While under my 1998 V70 XC recently, I discovered I need a new driver's side ball joint. Changing out the lower control arm looks easy enough (just soak the bolts with PB Blaster ahead of time). If you poke around for replacement control arms, you see many brands and many prices. I've seen URO, Mevotech, Lemforder, Beck/Arnley, and others. I know you get what you pay for, and I hate to do a job twice. Who makes the best front end replacement parts?
Your comments please...

Thanks.

 

Best to worse? I guess you have a lot of searching and reading ahead if you. The only true test would be to get 10 of these cars, install the different arms, line them up, and drive all of them 100,000 miles and check them for wear.

I would say OEM Volvo are good. I like Mayle, and a few others. I do my best NEVER to install anything URO or that is tagged Made In China.

The most important thing to do/remember is to pre-load the arm before torqueing down the frame bolts.

 

How do you preload a lower control arm before or during tightening?

Thanks.