Community Forums:

Thanks, Art; that's what I was aiming for: the firm feel of the original hard plastic bushings, using materials that I had, and which may even be more durable (we'll see about that one). If I'd had a lathe, I could have turned down brass or aluminum, but I used what I had available, as always.

And yes, I know the original bushings are available from Volvo, but thought another board member might, like me, prefer to spend an afternoon in the workshop rather than fighting traffic or waiting a week for bushings to come in the mail.

I think your assessment of the slow wear in the bushings is correct; like shocks, mine disappeared so gradually that I did not know they were gone. I have had a rattle in the shifter area for months, but did not consider the possibility that my bushings were gone because there was no noticeable change.

Makes me wonder what else has gradually declined to the point of annoyance without my notice.