Hello All,

So this is my first Volvo I have picked up as a third car to keep miles down on my other vehicles. It is a 2005 Volvo S40 2.4i with 144k. I paid a whopping 1.2K for the car from someone who was just looking to dump it, so now onto my issues.

Let me start by saying I am not unfamiliar with Swedish vehicles as I have owned roughly 6 saabs (brag incoming) one making in excess of 450whp, so I understand how these vehicles operate.

So I picked up the car and immediately knew I had some work to do. I have replaced both driver and passenger side inner tie rods, outer tie rods, and sway bar end links. After they were replaced I took the car to get an alignment and they keep telling me something is off on the passenger side and they cannot fix the toe, and to look into my shock assembly. Any help on where to look next would be a huge help.

 

How did they mean "something is off"? Not sure how the shock assembly would impact their ability to adjust the toe - usually a bent strut impacts caster or camber. I'd look for any signs of sub-frame damage and the control arms. Could it be possible you were sold the wrong tie rod parts (outers are PN 31201412/3 )? Maybe you need a new shop...

 

Regarding suspensions on these cars, the lower control arm bushings tend to go as do the strut mounts.

 

My mistake, I did not mean to write toe. It was camber that was the issue.

 

Yeah I plan on doing bushings next week. Any chance you have a part number for all of the bushings. And do you recommend changing front and rear bushings?

 

fronts take the beating... I'd start there. You can find the parts using a Volvo friendly web site like FCP Euro, EEuroparts, IPD (I've used all three) or you can go with the whole control arm with the bushings already pressed in - Tascaparts has the best prices I've found for Genuine Volvo.

 

Thanks MT I will order up the strut assembly and bushings for the front and start there.