wrote: 16 Mar 2023, 16:40 Has anyone used IPD HD control arms and ball joints on their P2 ?

Yes, I have both of these. The ride is as stock. I have replacement OEM struts and shocks as well.