Control arm lifespan

artiedtke · Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:16

So after approx 33,000 miles I've been advised today that my NSF control arm is shot once again.

The part fitted was a Delphi branded part.

Can anyone comment on the lifespan of aftermarket control arms, what is their expected life.

Also I hear reports the the Volvo blue box OEM and Lemforder arms last much much longer, but at £170 per arm, nearly £100 more than a Delphi or Febi part i think I'll need some convincing before i fold !

I've come to the conclusion that this is a definite 850/V70 weak spot. I don't know if it's down to that cast iron lump I have anchored at the front of mine, whats the experience of you chaps with petrols ? Also are the supposedly stronger "4 bolt" versions more prone to wear that the classic "2 bolt" versions.

Would be interesting to hear peoples thoughts.

rudi dudi · Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:21

I have had only good experience with Trw's equipment ... Which I have a strong suspicion is what the Volvo ones are , shoved in a blue box and stupid price Sir.

artiedtke · Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudi dudi

I have had only good experience with Trw's equipment ... Which I have a strong suspicion is what the Volvo ones are , shoved in a blue box and stupid price Sir.

Have also heard good about TRW.

Disagree with you though, I think Volvo OEM ARE Lemforder. The prices are also very similar. £159 ish.

rudi dudi · Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:42

It was only a suspicion about the origins of the bottom arms...

What I do know as fact though is the replacement Trw trackrod end's I fitted a few months ago.. Had the same part no on them, as the genuine Volvo one's they were replacing.

artiedtke · Jul 23rd, 2014, 20:08

Hmm interesting.

I cant seem to find TRW arms in 4 bolt version though.

catflem · Jul 23rd, 2014, 21:53

might be worth contacting these two, and ask if they are using stock photos rather than photos of the actual items........... both list them as being suitable for 850/V70 tdi's

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-S70-...item5d4d25d606

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRW-Left-S...item51bed4c15b

kenny · Jul 23rd, 2014, 23:07

I won't use Delphi parts it's over priced cra*
Their discs and pads a terrible and anything with any sort of ball joint just ain't worth thinking about.

brickman · Jul 23rd, 2014, 23:18

All tdi/t5/r fwd should have the 4 bolt arms shouldn't they?

I would expect the front arms to be a weak spot looking at them, the diesel is just that much heavier and the part isn't that strong.

Poly bush the existing part would be.my choice
Saw two st200s in the scrappy today an estate and a saloon, and both were fully polybushed, shame they were scrapped as quite liked that series of ford's.

Luxobarge · Jul 24th, 2014, 10:41

I've had exactly this problem, and have found that the Meyle Heavy Duty arm is a good compromise between cost and quality - it looks extremely good quality compared to a "standard" aftermarket part.

Look on the PFV site, you will see both "standard" items and "Heavy Duty" ones - the HD ones are the Meyle part that I fitted and it looks like it's going to last just fine. They're more expensive that standard of course, but not off the scale, and it'll pay in the long run.

If it's just the inner pair of bushes that are wearing, and the ball joint is OK then as above you can indeed put a polybush kit on them (I did that on one of mine) but the downside is that you're still left with a poorer quality ball joint, so if that fails then you're still going to have to change the whole arm. I found that the Meyle arm had bushes that looked every bit as strong as the Polybush kit, and the ball joint also looked much better made.

Just my two-pennor'th, but I agree they are a weak-ish point on these cars, and therefore I think it pays to get the best quality you can, it's a real case of false economy to fit cheap ones.

Thanatos · Jul 24th, 2014, 16:40

they will be the 5 bolt version for the tdi you cannot polybush them as far as i am aware as no where makes them but happy to be proved wrong

unlike the 3 bolt version the 5 bolt version you will need to lift the gearbox to change the bolts as theres not enough room to get 1 fully out

i used lemforders last time and they are good much better quality then the others i have seen

Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:16	#1
artiedtke Just one more thing... Last Online: Jul 10th, 2020 14:44 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Wales	Control arm lifespan So after approx 33,000 miles I've been advised today that my NSF control arm is shot once again. The part fitted was a Delphi branded part. Can anyone comment on the lifespan of aftermarket control arms, what is their expected life. Also I hear reports the the Volvo blue box OEM and Lemforder arms last much much longer, but at £170 per arm, nearly £100 more than a Delphi or Febi part i think I'll need some convincing before i fold ! I've come to the conclusion that this is a definite 850/V70 weak spot. I don't know if it's down to that cast iron lump I have anchored at the front of mine, whats the experience of you chaps with petrols ? Also are the supposedly stronger "4 bolt" versions more prone to wear that the classic "2 bolt" versions. Would be interesting to hear peoples thoughts. __________________ '98 V40 2.0T B4204T - died... '96 855 2.5 TDI D5252T - 255,000 miles "Diesel without turbo is like a woman without boobs... sure you can drive it, but there's always something missing."

Jul 23rd, 2014, 20:08	#5
artiedtke Just one more thing... Last Online: Jul 10th, 2020 14:44 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Wales	Hmm interesting. I cant seem to find TRW arms in 4 bolt version though. __________________ '98 V40 2.0T B4204T - died... '96 855 2.5 TDI D5252T - 255,000 miles "Diesel without turbo is like a woman without boobs... sure you can drive it, but there's always something missing."

Jul 23rd, 2014, 21:53	#6
catflem Master Member Last Online: Oct 20th, 2023 12:15 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Expat in NW France	might be worth contacting these two, and ask if they are using stock photos rather than photos of the actual items........... both list them as being suitable for 850/V70 tdi's http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-S70-...item5d4d25d606 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRW-Left-S...item51bed4c15b __________________ Quick, someone flog me a V70 before I jump ship again

Jul 24th, 2014, 10:41	#9
Luxobarge Premier Member Last Online: Today 08:14 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Horne (Nr. Horley)	I've had exactly this problem, and have found that the Meyle Heavy Duty arm is a good compromise between cost and quality - it looks extremely good quality compared to a "standard" aftermarket part. Look on the PFV site, you will see both "standard" items and "Heavy Duty" ones - the HD ones are the Meyle part that I fitted and it looks like it's going to last just fine. They're more expensive that standard of course, but not off the scale, and it'll pay in the long run. If it's just the inner pair of bushes that are wearing, and the ball joint is OK then as above you can indeed put a polybush kit on them (I did that on one of mine) but the downside is that you're still left with a poorer quality ball joint, so if that fails then you're still going to have to change the whole arm. I found that the Meyle arm had bushes that looked every bit as strong as the Polybush kit, and the ball joint also looked much better made. Just my two-pennor'th, but I agree they are a weak-ish point on these cars, and therefore I think it pays to get the best quality you can, it's a real case of false economy to fit cheap ones. __________________ Some people are like Slinkies, they serve no useful purpose but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them downstairs.

Jul 24th, 2014, 16:40	#10
Thanatos VOC Member Last Online: Sep 11th, 2019 14:36 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Blackpool	they will be the 5 bolt version for the tdi you cannot polybush them as far as i am aware as no where makes them but happy to be proved wrong unlike the 3 bolt version the 5 bolt version you will need to lift the gearbox to change the bolts as theres not enough room to get 1 fully out i used lemforders last time and they are good much better quality then the others i have seen __________________ Classicswede quote " I knew I had not done the bolts up." http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=159255

Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:21	#2
rudi dudi DPF free.FCUK Greta he he Last Online: May 23rd, 2024 15:16 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bristol	I have had only good experience with Trw's equipment ... Which I have a strong suspicion is what the Volvo ones are , shoved in a blue box and stupid price Sir.

Jul 23rd, 2014, 19:42	#4
rudi dudi DPF free.FCUK Greta he he Last Online: May 23rd, 2024 15:16 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bristol	It was only a suspicion about the origins of the bottom arms... What I do know as fact though is the replacement Trw trackrod end's I fitted a few months ago.. Had the same part no on them, as the genuine Volvo one's they were replacing.

Jul 23rd, 2014, 23:07	#7
kenny Master Member Last Online: Dec 16th, 2020 20:33 Join Date: May 2009 Location: kirknewton	I won't use Delphi parts it's over priced cra* Their discs and pads a terrible and anything with any sort of ball joint just ain't worth thinking about.

Jul 23rd, 2014, 23:18	#8
brickman Premier Member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2023 10:40 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Glasgow	All tdi/t5/r fwd should have the 4 bolt arms shouldn't they? I would expect the front arms to be a weak spot looking at them, the diesel is just that much heavier and the part isn't that strong. Poly bush the existing part would be.my choice Saw two st200s in the scrappy today an estate and a saloon, and both were fully polybushed, shame they were scrapped as quite liked that series of ford's.

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