700 Series Front Bushing Replacement

[boostdemon]

By: Ian Giles

Description: There are three front suspension bushings on each side of the 700 series Volvo, an inner lower control arm bushing, an inner strut rod bushing, and an outer strut rod bushing, the outer strut rod bushings are split into two cone shaped halves. Both inner bushings are steel sleeved, that is, an external steel sleeve or tube with a smaller steel tube center bonded together with rubber.

http://www.turbobricks.com/mods.php?content=art0005

[ptouch20]

good article, performed on chrin_j's car this morning, no problems...

[boostdemon]

yup, just needs to be ammended with the stuff from Dale (245gti) about installing poly bushings

[cooper_volvo]

a little tip for you all........when using a ball joint separator if you cover the end of the separator with copper grease/copper slip it will drastically reduce the chances of ripping the rubber boot over the ball joint

[500dollar744ti]

HOLY thread resurrection BATMAN!

actually i really just wanted an excuse to post in "the vault" :lol:

[SteveMD]

...and when the freaking strut rod bolt at the chassis connection is rust-fused to the bushing sleeve :grrr:, you are better off just removing the control arm to fit the cone bushings to the strut rod. BTDT...

[SteveMD]

Once again I ran into a situation where I had to unbolt the control arm from the crossmember to replace the cone bushing. This time it was on my '90 740 GLE. It turns out the bolt holding the rear of the strut rod to the chassis had a external Torx head and I didn't have a socket to fit. So, unbolt the control arm at crossmember, disconnect sway bar, unscrew bolt in the front of the strut rod, swing strut off the strut rod, R&R bushing, call it a day.

[Bishop]

It turns out the bolt holding the rear of the strut rod to the chassis had a external Torx head and I didn't have a socket to fit..

15mm spanner or socket works on it, did for me no problem.


Actually there is merit to pulling the strut rod and suspension arm to do the cone bushes, it's not that much extra work, and it makes installing the poly cone bush really easy, as then you can do it on the ground away from the car.

I just did this yesterday, and compared to trying to do my last on the car, this time it was so easy to lube, press in and fit, then you just do the bolt up snug, and fit the whole thing back onto the car.
Strut rod on first to get the bolt hole lined up, then it's easy enough to twist and tap the arm into place, and finally lift up to the ball joint, and your done, I found with that method it required little force anywhere to refit any of it.