1999 S80 Front Anti-Sway (Stabilizer) Bar Replacement

[AverageJoeInPhoenix]

I checked the S80 Forum and didn't see a post about replacing the front anti-sway / stabilizer bar, so I'm gong to post my own. Hopefully this will be useful for others out there with 'vintage' S80s. I will include pics after I'm done, so please be patient - I've never done this before. I'm using the Front Anti-Sway Bar Installation Instructions I downloaded from iPd's website.

NOTE: Volvo's description is stabilizer bar. iPd's is anti-sway bar. Both are the same bar that sits on the rear of the subframe. For simplicity, I will use Volvo's description - stabilizer bar.

Initial Problem: Clunking over bumps. The sound comes from the top front right.

Initial Steps: I jacked up the car and removed the wheel and took a good look around. The rubber bushing in the securing bracket was disintegrating. I have colored the bushing in yellow.

Disintegrated Stabilizer Bar Bushing.jpg (24.95 KiB) Viewed 1255 times

Time to get to work.

I'm back. The stabilizer bar is installed! Like the directions said, I had to work it but I finally got the old one out and the new one in.

But ... the nut on the passenger-side front sway bar link is frozen and will not come off. So I'm off to get a new one. It's never one thing.

[SimLyons]

Interesting! Was the stabilizer bar on your S-80 bent? Mine is a '99 as well, but I just rebuilt my front suspension and the stabilizer was solidly mounted both sides, so I didn't touch that. I'm sure you considered replacing only the clamps/mounts. (I had clunking too, but it was from the top of the strut/spring).

Let us know your results, ok?

Thanks for the write-up.

[matt5112]

Interesting! Was the stabilizer bar on your S-80 bent? Mine is a '99 as well, but I just rebuilt my front suspension and the stabilizer was solidly mounted both sides, so I didn't touch that. I'm sure you considered replacing only the clamps/mounts. (I had clunking too, but it was from the top of the strut/spring).

Let us know your results, ok?

Thanks for the write-up.

Volvo doesn't sell just the clamps and bushing because the bushing is bonded to the bar.

Process is unbolt the exhaust support bracket, remove the wiring for the O2s, slip/cut off the evap joining hose (some years), unbolt subframe, unbolt bar, pry on bar, struggle, swear, curse, remove bar. Installation is reverse but with a cold beer at the end.

Pretty much what IPD says, plus a bunch of pain, frustration and finagling.