Everyone,

I just wanted to share my frustration with several parts I have gotten from FCP Groton recently and try to warn people away from them. The most recent and costly(!) experience for me was related to some front suspension work I did on my 2001 V70 T5M. I ordered new control arms and shock mounts from FCP to completely rework my front suspension with Bilstein HDs and IPD sways. Initially everything seemed fine...I installed the new control arms / shock mounts along with the Bilsteins and sway bars + endlinks (ordered from IPD thankfully!) and the car ran great! But now, only about 10k miles/9 months after the install, the control arm bushing are so completely shot that when pressing on the brakes the steering wheel jerks over several degrees! After getting OEM control arms installed I inspected the FCP control arms and the back bushings were completely ripped through, especially the right control arm, causing the shift under braking. After only 10k miles! While I do have a stiffer setup than stock, I am by no means a "crazy" driver and this appears to be way under the expected lifetime of the parts.

This leads to my second area of warning...the so called "lifetime" warranty offered by FCP on their branded parts. I did not read this closely when I ordered the parts but it has several gotchas. First of all, you have to "register" the parts on FCP's warranty webpage within 30 days of purchase despite the fact that you bought the parts from FCP! I mean come on, they obviously have the records. Next, if you actually have a problem, you are required to buy a replacement part from FCP BEFORE returning the old part and then, only after an "inspection" of the failed part, they will maybe/hopefully refund you the cost of the replacement part! What an awful warranty and, given that I didn't register the parts (this step was not indicated anywhere during the order process or in the documentation I received with the parts), I am just out of luck with my failed parts.

This has not been my only negative experience with FCP...I have also received incorrect parts in some of my orders for my other Volvos and I have been unimpressed with quality of those parts as well. This has been a "live and learn" moment for me that has been hard on my wallet ($300 for OEM control arms + labor and an alignment). I will be sticking with only OEM equipment from here on out and I am swearing off FCP and its cheap knock off parts. I wanted to post my experience to give everyone else on the forum a word of warning.

Thanks!
Brian

Living your world as we speak. Replaced entire front end on my wife's 02 V70 T5 with the front end 'kit' from FCP and their control arms. In under one year, the spring seats have completed shredded, and the control arms are shot.
I have to do it all over again.
That said, I told them what happened and they said just send back the old parts.
That's pretty standard for most industries/companies to validate product failure.

Huge lesson learned - OEM makes the difference in key suspension components.
They were able to get the OEM Control arms for me. OEM spring seats, etc.

Also I have proved to my wife who fights this axiom all the time, that cheaper is clearly not just as good.

Thanks to Klaus' recommendation, I will also start working with Tasca.

I have had very mixed results with FCP. The worst was when I bought 4 calipers for my 89 245. The first one was fine, the next leaked the moment i put it in. If my local autozone has the parts I get it from them, they dont bitch at all about returns. and the parts are probably just as good.

My fcp upper strut mount on my 99v70 the drivers side is making noise only after 3 months.

My v70 heater core has been fine for about a year.

Hello Brian,

Usually I have no reason to be in the AWD forum, but your dramatic subject statement attracted my attention all the way from RWD-land where I usually read.

Two things I seem to have noticed no one has addressed in their replies. One, the assumed defective parts were installed by you, while the replacement parts from Volvo are apparently ("After getting OEM control arms installed") installed by someone else. Two, you say FCP needed you to "register" the purchase, and while that may be the case, I recall their warranty was made dependent on whether the parts were installed by an ASE-certified tech (leaving all us DIYers like myself out of the game).

Those two curious aspects of your complaint combine with my experience, over on RWD, hearing numerous tales of control arm bushings and trailing arm bushings failing in short order after owner installation. Some eventually owned up to the fact they did not tighten them with the suspension loaded - so the reason they ripped was obviously not the fault of the bushing maker. Others griped about how they egged out the arms, after beating the old ones out with a hammer. Lots of irate folks railing against "aftermarket" rubber, and I can't figure out why this isn't happening to me.

I can put myself in FCP's position, selling to an enthusiast marketplace, dealing with hundreds of first-time and novice mechanics, who may not have your experience, and I am amazed at their continued efforts at handling customer complaints with patience. In any case, it is only fair to contact them with your criticism and give them an opportunity to rectify it before taking criticism public. That has worked for me over the course of 10 years and $15K worth of business for them.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

To err is human, to moo bovine.

My experience in recent years, like the last 15 is avoid aftermarker rubber parts, unless you know for sure it is the OEM part made by the guy who makes it for Volvo, VW, etc. Today, this seems very hard to keep track of. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mike

Two things. This is a poor forum to gripe about generic suppliers. I am glad to know that the fail point turned out to be the bushings and not metal fatigue. My motto, you get what you pay for. And watch out for the fine print!!

Next. Most dealers charge much too much for their parts. But there are a couple that are great. One of these is http://www.tascaparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=213668

located in Rhode Island. It is a Volvo dealer, so you get OEM parts and 1 year warrranty, and prices better than most parts stores.

For critical parts: engine, suspension, some electics, it is always better to go OEM. IPD has some great performance parts as well, but they also have some knock off items to make a profit from.

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

Klaus,

Thanks for the link! They definitely seem to have the right price for OEM parts. And you are probably right, this isn't the best place to complain but it sure made me feel a little bit better :)

Brian

Klaus, is 100% of their parts Volvo OEM or are there generic alternatives? Just curious.

Tasca only sells Volvo OEM, like any other dealer. They mark up 10-15% over cost, instead of the usual 50-100%.

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

By Tasca do you mean Tasca of Rhode Island?

The one and only.

http://www.tascaparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=213668

Klaus
--
1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on

As far as changing control arm and bushings I always thought you were to do final tightening with the suspension loaded, Came across a video of a German or Swedish guy in a shop swapping out control arms on a V70 with the car on a lift and the front suspension sagging. Is this wrong
here is the video, the shop looks nice and clean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOEMdrhalak

I watched the video a couple times too.

Depends (and Klaus I hope will correct me if I'm wrong) but on the newer v70s, the way the bushings are mounted to the control arm and hence to the car, torque under load doesn't seem as critical. On all three bolts, it's metal to metal.
I think the procedure under load was for older v70s and 850s.


I've swapped control arms/bushings on my BMW E46 and in that case it is very important to press on and bolt on with correct angle on bushing or else they'll be twisted and tension will rear its ripping head over time.

BTW, I say all of this with respect the ASE certified techs out there. I'd rather have them do the work than me. But thanks to the current state of our economy my business has suffered, and I've had to re-moonlight as the mechanic on my cars.


Good luck out there.

Of course the shop is spotless, that is the way the northern Europeans do things. Never any slippery grease or leftover parts lying around.

Verifying torque with the suspension loaded is the way it 'should' be done, but most skilled mechanics with the proper tools know what the torque should be. Besides, this is just a video on how-to, not a Bible. I would never use an air gun to set torque, but then I don't get paid by the number of jobs I do each day.

Klaus
--
1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on

Thats good to know about tasca, I live about 3 miles from the dealership. I wonder if the counter prices are as good as the internet price?

Call or visit the parts dept and ask! We all want to know also. Not good for me, as I live 1500 miles away. But then I don't have to pay sales tax, just shipping.

Klaus
--
1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on

Not into FCP at all. Mucked up several parts for me.

Any feedback on Tasca parts counter prices vs their on-line prices???
Thx.

Bernstein is incorrect, FCP DOES OFFER WARRANTY to shadetrees like us. You simple register and pay a vig of a few dollars. I have taken advantage of it many times. And yes, I too have had mixed results over 15 years and thous in purchases for my fleet. That said, they always make things right, except for my labor which my wife never misses a chance to remind me about.