Front lower suspension bush

[Beavis]

Hi All,

is it possible to change the front lower suspension bush as a DIY job on the floor, rather than up in the air?

I assume i'll need some suspension spring compressors? other than that, and normal sockets/spanners is anything else major needed?

thanks in advance.

Stu

[ianu]

Hi Stu,
I assume you mean the whole wishbone including the bushes - I'd expect this to be the easier option unless you have access to some serious press hardware.

There is a pretty good 'how to' on here somewhere if you try searching for it. I've done it myself too and it's pretty straightforward if your confident with a spanner.
No special tools required over and above a torque wrench, a couple of axle stands, jacks (I used a trolley and bottle jack), and some webbing came in handy too.
I managed without a spring compressor using the bottle jack to slowly release the tension on the strut (and wind it back up again).
I used the webbing strap to pull the wishbone down against the tension in the bushes to be able to release the bottom ball joint, and likewise to slot it back into the new w/bone.

It's really not a complicated job - you just need to manage the tension in all the right places very carefully so you don't lose a fingernail (thick gloves help). Make sure you have the right socket sizes (18 and 22mm spring to mind)..

Seriously - there is a great 'how to' on here that one of the team has posted that claims about an hour all in..... hmm I allowed all day and was glad I did but that was more nerves than incompetance on my part I like to think :-)
The second one was definitely a lot quicker having mastered the technique of splitting the ball joint (socket extension bar and @*&king big hammer on just the right spot).

AS always - safety first. It's a very heavy car to drop in your lap. The front strut spring will bite you if it slips off anything you have holding it and you're in the way and worth having someone around nearby if you need them.

Chuffed to bits when I'd done it though - good luck.

cheers
Ian.

[Beavis]

Hi Ian, Thanks very much for the detailed response. i was originally going to just change the bushes, and hope i could get them out of the wishbone using a big vice and a couple of sockets to push them through (like i've seen in Wheeler Dealers). i'll weigh up the cost of wishbone + bushes v's bushes. I'll see if i can find the other "how to" you mentioned.

i'm fairly handy with a spanner, so wanted to give it a go myself, but the instructions on Vida make it sound a lot harder than what i thought it should be.

thanks

Stu

[Rockhopper]

FWIW - just had all 4 wishbone bushes changed on mine to try and cure a f/o/s knocking (which turned out to be knackered damper) - local indy swapped them out and said it was a bit of a pig to press them out/in and next time would suggest just a full wishbone replacement.

[Beavis]

Many thanks Rockhopper. I will weigh up cost v's time/motion/hassle.

[greenfingers]

By the time you have removed the wishbone, surely it would be simpler to just replace the whole assembly than to then try and remove and replace the front bush?
I remember the trouble I went to grinding off the rivets on one my van's ball joints, so I could save 40 quid in parts rather than replace the whole wishbone.
If I remember correctly, the XC90 wishbone was only about 80 quid all in, and the bush would cost over 30 on it's own.
However, you may feel a gain from enduring the pain!

[Beavis]

Originally Posted by greenfingers

By the time you have removed the wishbone, surely it would be simpler to just replace the whole assembly than to then try and remove and replace the front bush?
I remember the trouble I went to grinding off the rivets on one my van's ball joints, so I could save 40 quid in parts rather than replace the whole wishbone.
If I remember correctly, the XC90 wishbone was only about 80 quid all in, and the bush would cost over 30 on it's own.
However, you may feel a gain from enduring the pain!

you're right. i was expecting about £20 per bush, so i was going to do 4 bushes and 1 ball joint, but i've just been quoted £197 (from FRF) all in for 4 bushes and a ball joint (which was £47) so will now cost up the complete wishbone, which i've seen on ebay for about £70 for a patent part.

if i could have saved a chunk on just replacing the bushes i would have considered it.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by StuT4

you're right. i was expecting about £20 per bush, so i was going to do 4 bushes and 1 ball joint, but i've just been quoted £197 (from FRF) all in for 4 bushes and a ball joint (which was £47) so will now cost up the complete wishbone, which i've seen on ebay for about £70 for a patent part.

if i could have saved a chunk on just replacing the bushes i would have considered it.

Be carefull before you buy. Non Volvo suspension parts have caused steering issues and ended up being replaced with the real deal. Give the forum a chance to respond more fully before you buy.

[Beavis]

cheers Roy, as the estimated cost is now over £100 regardless of if i do just bushes or the entire wishbone, i'll now wait a few months and see what more i can find out about those patent ones. i was hoping to get a "cheap" repair done over spring.

the bushes are not dangerous, just a recent MOT advisory on the front wheel, rear bushes, and i was going to do them as i was going to get a 4 wheel alignment done, but i'll put both on hold now as its a bit more than i was wanting to pay.

i'll probably go volvo parts anyway - as a car of that size needs good parts, and the quality of volvos part is usually superior to patent parts.

[bullseal]

I have to echo Roy's comment...definitely use Volvo parts. I made the mistake of using front suspension arms from Euro car parts on my 03 XC90....frightening !!!
Soon had them changed to Volvo parts.

Tony