I keep hitting dead ends when trying to get the proper part for my car. It's a 1992 240 wagon with ABS. As for the recent history: I took it in to Firestone 4 weeks ago for repairs:front end ball joint/sway bar, rotors/calipers/pads, alignment, tires/balancing. (Deep down I think I knew better than to go there, but we live so far from my Volvo mechanic now and choices were more limited.)

So, this past week I started hearing a groan of sorts, higher pitched. Whenever going from 10-40 mph I would hear it. Over 40 it would stop. Whenever I put pressure on the brakes, it would stop, but would start up again when taking the pressure off.

I took it back up to Firestone Friday to see what was up with it. They came back with, "I have bad news....." Apparently the spindle is stripped and the part is discontinued. They refused to let me drive it home, calling it "a death trap", but ate the towing cost to get it back to my house.

The first question I have with this is whether or not they would have had a need to get into the hub and spindle in any way when changing out the ball joints and sway bars? They take no responsibility for it, saying it's not something they would have found when doing the recent repairs, but the timing seems too coincidental.

My other question is if anyone knows of anywhere or anyone who may have a suitable spindle and hub for sale? Our mobile mechanic has been scouring the yards here in Memphis, but with it being an ABS we're so limited on which years we can pull from.

Hopefully I was coherent in trying to explain the situation. It's been a rough two days trying to deal with everything and figure out how I'm going to get to work and school until we can find the part, if ever. Back and forth about whether or not to give up on my little tank and be stuck eating the previous repairs costs. Soooooo tired, confused, and frustrated right now, so any suggestions or assistance is greatly appreciated.

I did take photographs of everything when our mechanic was in there checking it out, if it helps to post any of them.

 

Google: voluparts. They are a salvage yard in Georgia,and may have a used one. I found a discontinued input shaft for my transmission there. What do the wheel bearings look like,is the grease dried up and the bearings dis colored and burned ?

 

I would never *ever* take any of my cars to a franchise place like that.

 

find a independent who works on european cars like volvos, TOW the car there if you have to, and have that guy determine whats wrong with this spindle.

they could have tightened the wheel bearing when they did the ball joints, which would make it fail shortly thereafter. you'll never prove it.

here's the front strut and stuff, shows the spindle. not sure, but I think the spindle is part of the spring strut, part [17]

http://www.volvopartswebstore.com/sh...roduct=1145916

 

I would check with RSPI, he has helped me out with used parts and gets my recommendation.

 

Thanks so much for the referral of Voluparts, they were awesome and got the strut assembly to us yesterday. It was installed this morning and I'm back on the road!

I can't thank you guys enough for all your help and I have no doubt I'll be needing advice in the future, given the age of my car. But for now, I wanted to say how happy it makes me to have my red tank back again.

THANK YOU!