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New Front Control Arms or just bushings?

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's stylish, distinctive P2 platform cars sold as model years 2001-2007 (North American market year designations).

2001 - 2007 V70
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2004 - 2007 V70 R

This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database » Control Arm Bushings - Buy Whole New Control Arms?
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vtl
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Re: New Front Control Arms or just bushings?

Post by vtl »

Boge, TRW, Lemforder, Sachs are all now ZF sub-brands.

ZF hydraulic power steering division was sold to Bosch.

XC70Rider
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Post by XC70Rider »

oragex wrote: 05 Jun 2019, 11:34 Just read my old comment, I was correct. The front bushing is available from Boge which I believe is the genuine OEM. The rear one is available from either Volvo (genuine) or Lemforder. Now, I had two rear Lemforder ones (bought the bushign separately in a small box) and failed very quickly in a few months. My recommendation is - if going to buy and press the bushings in - buy only the genuine ones - Boge and Volvo stamped. Or buy the whole Lemforder control arm - I guess they use a better bushing for these.

By all means, don't use any other brands -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQSbsTEBmmw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0q4nku0Rz8

.
From what I've read I'll purchase OEM Volvo for both CA bushings. For two of each the total comes to $165 on FCP. The ball joints are easier to replace so I'll get Lemforder or Delphi brand with a lifetime warranty from FCP.

With the ball joints looking good and cracks in the bushings not too bad I'll wait until it's time to throw on new struts & mounts then tackle all at once. I have a 20 ton press I got at Harbor Freight a decade ago and had good success pressing CA bushings and hub wheel bearings. I'll just need to hunt for adapters or maybe rent a bushing press kit from a local auto store.

vtl
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Post by vtl »

XC70Rider wrote: 05 Jun 2019, 22:53 From what I've read I'll purchase OEM Volvo for both CA bushings. For two of each the total comes to $165 on FCP. The ball joints are easier to replace so I'll get Lemforder or Delphi brand with a lifetime warranty from FCP.
FYI, Lemforder ball joints don't fully sit in the LCA: the cone part is not exactly like on the LCA, there's only a so large band where both have a contact.

XC70Rider
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Post by XC70Rider »

vtl wrote: 06 Jun 2019, 05:48
XC70Rider wrote: 05 Jun 2019, 22:53 From what I've read I'll purchase OEM Volvo for both CA bushings. For two of each the total comes to $165 on FCP. The ball joints are easier to replace so I'll get Lemforder or Delphi brand with a lifetime warranty from FCP.
FYI, Lemforder ball joints don't fully sit in the LCA: the cone part is not exactly like on the LCA, there's only a so large band where both have a contact.
Do you know if it was the Lemforder 274548 ball joint that didn't fit? It has 24 five star reviews on FCP

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... -2#reviews

vtl
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Post by vtl »

XC70Rider wrote: 06 Jun 2019, 10:18 Do you know if it was the Lemforder 274548 ball joint that didn't fit? It has 24 five star reviews on FCP

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... -2#reviews
Yes. One of them is mine ;)

Lemforder "fits" and lasts long in fact, however when you take it out of LCA a few months later you'll see that the cones on LCA and ball joint were not fully mated. If I had to install Lemforder again, I would pack the LCA's cone with marine grease, so it fills the gaps and water/debris would not get in.

cn90
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Post by cn90 »

Has anyone here uses the Advance Auto Rental "Ball Joint Tool" or big C-Clamp to replace the bushings?

Or you guys just buy the whole control arms (in terms of whole CA, what do you recommend: Lemforder or Meyle on FCPEuro website)?

The Advance Auto Rental Tool is shown below...


AA-Rental.jpg
AA-Rental.jpg (141.5 KiB) Viewed 649 times
2004 V70 2.5T 100K+
2005 XC90 2.5T 110K+

lawrencium265
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Post by lawrencium265 »

cn90 wrote: 14 Feb 2022, 18:23 Has anyone here uses the Advance Auto Rental "Ball Joint Tool" or big C-Clamp to replace the bushings?

Or you guys just buy the whole control arms (in terms of whole CA, what do you recommend: Lemforder or Meyle on FCPEuro website)?

The Advance Auto Rental Tool is shown below...



AA-Rental.jpg
I just tried this the other day with my harbor freight ball joint press (the exact same kit) and it won't work for both bushings. You can replace the rearward (vertical) bushings using that but it will not work with the forward (horizontal) bushings as they are too long to fit all of the necessary cups in the six inch clamp. I can see that they have multiple different sets, and one specifically for bushings so maybe one of the other sets might work. I saw a bigger 10" version of that on Amazon, but it was very expensive. I think I'm going to try to use a long gear puller with the adapters from my ball joint press, but you could probably find a socket that fits over the mounting tab on the bushing. Also, make sure that you have the correct bushing before you press out the old one. The smaller rearward bushings are different between AWD and fwd but the only difference is the outer diameter and it's only very slightly different by about a millimeter.

Some notes on using those ball joint presses: Grease the threads so it has less friction.
Once you get everything lined up and snug place the press into a bench vice or clamp it to a table.
Use an impact on it, you won't damage it and the vibration helps the part go in. Use a hammer and tap on the side of the control arm to help the part go in.

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