All right people, looks like I managed to bend the front right A-arm. I really don't know how and when even though the wheel has been displaced an inch to the back of the car (there may be a possibility my girlfriend did it :-)) , I just noticed the car was heading right while I was trying to go forward ... Now the problem is that the replacement A-arm from Volvo is coming in two versions, regular or reinforced. As my dealer informed me the regular version was made essentially for the US market and the reinforced one for the non-US versions. I have the non-reinforced version even though my car was made for Europe. What does the reinforced version look like??? Does anyone have a picture of it???
And second, is there any problem if I run with a non reinforced A-arm on the left and a reinforced one on the right? I think there shouldn't be any, they are basically the same only the reinforced is tougher I guess.
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1991 Volvo 245; 1979 Volvo 244

do yourself a big favor, and find one used in the local wrecking yard, then you wont have to press the new bushing in the front. if you buy it new from volvo it comes without a bushing and its very difficult to press this bushing in. ive never had problems with used arms.

Just did it, thanks for the advice, its non-reinforced as my old one and it costed me 25 USD at my local Volvo junkyard, compared to the 200 USD the dealer was asking for the same version. The reinforced one was 260 USD... But I still think the bushing will need to come out. It's the original Volvo bushing and the rubber doesn't look very bad on the outside but the axle was sitting there in the junkyard under the sun for two or three years so I don't know if it's good anymore. The other bushings (the one in the back of the car and the one that links the A-arm to the stabilizer bar) are completely ruined. Any ideas how to test it?
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1991 Volvo 245; 1979 Volvo 244

that bushing doesnt stress much and if its intact and not broken, just leave it, definitely replace the big bushing in the removable plate though.they are commonly bad.and easy to replace.

Not to mention the wrecking yard version will be damn near free compared to dealership cost...