I had a loud clunk in the frontend. Went to the dealer and was told 1 strut and the bushing were bad, $900. Replaced the "A" arms($95 x 2, with new bushings pressed in from Groton), the car felt tighter but the clunk was still there. Was getting ready to do the strut and decided to try disconnecting the sway bar link, no more clunk. Dealer wanted $90 for 1 link, Gronton $25. Ordered the part, replaced the sway bar link, 20 minutes and no more clunk, $685 saved.

I'm not going to ask the dealer anymore.
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'96 965 165,000+

Yep, those sway-bar links are a weak link! I've replaced several and their life seems highly variable. I instantly recognize the rattle now and keep a spare link on hand. With the car on ramps it takes about 10 minutes to change one and make the car as quiet as new again. I've even been thinking about how I could design a better one using MIL-spec rod ends or???????????
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'96 965, 16' wheels, Michelin Pilot Sports, rear 18mm bar + Koni, 201 HP cams, 130K. Put 200K on '85 745 TD.

At the beginig of spring, I went with my son's Boy Scout troop for a camporee, was with them for Thursday, Friday,came back early Sat, morning. I was laying on the couch and the wife came by looked at me a said don't you ever do anything around here? With that I went to the car port, jacked up the 960, replaced the lower control arms, tie rod ends ball joints and sway bar links. All of the parts were from Grottens. I was just about finished when the wife walked up and looked at me while I was underneath the car and stated this is not what she ment.
Figured the parts if purchased from a Volvo dealer would cost almost a grand and with thier labor, well I'm very well pleased with the parts and the ride is very stabil again.
It's a shame the dealerships that do a few things like this to thier customers ruin the good dealerships that are out there.
Poolman

Funny quote from your wife. I get that every so often, too. Though I must say that my wife's pretty understanding. I remind her that I just mowed the lan in 90-degree weather, and so had to vacuum and clean house in the air conditioning. Granted, i prefer power tools to housework, so it all comes out even in the end. I happen to love the feeling of doing a brake job on the car and telling the wife that I just saved the family a couple hundred dollars.

I tell my wife the same thing about saving money any time that I do a repair like that: She reminds me with how much money she saves me when she's shopping.
I like to sit around after words and dribbel my lower lip with my finger while mumbeling.
Poolman