Piston Slap: Butt Draggin' Bushings?

by Sajeev Mehta

Updated: May 16th, 2014 Published: August 29th, 2012

Craig writes:

My daily driver for a while has been a 1988 Volvo 240 sedan with about 100K miles. I do have some nagging maintenance issues I need to address when the weather warms up.

The main one is the suspension bushing, specifically the trailing arms. The car sits a little ass-low, and it gets worse if I put a lot of weight in the trunk. I have read that this is from the bushings, not the springs and also that they are a bitch to change. It this a doable repair for a home mechanic? In the last few years I’ve replaced the master cylinder, water pump, and my proudest moment took my broken wiper motor, another broken one from the junkyard and McGuivered the two together into a functional motor.

Thanks, Craig.

(the 240 is the Swedish Panther)

Sajeev answers:

The 240 (or 940, according to the B&B’s Volvo experts) is indeed the Swedish Panther! Who-hoo, thanks for making that connection for all of us!

I was surprised to see a control arm bushing causing the sag you described but–according to Google–it is possible! At the ripe old age of 24, do a visual on all of your bushings. Consider replacing ’em all. This is certainly labor intensive compared to your previous projects, but this website looks like a great big help.

With the age and low mileage in mind, quite honestly, it’s time for new shocks, springs and a lot of new rubber bushings. They are all toast: go do ’em all. Also consider replacing entire control arm assemblies to get new bushings in the process with less labor involved. I suspect the aftermarket for 240s can make that happen easily, and it might be worth it to you. So consider it, cost-benefit analysis style.

For what its worth, I have my independent mechanic do jobs like this. It’s too much time for me, and my shop is worth every penny in labor cost. And I’ll do it all over again, 15-20 years from now, if needed!

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.

#240 #ControlArmBushing #Sag #Springs #Volvo

Sajeev Mehta

More by Sajeev Mehta

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 24 comments

Ryoku75 on Aug 29, 2012

So from the comments that I've read here, Volvos are tough cars but parts cost alot. I've been looking for a decent Volvo for a good while but the parts prices and their many "quirky" habits have always worried me. This would explain why I'd see 2 or 3 at junkyards on a usualy basis, thats probably a better place to get my parts.

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- Krhodes1 on Aug 29, 2012
  
  No, the parts are not particularly expensive, and compared to the Germans there are not that many of them. A RWD Volvo will tolerate an amazing amount of abuse, but many mechanics seem to see anything European as an excuse to abuse the owner.
  
  Like
- Ryoku75 on Aug 29, 2012
  
  @krhodes1 Actual parts or Fords cheapo junk? I'm looking to get a decent low mileage 240, I need to know what to expect as far as parts costs and gas mileage on regular gas. I don't drive hard (except for on occasions), and I try to maintain my cars by the book. I would buy a 700-900 series, but the 240 I've found is the better deal.
  
  Like
George Herbert on Aug 30, 2012

My parents drove a 145 wagon to about 350k miles with IDP suspension parts and ugprades, then a 245 to about 300k if I recall right. This was some time ago.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Ltcmgm78 Just what we need to do: add more EVs that require a charging station! We own a Volt. We charge at home. We bought the Volt off-lease. We're retired and can do all our daily errands without burning any gasoline. For us this works, but we no longer have a work commute.
Michael S6 Given the choice between the Hornet R/T and the Alfa, I'd pick an Uber.
Michael S6 Nissan seems to be doing well at the low end of the market with their small cars and cuv. Competitiveness evaporates as you move up to larger size cars and suvs.
Cprescott As long as they infest their products with CVT's, there is no reason to buy their products. Nissan's execution of CVT's is lackluster on a good day - not dependable and bad in experience of use. The brand has become like Mitsubishi - will sell to anyone with a pulse to get financed.
Lorenzo I'd like to believe, I want to believe, having had good FoMoCo vehicles - my aunt's old 1956 Fairlane, 1963 Falcon, 1968 Montego - but if Jim Farley is saying it, I can't believe it. It's been said that he goes with whatever the last person he talked to suggested. That's not the kind of guy you want running a $180 billion dollar company.