I need some new torque rod bushings, I'd like to try the polyurethane ones, as the others seem to last only eighty thousand miles. IPD is sold out for a month; does any one know of a source for them? Also, I'm going to replace my rear shocks, springs, and these bushings. Is there anything else I should do while I'm in there? Trailing arm bushings? "Panhard" bushings. How do I look at the trailing arm bushings? And do they affect handling alot? Thanks for ny help... Matt

Lets start a little controversy here.

I have been told that for bushings that are mainly subject to compression, eg, front strut bushings on the 700s and 900s, and sway bar end bushings, poly is the way to go. But for bushings whose function is to maintain the accurate location of moving parts with stress mostly in one direction, OEM (or similar) rubber is better because its harder. The rear torque rods are stressed in one plane (as the rear axle tries to twist under power, the force on the torque rods is in a plane along the rods thru the centers of the bushings), so the harder characteristics of rubber would be more appropriate for this application. Same arguement for the panhard rod. So, compression vs push/pull.
Comments?

Jim Weiss
83 245T, 90 760TI, 93 940TI wagon, and still looking
for suspension mods...

Try FCP Groton. Get as much poly as you can. It stiffens the ride tremendously. Not harsh, just tight. Drives like a completely different car.
--
Regards,

David
1991 744 NA 140+K Miles

Ebay currently has a set on auction.

I got some from this place
http://www.alloemvolvoparts.com/

Good prices, pretty quick shipping.
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-- Bruce / '82 244 (298k miles!), '86 745, '87 760Ti, '94 854

try fcpgroton.com

good prices, nick is a great guy to deal with.

Try this for the bushings:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1871475361

If you are going to do the torque rod bushings, might as well do the panrod. It is right there and pretty straight forward. There has been alot of discussion here re: the trailing arm bushings. Depending if your car "clunks" and the mileage, you should consider it. It is not fun, but it will tighten things up significantly. You need the special tool for it, or you can make your own. Check this out:

http://www-ese.fnal.gov/People/wilcer/volvo_trailing_arm_bushing_tool.htm


--Joe HC
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1977 244, 140k, IPD anti-sway bars; 1988 245, 206k