I recently purchased a 94 960 wagon with 135K, and I am going through all of the maintenance items listed in the FAQ. I didn't see anything in there about replacing bushings/ball joints/wheel bearings. The car seems to ride and handle well, and I don't notice any clunks with the possible exception of going over a sharp bump at very low speed. Underneath the car looks OK, I can see no cracked bushings. The car needs to be safe since my pregnant wife is driving it. Questions:

How do I know when the bushings and/or the ball joints need to be replaced? I really have no point of reference since I just bought the car and it is my first Volvo.

The IPD mag has poly bushings, are these recommended over rubber ones?

Are there certain bushings that need to be replaced over others?

Is this something that a shade tree mechanic like me with a normal tool set (I don't own any special front end tools) can do?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

When the bushings start to go , you'll hear/feel vibration and/or ckunking while braking or going over bumps.

To check the ball joints and other steering linkage, get the car securly on jackstands with the front suspension hanging freely and get in there and feel each of the joints while having someone shake the tire back and forth, you'll be able to feeel any eexcess play.
watch and make sure that you don't mistake the whole assemble moving as free play.
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD