Steel lower control arms

charles p · Mar 24th, 2018, 22:04

Giving a routine check this morning found this staring at me from the front control arm.

Everything that I've read covers bush replacement on aluminium arms. My car is a 2007 P2 with steel arms.
Two questions.
1/ Any differences in the process for steel arms? I guess not and rust bonding of bushes may not be as harsh as it is with dissimilar metals
2/ Are the bushes the same? I gather the ball joint is different.

I suppose the supplementary query is why the hell Volvo bothered to change something so late in the day

Thanks

Charles

Hasse53 · Mar 25th, 2018, 10:13

1/ I suppose the process should be the same. Some bushing suppliers recommend Loctite 648 when fitting of the new bushes.

2/ According to my spare part supplier in Sweden the bushings are identical.
BUT:
- Balljoints are different
- Steering limiters are different
- Wheel hubs are different.

Why the h*ll:
Probably introduction of the Ford D3 platform introduced in 2005 which was a simplified version of the Volvo P2 platform with aluminium parts replaced with parts made of steel. = saving production costs!

Georgeandkira · Mar 25th, 2018, 16:05

1) Thanks for an authoritative answer on these bushings. I much want to replace with poly bushings when the time comes.

2) A parts supplier here (USA) said they steel control arms were not rebushable.
I assumed it was a made up response due to his shop not having a listing for the bushes but having one for complete replacement steel arms.

charles p · Apr 25th, 2018, 17:53

Removed the arms today and replaced the bushes following CheshireD5's video guide (thanks fella). Pressing the bushes into the steel arms looks to be simpler than with the alloy ones - it's much easier to support the arm behind the front bush. Of course, the later ball joints need effort to split them but aside from that it's just an awkward job in a wheel arch! I found that a 3/8 drive 15mm socket is handy for the front bush bolts (as opposed to the cranked ring spanner). I also bought a Lidl impact drver (£30) and it worked fine. It's not high quality but I've never needed one in the past 35 years of playing with cars so I figured that it wasn't a tool to invest heavily in.

If only the inner CV bush wasn't split it would all have been much more joyous!

Charles

jgjones095 · Apr 25th, 2018, 19:20

Can you link to the video?

charles p · Apr 25th, 2018, 20:05

Useful video here

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DnwksNuAPaQ

And it's the boot that's split, not a "bush" (typo)

C

Mar 24th, 2018, 22:04	#1
charles p Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 17:11 Join Date: May 2011 Location: All over	Steel lower control arms Giving a routine check this morning found this staring at me from the front control arm. Everything that I've read covers bush replacement on aluminium arms. My car is a 2007 P2 with steel arms. Two questions. 1/ Any differences in the process for steel arms? I guess not and rust bonding of bushes may not be as harsh as it is with dissimilar metals 2/ Are the bushes the same? I gather the ball joint is different. I suppose the supplementary query is why the hell Volvo bothered to change something so late in the day Thanks Charles Last edited by charles p; Mar 24th, 2018 at 23:58.

Mar 25th, 2018, 10:13	#2
Hasse53 Member Last Online: Jun 27th, 2022 21:50 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Karlstad	1/ I suppose the process should be the same. Some bushing suppliers recommend Loctite 648 when fitting of the new bushes. 2/ According to my spare part supplier in Sweden the bushings are identical. BUT: - Balljoints are different - Steering limiters are different - Wheel hubs are different. Why the hll: Probably introduction of the Ford D3 platform introduced in 2005 which was a simplified version of the Volvo P2 platform with aluminium parts replaced with parts made of steel. = saving production costs! Last edited by Hasse53; Mar 25th, 2018 at 10:22.*

Apr 25th, 2018, 19:20	#5
jgjones095 Master Member Last Online: Feb 28th, 2024 22:04 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: South wales	Can you link to the video? __________________ Who said Volvos were build to last? 2.4t V70XC Auto 2001 165k D5 185 XC70 M66 2006 202k

Mar 25th, 2018, 16:05	#3
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 14:34 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	1) Thanks for an authoritative answer on these bushings. I much want to replace with poly bushings when the time comes. 2) A parts supplier here (USA) said they steel control arms were not rebushable. I assumed it was a made up response due to his shop not having a listing for the bushes but having one for complete replacement steel arms.

Apr 25th, 2018, 17:53	#4
charles p Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 17:11 Join Date: May 2011 Location: All over	Removed the arms today and replaced the bushes following CheshireD5's video guide (thanks fella). Pressing the bushes into the steel arms looks to be simpler than with the alloy ones - it's much easier to support the arm behind the front bush. Of course, the later ball joints need effort to split them but aside from that it's just an awkward job in a wheel arch! I found that a 3/8 drive 15mm socket is handy for the front bush bolts (as opposed to the cranked ring spanner). I also bought a Lidl impact drver (£30) and it worked fine. It's not high quality but I've never needed one in the past 35 years of playing with cars so I figured that it wasn't a tool to invest heavily in. If only the inner CV bush wasn't split it would all have been much more joyous! Charles

Apr 25th, 2018, 20:05	#6
charles p Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 17:11 Join Date: May 2011 Location: All over	Useful video here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DnwksNuAPaQ And it's the boot that's split, not a "bush" (typo) C

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