I'm one of those people that just likes to start out with a known good quantity, so thinking about going through the front end of my newly acquired 240 wagon and replacing most of the front end components. The car has 133k on it and if things are not shot, probably soon will be.

So, I've done struts before on several of my 1980's and 1990's Volkswagens. Not too bad, I have a basic spring compressor and hand tools. Anything unusual or tidbits I need to know about doing struts on a 240?

I'd also like to, while I'm in there, do the inner and outer tie rods and ball joints. Again, I've done this kind of thing on my VWs, and only done inners once on a Ford Escort I had. The inners were a pain but I rented a special tie rod tool at Advance that made the job way easier. I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that the Volvo will be easier to do tie rods on due to being rear wheel drive whereas my old cars were all FWD and had axle shafts up in there too, making space tight. I read on some of my brickboard searches about the inner tie rods being staked? Not a term I'm familiar with offhand, maybe someone can elaborate on this for me, appreciated.

I guess also while you are in there might as well check the brake pads and rotors and replace if necessary. Then, struts come to mind...phew. If you're going to have to align the car, might as well do it once. With the VWs, you need a special tool ( like a cutaway socket ) to undo the upper strut mount from the strut rod, not sure if Volvo requires similar.

Anything I need to know having never worked on a 240 specifically would be appreciated. I have a Bentley on order and en route that will likely answer a bunch of this stuff, but I'm itching to get started and am impressed with the know how of folks on this board and willingness to help out, so thought I'd bounce this off the group. Thanks for any input.

Matt in KC