P2 XC70 rear suspension

[BlackBart]

Whilst changing the snow tires I studied the rear suspension a bit. Apologies to all the East Coast and Toronto and Michigan cars - I see shiny springs with the red paint code still there. I've never had to do anything to the rear other than these shocks, so I haven't spent any time looking at it. Pretty interesting design.

Here's the lower forward control arm, which looks like a semi-trailing arm for fore-aft control.

I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't know we had a rear toe link on these. Is it rare to need adjustment of rear toe in an alignment?

Then on the big lower control arm is this additional pivot piece with bushings.

The control arm is attached through a long bolt through two legs, but what is this pivot doing? Does it keep the control arm from rocking forward or back on it's bushings? Then why not make the control arm mount wider? I'll look in a parts catalog and see what they call this.

[BlackBart]

Volvo Parts Webstore calls it a "Suspension Control Arm Bracket."

What does it do?

Lower Control Arm.jpg (12.59 KiB) Viewed 1833 times

[jonesg]

looks like it provides stand off clearance for better articulation.
they could have made it simpler but thats why the handling is so good.
i did a bit of work back there, you need good pry bars, jackstands, and 2 red bull energy drinks, it was hard work.