Suspension: Control Arm/bushes

[CaerYnArfon]

Hi just had a mare with replacing the front ball joints on my 2010. Bought 2 x Meyele ball joints not cheap ones but half decent and many good reviews.

Could I get the b******s in? could I b****x, even after thoroughly cleaning and wire brushing the "receiving hole"?, froze them overnight, heated the hole up.... nothing got one stuck half way in and couldn;t get it further....

Sorry, please pardon the language... just venting a bit.

So I bought 2 x Genuine Volvo ball joints from Skandix, (91 euros each) and with the assistance of my neighbour they went in a treat. Still needed a fairly hefty persuader but way easier.

Out of interest I verniered the diameter and there was a 0.15mm to 0.2mm difference between the two makes (Volvo being smaller than the Meyele)

Would recommend buying a Ball joint pulling kit though. made it a site easier.

[oragex]

The joy of aftermarket parts.. Good thing you couldn't fit those Meyle, forget online reviews, people put good reviews even just upon received the box, or because they 'think' the part looks like a quality one. Let alone after driving with the parts for 6-12months. Some even think that because is made in Germany is has to be good (so false). By the way, Lemforder makes the Volvo ones on the S60 - perhaps same for the XC90 - look on the old ones at the bottom plate for a small triangle - the Lemforder mark

[glengibson]

Think I'm leaning towards fitting Powerflex bushes.
what are they like to get into the control arm?

[robertsmart]

I used a vice to fit my powerflex poly bushes. It's not too bad a job. The biggest pain is getting the old ones pushed out.