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control arm play 850 1994

posted by  timc on  Sun Jul 23 13:15 CST 2006
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last visit: Tue Jul 22 16:24 CST 2014
[RELATED]

My right lower control arm has got some play in it. The indie mechanic who had it up in the air recently on another issue, recommended a whole new control arm (of course !). Left side seems snug.

How can I tell whether the whole arm has to go, or whether simply putting new bushings in it would do ? I haven't measured the play, but it doesn't seem excessive.



'95 964/'94 854 (162K)/'80 242GT

Gone but not forgotten:
'89 744/'80 242GT (Bertone Red !)








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    control arm play 850 1994

    posted by  someone claiming to be bl on  Mon Jul 24 10:04 CST 2006 [RELATED]



    You can jack it up so the wheel is hanging with load off. Take a long pry bar and apply pressure in various spots. You should be able to find the loosness. Check groton for the parts/prices. New bushings will run you about $17. if in an area they can be replaced. SOme front end parts on the 850 are replace only as in the bushings/ball joints that come already pressed into the new unit.








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    control arm play 850 1994

    posted by  dick on  Mon Jul 24 08:08 CST 2006
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    last visit: Sun Aug 3 15:24 CST 2014
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    Replace it. It also will effect how your car trails when braking. Did one on an 855 wagon (94) this spring. Easy job, not too expensive, but as already said, you will need an alignment.

    dick








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      control arm play 850 1994

      posted by  timc on  Mon Jul 24 11:49 CST 2006
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      last visit: Tue Jul 22 16:24 CST 2014
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      I know which bushings are bad -- it's the ones holding the control arm to the frame at the inner end of the control arm. One bushing toward the front of the car and one toward the rear. I grab the rotor at 3 and 9 and move it side to side, and I see play in both the front and back control arm bushing. No such play in the LH control arm bushings.

      What I'm saying is, assuming these are replaceable by themselves (which I believe they are), any risk in just swapping out bushings as opposed to doing a whole control arm ? I don't want to eat a whole control arm if just 2 new bushings will take care of the problem.








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    control arm play 850 1994

    posted by  someone claiming to be ksg on  Mon Jul 24 06:33 CST 2006 [RELATED]

    The tech probably meant ball joint play - on all but early production 850s with aluminum control arms, the ball joint and control arm (steel) are one piece as on many cars.

    I think this is a zero tolerance situation and would not wait to replace it.








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      control arm play 850 1994

      posted by  Champ 6 on  Mon Jul 24 07:44 CST 2006
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      last visit: Sat Sep 18 10:02 CST 2010
      [RELATED]

      You are correct. I just did this on my 850, and I beleive the bushings are integral as well.

      Be certain to check on the prices for the parts, though most repair shops prefer to install parts from their own sources. I found the control arm prices to range from about $165 at my local foreign car parts store, to $145 from Volvo (30 miles away) to $65 from FCP Groton for genuine Volvo. Guess which I bought.

      If you have some repair experience, it's not a difficult job. I was suprised at how much easier it is than on any other car I've fixed. You'd need to have a professional alignment afterward. OTOH, since it's not difficult, a reputable repair shop should not charge much to change it.








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        control arm play 850 1994

        posted by  ShadeTek on  Wed Jul 26 00:28 CST 2006
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        last visit: Tue Sep 17 10:26 CST 2013
        [RELATED]

        I had some brake pull recently which led me up the merry path untill I found it was the control arm bushes away. I'll try and post some images below of the arm.
        [img]http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~marsheil/DSC00386rs.JPG[/img]
        [img]http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~marsheil/DSC00387RS.JPG[/img]
        --
        Tek







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