Those of us who have wrenched on these cars long enough often get a bit cocky. I am particularly guilty of this with my nearly pristine 940. A while ago it was the radiator that I put off although I tell everyone here it is a must to replace on older Volvo's with automatic transmissions...dodged a bullet on that one but scolded myself publicly for my arrogance.

This time it was the front suspension. I have had the urethane conical bushings in my personal stock but put off replacement because I had more pressing concerns. I assumed my pulling under braking and clunking over sharp bumps could be nothing else so I never even did basic checks of the suspension.

Got the bushings out and they were near perfect. While I was under there I could see at least an 1/8" of movement on the passenger side ball joint. The sway bar end links were so shot one of the washers was rubbing on the control arm.

I got the only ball joints in stock locally (no clue the quality). Then in my continued arrogance I assumed I could use a BFH to get the ball joint out...nope (fyi, works on most cars). Car is in pieces and no puller. Got a friend to grab a pitman arm puller and replaced the ball joints but one of the end links snapped while loosening and NO ONE stocks the link.

So I can confirm that driving a 940 with the front sway disconnected drives just fine if you do not mind leaning like a drunken sailor in the turns.

That passenger balljoint had more than 3/16" vertical play...it could have separated relatively easily there was so much.

Also, the the corrosion between the alloy wheel and brake disk was so severe I had to use a 4' 2" x 4" to lever off the wheel...in three or four positions because it still would not pop right off. Now both wheel and disk have been wire brushed and a layer of ceramic anti-seize between the two.

New links are on the way and I am spending the rest of the day doing all the basic maint I tell everyone else to do...thermal paste on the power stage, resoldering the relays, replacing the vac lines.