Hi there... my beau introduced me to this site and, after browsing a bit through the forums, I really wish I'd known it was here before selling my last volvo.
I am admittedly a neophyte when it comes to volvos; as mentioned, I had a '76 244 DL (190,000 miles) which ran like a top, but I sold it as I kept getting the run around from mechanics re: the brakes ("they're dangerous! You're going to kill yourself or someone driving that death machine!"), so I sold it to someone more mechanically inclined than I.
But, I'd really really really like to become more adept at maintaining/fixing my own vehicle, hence this inquiry:
I'm interested in purchasing a 1979 244 GT (sedan?), that seems really well maintained. Runs great, brakes are good... but, (BUT) when I took it out for a test drive over a bumpy road (Living in Alberta, not too hard to find), the front developed a serious "clunk". Now, my last car was so stiff that it wouldn't make a noise if you drove it off a cliff, but this has a noise that sounds like something banging in the trunk, but on both sides in the front.
I'm concerned that it's the tire rods and, if so, that may be far too ambitious a first project for me to undertake.
(by the way, the car has 457,000 kms and they want $750 CDN for it, which may factor into any advice anyone can give me)
Thanks very very much and I look forward to responses.
Cheers!