I have a 1996 volvo 850 SE wagon. The mild knocking noise at the front was recently diagnosed by my local Volvo repairer as "perished rubber bushes on the front sway bar". I was then advised that on this particular model you cannot just replace the bushes, you need to buy a whole new swaybar.

So instead of it being a $AUS 50 + labour job, it becomes $AUS 450 + labour job.

Is this correct? Something tells me I have not been presented my full range of options by the dealer.

Tim

Many places would rather replace the entire bar as the bushings are "fused" onto it, but in truth, there is a sleave around the bushing that bolts onto your subframe. The sleave can be tightened around a new bushing enough that you don't need to replace the entire bar. You will find the sway bar bushing on this page from fcpgroton for as low as $5.00: http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo850suspension.htm If you've upgraded your swaybars to something larger, then call IPD for them. Their number is 800-444-6473. I highly recommend the urethane ones as they last longer than rubber...as your mechanic properly said, the rubber bushing expired. BTW, a note that may be important for you. Even if the swaybar bushing was bad, many irregular sounds that come from the swaybar are not the bushing, but the end-links. Make sure your mechanic takes them off and checks them too. If you have over 60K miles on your car, you'll want to replace these anyway. Otherwise you'll be doing it in the near future too. If you've upgraded your swaybars, then I would either buy the IPD Heavy Duty end-links or go over to www.volvospeed.com and look for a guy called "Slater" and buy the end-links he has manufactured. Good luck!
Regards,
MIJ
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

I would be most suprised if the bar bushings had gone before the end links.

The end links are very DIY'able and are a few $ each...as they will have to come off to fit a new bar and would (i hope) be repalced as amatter of course i would get that done first and see if it cures the issue!