R Suspension queries

[Flatout Phil]

Had the alignment results back on the 850R and they are ALL OVER THE PLACE however, as suspected, the wishbone bushes are needing replacement. Not sure whether to go Powerflex or stay standard Volvo: OPINIONS WELCOMED.
ALSO:
Rear anti-roll bar has a fatigue fracture. Shall I just get Volvo replacement or is there a different product that will tighten up the ship? OPINIONS WELCOMED!
Cheers,
Phil.

[abdul]

i would say standard volvo original

[Tomcat]

IPD do uprated roll bars. Speak to Russ at RT I'm sure he's fitted them to someones car on here.

[smithy]

Had the alignment results back on the 850R and they are ALL OVER THE PLACE however, as suspected, the wishbone bushes are needing replacement. Not sure whether to go Powerflex or stay standard Volvo: OPINIONS WELCOMED.
ALSO:
Rear anti-roll bar has a fatigue fracture. Shall I just get Volvo replacement or is there a different product that will tighten up the ship? OPINIONS WELCOMED!
Cheers,
Phil.

go powerflex on the bushes and ipds sway bars front and rear it will completely change your car mate

[Clan998]

Had the alignment results back on the 850R and they are ALL OVER THE PLACE however, as suspected, the wishbone bushes are needing replacement. Not sure whether to go Powerflex or stay standard Volvo: OPINIONS WELCOMED.
ALSO:
Rear anti-roll bar has a fatigue fracture. Shall I just get Volvo replacement or is there a different product that will tighten up the ship? OPINIONS WELCOMED!
Cheers,
Phil.

Phil

Ive just looked in to this as I thought my front bushes needed doing ... Thankfully it was my wheel alignement which was causing all the problems.

Powerflex are good ( Ive had them on a previous 855R ) but be careful if your lower ball joints are on the way out you end up have to transplant the new bushes on new arms as the ball joints come complete with the arms. Its probably cheaper to get some new arms from Rufe for £210 delivered if the ball joints are past their best .

Powerflex bushes are about £75 and then you'll ahve to fit them . Depends really if the ball joints are ok . Hope that makes sense ?

Ive just got a IPD rear anti roll bar from Don @ Kalmar Union they are supposed to transform the handling . Ill have to let you know on that once its fitted. Your welcome to my old anti roll bar once its off the car .

If that has confused you ... PM me your number and Ill explain over the phone :-)

Rich

[Flatout Phil]

Thanks for all the thoughts so far. Have spoken to Russ (RT) and the IPD bars sound good - so good advice there Smithy and Craig. Powerflex are clean out of bushes and are unlikely to have any for at least 4 weeks. So I either wait, get new Volvo bushes as per Abdul's suggestion, or even new arms as per Rich's post. Rich I have PMd you re number as always useful to get two heads around these issues.
Russ's input much appreciated too!

[Flatout Phil]

Phil

Ive just looked in to this as I thought my front bushes needed doing ... Thankfully it was my wheel alignement which was causing all the problems.

Powerflex are good ( Ive had them on a previous 855R ) but be careful if your lower ball joints are on the way out you end up have to transplant the new bushes on new arms as the ball joints come complete with the arms. Its probably cheaper to get some new arms from Rufe for £210 delivered if the ball joints are past their best .

Powerflex bushes are about £75 and then you'll ahve to fit them . Depends really if the ball joints are ok . Hope that makes sense ?

Ive just got a IPD rear anti roll bar from Don @ Kalmar Union they are supposed to transform the handling . Ill have to let you know on that once its fitted. Your welcome to my old anti roll bar once its off the car .

If that has confused you ... PM me your number and Ill explain over the phone :-)

Rich

PM sent

[t5_monkey]

IPD All the way - completely transformed my S40 and it was already quite nice to drive around the corners being similar to a ford focus - Probably the best bang per buck upgrade you can do IMHO.

[Flatout Phil]

On the basis that the car has 90k on it, I think I might as well get new wishbones because, at this stage, I see little point in renewing bushes when in all likelihood the balljoint is coming to the end of its likely useful life. Have scoured all the reciepts since new (there are a lot) and no sign the job has ever been done. Still, I am left mulling whether to have the new arms rebushed with polybushes or just installing them as is for the moment. Probably the latter.
Will certainly get the IPD kit front and rear anti-roll bar upgrade kit - the reviews all seem to be unanimous that it is an excellent and (at £362) not excessively priced for the return - when compared with the £130 ish for the standard Volvo rear.
No doubt the entire car will now fall apart around me as she edges 100k.

I would guess that with the power output that bushes will tend to fail more readily - but am fairly confident that if needed, they can be replaced later.

Will await further opinions on this one!

[Tomcat]

Don't know if your interested but I've got some poly bushes in the garage for the wishbones, I fitted them but then had to buy new arms shortly afterwards because the balljoint was knackered, I don't think they've done more than 20miles at the most.

[Jamest5r]

If Phil don't want them pm me t/c, will give Phil first dibs as this is his thread

[Flatout Phil]

Don't know if your interested but I've got some poly bushes in the garage for the wishbones, I fitted them but then had to buy new arms shortly afterwards because the balljoint was knackered, I don't think they've done more than 20miles at the most.

Hi Craig,
PM sent.
Phil

[Volvostorm]

I got some powerflex bushes 2 weeks ago, from Larkspeed, they were cheaper than other places too. Thety might have a set or 2 left, and they are a new batch from after the fire.

[Flatout Phil]

Craig has sorted me some bushes! Hurrah!

Have ordered the roll-bars.

Will let you know how it all turns out - I am sure you are all waiting with bated breath...


I now realise what those strange doinking noises were a few months back as I came onto my driveway - roll bar fracturing. I thought I had a broken rear spring.

[Flatout Phil]

Question is, is it sensible to put in new drop-links as well when the new roll bar goes in at the front?

[Volvostorm]

Question is, is it sensible to put in new drop-links as well when the new roll bar goes in at the front?

I would mate, that way everything is nice and new

[Flatout Phil]

I would mate, that way everything is nice and new

I will see what Rufe can do for me on Monday. I agree with you. Trouble is, I will end up renewing whole car on this basis! No doubt be rear bushes next...new struts, springs, AP brakes...slippery slope

[Volvostorm]

I'm getting to that slope, I have a pile of bits in my living room waiting to be fitted.......................... ah! the joys of living alone!

[t5 stealth]

I'm getting to that slope, I have a pile of bits in my living room waiting to be fitted.......................... ah! the joys of living alone!

guilty as charged.............me too lol

[Flatout Phil]

I'm getting to that slope, I have a pile of bits in my living room waiting to be fitted.......................... ah! the joys of living alone!

At this rate, I think I will be living alone quite soon!!!