I just got ready to replace a pair of Rear Lower Control Arm Bushings when I noticed some weirdness.

The back story;

I did control arm bushings about a year ago and on another 240 and in less than 3000 miles the left bushing was spinning in the bracket. Since the car was with my son out of town, I ordered up a new bracket and bushing. He returned the defective assembly which I wrote off as a fluke and I stuck it away for future inspection. Well, the future is now and I pulled it out to take with me to the machinist who does my press work. I wanted to see if either the bracket or bushing could be salvaged.

In checking the defective bracket/bushing I found that I was able to press out the bushing with my bare hands. Trying to figure out if the bracket hole had stretched or the bushing was undersized I tried a new bushing and it pressed in by hand. Next, I tried another old bushing I had laying around and I could barely get it to start into the bracket hole. It was time to whip out the vernier caliper.

I found that the bushing which was spinning in the bracket measured damned close to two new bushings from the same order, but the old bushing from god knows when, measured noticeably larger.

All these bushings are left side and AUTHENTIC Volvo parts.

Does anyone know of Volvo having a bad batch of bushings or has anyone experienced loose fitting Original Volvo bushings? Since I try to keep a stock of consumables, these bushings were purchased some time ago.

I certainly do not want to get halfway into this job just to find out the parts a out of spec.

Rich

I ordered a bunch of Left Rear Lower Control Arm Bushings from TASCA to replace the ones which I had that were measuring undersized. As was predictable, ALL the replacements were about ten thousandths less on the OD, just like the one which had spun in its bracket.

The replacement left bushings were compared to new right bushings and a couple of used left side bushings which I had lying around. The difference in the OD measurement is sorta nominal because these things aren't exactly being puked out by a CNC machining center, but, the OD's were definitely undersized. I went so far as to make a narrow wrap-around from .002 shim stock and carefully gauged the circumference of the bushings at the point where they seat in the bracket; all the lame ones showed about 1/32" less circumference, divide that by pi and you get damn near 0.010" on the OD.

My choices were:

1/ Pop them in and pray they hold.

2/ Lather the bushing with some Loctite Bearing Mount then pray that it holds and if it does hold, pray that I never have to renew the bushing.

3/ Tack weld it in place and pray that the bonded rubber is not compromised by the toasting.

4/ Use right side bushings on the left side.

While not exactly kosher, I chose option #4; it seemed like the most direct and predictable way to get OE Volvo suspension rubber under the car.

Rich

I have had several aftermarket 200 bushing come in 0.020 in too small, just dropped through the LCA sleeves. I've never had a orig Volvo bushing do that. In fact I have several pictures of my calipers around said bushings so I could send back to IPD, FCP or whoever I got them from.
Some of the Volvo on-line parts discounters sell non-Volvo parts, and have heard that some are re-boxed, and sometimes an inferior part compared to the orig part.

Volvo does make a harder upgraded LCA bushing, sold as for the right side only, but trust me you want the upgraded one on left & right sides. I have heard that others using the OEM fit bushings one different for the right and left, have experienced premature failure of the left drivers side. I don't know why Volvo did it, but the 'OEM left side is a softer rubber.

I have had the upgraded LCA bushings on my 245 for over 120k miles and still performs and looks like new. These were direct over the Volvo parts counter special order purchased bushings.

I've always been a firm believer that it is foolish to use aftermarket parts - false economy.

The bushings I wrote about are original Volvo parts right from Tasca. Perhaps I should say, allegedly authentic Volvo. I hate to be so cynical, but when I read about counterfeit chemotherapy drugs and crayons laced with lead I realize that anything is possible - for a buck.

I didn't use a wrap-around to measure them, but just measuring for major and minor diameters (being stamped, they aren't exactly circular) and comparing left to right, I found the left bushings to be .009-.010 in. smaller on the OD than the right ones.

I have some new ones coming from Tasca. I have a feeling I might end up popping in right handed bushings on both sides just to get the necessary interference fit; most likely if the 3 i received are not sized correctly the other 30,000 aren't either.

These are the front bushings in the rear trailing arms? Or the rear A-arm bushings?

I've not seen this in the F TABs.

I've had numerous 240s with R A-arm bushings that pressed in by hand.

Any chance there are different ones for different years?
--
240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Rich, since it never happened to me, I always suspected those who had to tack weld bushings into the cups did so because someone pounded out the old ones crooked.

Your measurements refute that theory. That genuine factory replacement parts might not fit is a "say it ain't so, Joe" event which was recently exemplified by another BB member receiving dealership-purchased genuine Blue Box-packaged rear shocks where the sleeve in the lower mounting eye was 7mm longer than the originals, making the trimming of the spacer necessary.

Because the dealerships aren't repairing these cars, I see no incentive whatsoever to perform quality control inspection on 200 series parts.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband.

Art,

I've always thought the same or else aftermarket parts were being used.

The auto machinist who does my press work is as good as they come and he appreciated the dedicated press sleeves I spun off especially the one with four legs to fit the rear control arm bushing notches.

I guess all I can do is to buy some more bushings and see how they measure. I noticed that the bushings which seem undersized have a much smoother surface finish unlike any Volvo bushings I used before. Over the years, I've installed dozens upon dozens of Volvo suspension bushings which always looked almost as if they were sandblasted. Perhaps Volvo has switched vendors.

I only hope this is a fluke - original Volvo rubber mounts have always been a bargain compared to the aftermarket junk. I would hate to have use anything else or resort to tack welds.

I'll report back once I get some more bushings.

Rich