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The rubber accessory bushings that support your Alternator, Power Steering Pump, and AC Compressor can start to deform as they get old. When this happens, the various accessory pulleys shift out of axis with the driveshaft, waterpump, and other. This causes belt noise and a slight drag on the engine (and slightly impairs your fuel economy). The worst of the culprits is the Alternator and after 15 years or so, it has usually shifted enough that you can visually see that it's off axis by a significant amount.
Fortunately, replacement rubber accessory bushings are available new from your Volvo dealership for about $9 to $10 each using Volvo part number 463909, and are made by Boge. FCP Groton has the Boge (Volvo) bushings for $7 each, and a cheaper MTC brand for $1.75 each. They also carry Poly Urethane bushings for $5 each and these are similar to IPD's poly accessory bushings ($6 each).
Personally, in an effort to reduce both vibration and pulley twist, I use a Poly Bushing on the upper alternator bracket where it bolts to the engine block, and official Volvo/Boge bushings on the lower two. The upper bushing gets the most stress put on it and you'll probably find that your current one is in bad shape. The lower bushings tend to hold out longer, and by using rubber bushings here you can reduce/dampen some of the alternator vibrations.
God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
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'87 Blue 245, NA 231K
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