Thanks for all the good feedback on my previous post about this job.

I have the control arms on the bench with old rear bushings and ball joints removed. I installed the rear bushing on one of the control arms with no trouble. However, while pressing the bushing into the other control arm, a 2 1/2 inch piece of the plastic flange on the bushing broke off. I guess it wouldn't hurt to still use the bushing as most of the flange is still there and the perimeter plastic over the body of the bushing appears uncracked, but I'll probably go ahead and get another one just to have it all intact like it's supposed to be. What do you guys recommend to lube the bushings before pressing them in?

As far as the ball joints go, the package contains a washer that I don't think was on the car when I took it apart. In the package with each ball joint are the two large bolts that hold the ball joint to the steering knuckle, a new flanged deformed lock nut for the tapered shaft, a new cotter pin to keep it safe, and an extra washer. Everything's clear to me except the extra washer. There's only one with each ball joint, so I assume Volvo intended it to go on the ball joint shaft before the locknut, but there was no washer there when I took things apart. Plus the washer is a really loose fit for that application, and it's outside diameter is just very slightly bigger than the flange on the locknut. So what's it supposed to do? It won't add any surface area to the clamping effect of the locknut, and will probably end up off center because the hole in it is so much bigger than it needs to be. What's the deal? Did the guy in France who packed the ball joint kits mistakenly throw in an extra washer that doesn't seem to fit anything properly?

Otherwise the job is going fine. I'm taking my time, and my wife is getting used to driving my 242 again.
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Thanks for all the help. DougC ::::: 1981 242, IPD bars and Turbo wheels, M46:::::::1984 760, B23FT, M46, waiting to donate engine to 242:::::::1997 S90