I have been getting mixed replies on this. Can I change just the ball joint on my 1994 850 or is it one piece(with the control arm) like the older models

1995 is the year they started to have the control arm and ball joint as a one piece unit.

If you have an 850 turbo, then the ball joint and the control arm are one piece. If you search on the web you will find a number of places to purchase the assembly. The actual replacement is fairly easy. I have done it three times on my 850 turbo. I used alloemvolvoparts.com at $125.00 for the part. Be sure the other parts in the system are good as the realignment is costly. If you have loosness, creaks, groans and clicks in the steering, the tie rod ends/tie rod end assembly (seperate items) may also require replacement. Doing it all at once may be prudent.

Mike

This is not necessarily true.

I have a 94 850 Turbo wagon and my car has them as two pieces.

Using your VIN you can determine which you have. It depends on when your car was made. A 94 could have easily been made in 93, like mine. I don't know what the cut off date was, but according to FCP Groton, a great online parts seller, IMO, the chassis number has to be less than 131536 for the parts to be seperate.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo850suspension.htm


You could always look at the balljoint yourself, too. Don't even need to prop the car up.

If they are seperate pieces, you can see the three bolts that attach the balljoint to the controlarm. The single part design doesn't have these parts. I believe that the newer design (one piece) is steel, while the older, two-piece design the control arm is made of aluminum, too.

Good luck.

BTW, removing a balljoint can be a real PITA, as the bolt through the steering knuckle clamp will almost definitely be frozen on with rust. My local indy had to torch the head off and drill it out. This was after I wasn't able to do it myself... tried everything in my not-so-small arsenal of tools.

Good luck.

-Jason D

I own a 94 850 Turbo. The ball joint and control arm on my car are two separate parts. I was able to replace just the ball joint.

The 93's where the only model with a ball joints that is separate from the control arm. Yes, your 94 has a control arm that includes the ball joint.

Yup, my 1994 850 Turbo has the one piece cast iron control arm. Not the aluminium control arm w/separate ball joint. As stated before it depends on your VIN number.