Volvo RWD 200 Forum

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Front's control arm's rearmost bushing's Bracket -- there are 2 (maybe 3) different kinds??? What's the difference? 200 1984

I went to order new brackets* for my 1984 240...

[ * the brackets for the rear, large bushing of the front suspension's control arms -- i.e., the bracket that looks like a "cup", and that's fastened with 3 bolts to the slanting underside of the firewall.]

... but the Volvo "VADIS" parts list shows three different brackets, a "regular" one, and another two that are called "reinforced" (and with and without a 'SP' designation). There's quite a difference in price, $50 vs $280, list.

regular p/nos: 1205819 (left) and 1205822 (right)
reinforced p/nos: 1272493 (left) and 1272494 (right)
and further, there's another pair of reinforced versions with a "SP" code, for which I didn't even bother to ask the price:
1273792 (left) and 1273793 (right)

I asked the parts guy, and he didn't know what the differences are between regular and reinforced.

So I'm asking on this forum, what the heck would I be getting for the extra money? Have there been any problems with the regular brackets that would justify that price for an upgrade? I'm intending to install IPD's poly bushings, so it will take more forces, but is the reinforced version worth it?

And, I'm also planning, later, to also upgrade my '93 240s to poly as well -- do the later model year cars, like my '93's, already have the reinforced version of the brackets -- maybe because the switch to "reinforced" brackets was a production upgrade?

Thanks, all. Any information would be appreciated.








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    Front's control arm's rearmost bushing's Bracket -- there are 2 (maybe 3) different kinds??? What's the difference? 200 1984

    Volvo has a reinforced 240 control arm that is sometimes refered to has a taxi cab version. Its basically a control arm with a steel plate welded to the bottom. This could be what is priced at $280 each. I never heard of any other reinforced front end component from Volvo except for the lower GT tie bars.








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      You may be on to something.... 200 1984

      re: "...Volvo has a reinforced 240 control arm that is sometimes refered to has a taxi cab version... This could be what is priced at $280 each...."

      Thanks -- you may be on to something. Looking at the VADIS parts list that my dealer printed out for me, it indeed does also show a reinforced (along with regular) version of the control arm, just like you expected. I would conclude, therefore, that the "taxi cab package" that you speak of includes not only the control arm that you mention but also the rear bracket that I was asking about -- it's logical that the control arm and bracket simply belong together as a package!

      However, the price for this reinforced bracket (rather than for the control arm) was definitely $280 -- which only makes one wonder what the price of the reinforced control arm might be! Astronomical?!!!

      Thanks very much for helping to explain this matter.









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        You may be on to something.... (picture) 200 1984

        Ken,
        Below is a picture of what the taxi control arms look like ("taxiplattor" as they are called in Sweden). I don't know much about them, but was told that the difference is not only the visible reinforcement, but also that they come with a special lower ball joint that changes the camber quite significantly. I didn't know they were matched with different brackets though.



        Erling.
        --
        My 240 Page








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          And, why change the camber in a taxi version? 200 1984

          re: "...they come with a special lower ball joint that changes the camber quite significantly...."

          And, for fun and curiousity, what do you suppose is the reason for changing the camber in a taxi version? Handling/safety (public conveyance liability), or improved wear on the front tires (I always seem to wear the outer edge the most)? And why not have it across the board -- in all 240s, rather than just taxi (or other H-D applications like police cars)?








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            And, why change the camber in a taxi version? 200 1984

            Ken,

            I am really out on a limb here. But I *guess* that the taxi arms originally did not have this feature - for reasons you indicate. Please keep in mind that it is now SAM Stefansson, the tuning specialist, who is now selling these. I believe they are used for racing in VOC - Volvo Original Cup, and as production has been taken up again the camber specifications may have been changed from the original design.

            Lots of guessing here, as you can see!

            Erling.
            --
            My 240 Page








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          Even more costs? 200 1984

          re: "...the difference is not only the visible reinforcement, but also that they come with a special lower ball joint that changes the camber quite significantly...."

          Very interesting. Of course, I've decided to stick with the "regular" brackets -- no rational reason to invest all that money in a much more expensive bracket meant to go with a more expensive control arm and (now we've just learned) ball joint, which has a different camber which will only confuse the heck out of a wheel alignment tech who doesn't know about all of this. Ha, ha.

          But I'm grateful to both of you for contributing these facts.








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            Even more costs? 200 1984

            I don't understand. Why spend any significant money at all on such a bracket?

            You will find them ready to be unscrewed from wrecked 240s in junkyards everywhere -- well, most places.

            The only item that might need replacement is the bushing, and you are already intending to replace it.
            --
            jds








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              Even more costs? 200 1984

              And if you wanted to reinforce a Non-taxicab control arm I don't see why you couldn't weld a piece of steel onto the bottom just like in the picture, Hmmmmm.







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