Hi there. I doubt that this will be much help to you. But, I had exactly the same problem and the cost was identical. You are not being ripped off.

I think that the car is too heavy for the suspension. Your local Volvo rep or dealer knows all about it. He/she will definitely not say that they have not heard of this before and that you are the first to complain. It is well known and well recorded. You will have link rods, torque rods to follow. That is normal at this distance K's or miles.

Sorry to be the one to tell you. I know it is of little consolation.

Like every other rubber component on the car, the strut mount bushings are poor quality, and short lived. At 130K, my car is on it's fourth set of strut mount bushings, and third set of shock inserts. After the second set of Volvo shocks failed, I replaced the shocks with Bilsteins. (I've had shocks wear out in my other cars due to normal wear and tear, but the shocks in the S80 fail catastrophically.) While I enjoy shocks that offer positive suspension control with the Bilsteins, they put more stress on the marginal strut mount bushings, and the passenger-side new bushing broke inside of three weeks after the new shocks were installed. In retrospect I was partially to blame because I apparently overstressed the car by carrying four adults and driving over a dip in the road. Miraculously this one was parts warranty, (which didn't cover the re-alignment and re-centering the steering wheel) ($160.00). Typically they seem to just make it over one year before breaking again.
The S80 continues to be the most sorry excuse for a car I've ever owned. You would be hard pressed to find a more poorly designed and built car at any price.

This is a new one for me. Are they broken on the front or rear? Bottom or top? Can you visually see the break? Is the regional Volvo representative aware of this problem? You should at least contact the rep before having work done.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)