I'm trying to figure out what options I have for my upper engine torque rod bushing. It seems there is a fair bit of misinformation floating around, and even IPD and FCP Groton are confused to some degree.

I have a 1999 V70 with this square style mount.



To the best of my knowledge, 98 and earlier Volvos have this style mount:



It also appears that some 99's, and 2000 and up Volvos have this style mount:



Now, as best as I can tell, the 2000 style aluminum mount with round bushing can bolt onto my 99, essentially converting it from a square bushing to a round. The reason I ask, is because IPD sells the two piece poly bushings for the 98 style round bushing and the 2000 style round bushing, but they don't sell any replacements for the square style.

If I want a rubber replacement for the square style, FCP does sell them, but only the entire assembly, including a brand new housing. I also found this poly bushing on FCP that looks like it is for a square housing, but they say it only works on a '98.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/3103/nm/Volvo_V70_Upper_Engine_Torque_Rod_Bushing_1998_Ramac_/category_id/110

So the question is, will the square poly also work on my 99? Was there only one style square bushing? Or is my only option to buy an entire assembly of the square style?

I have never seen a square mount. Did you call the dealer parts dept? Is the original rubber (pressed in) or poly?

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

My reading has indicated that this square mount seems to have appeared on diesels and manual transmissions in Europe sporadically. I do know that my T5 manual was a special order vehicle.

The bushing is one piece rubber, with several outcroppings that keep it in place. I was able to press it out by hand because there was a full 1/2" of play. Not sure if it shrank or what.

I'll call the parts department and see what they tell me. Either way, my original question is the same. IPD tells me I can use a 2000 style round mount in place of the square, but it's a costly upgrade.

That makes more sense, a Euro mount. Not intended for the high temps of the USA, but then the Manual trannies were not brought to the USA in 1999. You might want to spring for a new round mount which will last considerably longer eventhough it is expensive. Or look in a junk yard and then replace the old round bushing.

Ordering a square mount bushing from Europe might cost a bunch.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

OK, I think I have it mostly figured out.

According to Volvo, there was never a factory installed square mount on any V70, euro or otherwise. However, there are aftermarket producers (Nordic) that make a cheap replacement for the mount that includes a square bushing rather than a round one. I had been assuming that my mount was original, but it seems likely now that it had been replaced once before. The hint is that 1 of the 4 bolts came out cross threaded. I thought it strange that a bolt from the factory would have been cross threaded, but it makes much more sense to believe that the PO put a new one on and cross threaded it himself.

I also called FCP Groton, and I have to say, they were no help at all. They didn't even understand the differences between the square and round replacements they had on their own site, and kept insisting that I could just buy a round poly bushing and it would fit. Also, they claim to sell a genuine Volvo mount that is square, and say that it is an updated design that is supposed to last longer, but in their OEM part number section, they just give the part number for what will be the round type from Volvo! It seems like they're being downright dishonest. If Volvo says they never produced a square style mount, how can they sell one as genuine Volvo?

So I believe I have a Nordic aftermarket replacement on my car, and can either replace it with another one, or go back to the round style. However, the phone experience I had with FCP has really soured my taste with them, so I may actually order the round style from the dealer and be done with it.

Yeah, the customer service at FCP Groton is not what it used to be. I had a problem with some steering rack boots I bought for my 240. They insisted they would work and they did not. I still buy parts from them because of their low price, but I longer expect exemplary service or have any customer loyalty to them. The CS manager was a real buffoon!

Yeah, that's a shame, I've been buying from them for years, sometimes as an alternative to IPD. Besides those two, are there any other good choices for US based Volvo parts companies?

Tascavolvo.com for OEM parts at a good price. Telephone them.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.