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