Hi,I'm trying to find out what the noises are/what needs to be fixed:
1. At low speeds (residential area) i hear a noise on-and off, driver side, sounds like a branch is stuck in the wheel well. Road surface = smooth.

2. going over a speed bumb (or normal road bumbs or cracks), front and back (I think), sounds like I went over something hard or as if there was a pot hole.

I went under front to look around and saw some type of bushing (rubber on cylinderal tube) maybe 2-3" long that had some rubber left on it but was mostly torn off. One on each side. Ok, so i'm sure that's part of it but any ideas what else is messedup? Also, do you think this is a volvo dealer repair (i hope not as they will try to sell me a whole new car) or if this is the type of thing an independant can pull apart and replace? Thanks for any help.

From your description, it appears that both strut mount bushings are gone. Depending on the mileage, it is probably a good time to also replace the struts - same labor to do both. Also check if the sway bar endlinks are loose and in need of replacement - just grab one of them and try to shake it, if it moves, replace them.

Klaus
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Just driving a 1998 V70R :)

thanks for the reply. if the end links, you refer to, are the 2" ruber -on-steel cylinders, yes they move back and forth and the rubber is mostly rubbed/torn off. Just to get things started, can i just buy these and do the replacement or does it come with the swy bar. Yes, i can handle mechnical fixes but i have never worked on this type. As you can tell, i don't even know the names of the parts. I was looking for a diagram prior so that i could better describe things... Please let me know. fyi, mileage: 95k and car running well otherwise - trying to not have to replace the car yet... Thanks.

The sway bar itself will live the life of the car, unless bent in an accident.
The endlinks can be replaced easily, DIY, without compromising anything else. They usually rattle a lot when worn out. They look like this:

http://catalog.autohausaz.com/autohausaz/image.jsp?title=Sway%20Bar%20Link&url=http%3A//img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/L1030150540LEM.JPG


The strut mount bushing requires a strut spring compressor and an alignment after replacing the bushing.

You could have a shop give you an estimate and a parts list. They will want at least $1,000 to do the complete job, including replacing struts. After only 93K miles, your struts should be OK, unless you live downtown NYC or Boston and frequent those pot holes :)

Klaus

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Just driving a 1998 V70R :)

At least one of the bad parts is #7 in this diagram: www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-S80-1999-2006/Suspension-&-Steering/Front-Suspension-Parts/p-76-582-3133/

rubbed down to the steel on both sides. I agree re. the strut mount bushing, i had that problem before. I also think there is some type of bushing on which the engine itself sits which was replaced before. need to ck.ld bills. I'll have the independant drive it around the block so they can hear the concert and figure it out, i hope. Thanks for the help.