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Bilstein A-Arms


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Well I was in jam and not knowing about DW last year, I went with the Bilstein A-Arms.

I didn't save too much, I had to replace them.

Car has 203K miles on the clock front suspension hasn't been replaced.

I decided to over haul the whole thing even to stock A-Arms.

I'm glad I bought the stock A-Arms, I didn't think I really needed them till took out the Bilstein's.

No wonder why my left side while turning had a squeak, I thought it would of been a strut bearing.

That's because I had a gash in the left boot.

There's my demise, and this is why we only buy stock suspension components, except for springs and struts to those that apply.

Mind you. These A-Arms only have 14K miles and they are a year old. <_<

Giant gash in the left side.

This made my failing suspension have more of a hollow clunk to it.

gash.jpg

Dimples in the right. Starting to go south.

dimples.jpg

Rusty.. plain crap!

rustyo.jpg

For 20 bucks more get stock ones.

I learned my lesson. :monkey:

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Well,

I don't Blame you, Febi is cheaper than Lemforder.

http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartsResults.aspx

Febi-Bilstein Control Arm is $90 while Genuine Volvo (made by Lemforder) Control Arm is $150.

May be cheaper at Darrel Waltrip Volvo.

Online Volvo Site (This is a Volvo dealer in Texas) is $130:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=213784

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Dimples in the right. Starting to go south.

dimples.jpg

the left side looks like maybe the boot failed

but those "dimples" on the right are obviously damage from a wrench or channel locks or a pry bar etc - no grease boot is going to stand up to that. Whoever worked on that side of the car last, don't go back there cuz that will ruin your new Volvo parts just as fast.

the left side looks like maybe the boot failed

but those "dimples" on the right are obviously damage from a wrench or channel locks or a pry bar etc - no grease boot is going to stand up to that. Whoever worked on that side of the car last, don't go back there cuz that will ruin your new Volvo parts just as fast.

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Indeed the boot failed. That's because their made from inferior components.

I do all my own work. Channel locks? na. It didn't need much to pop from the spindle.

I just ordered the whole suspension from DW Their A-Arms are $104.

I did a search of all the components I'd needed on-line first, this includes Eeuroparts and FCP.

They can't come close to DW for genuine. The only thing that you could get cheaper is the strut bearing,

which is why there's a negative number in savings. For my self I was one stop shop & 18 bucks for shipping 49 lbs. not bad.

Total savings is $200.

Parts for a 98S70

susv.jpg

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great shopping list, looks like the front end is going to get the full rebuild.

that Eeuro strut mount is probably not Volvo anyway, right?

a lot of that hardware on top (cross-shaped nut, washer etc) there is no reason to replace unless it is really trashed or you want the shininess. 30 bucks is 30 bucks.

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I am surprised Febi-Bilstein Control Arms fail too soon in one year. You expect this from Scan-Tech but not from Febi-Bilstein.

Rubber BOOT failure is from (just a generic list, not blaming anyone):

1. Poor quality.

2. Improper installation.

3. Improper removal.

4. Road debris.

Anyway, make sure you treat the new control arms with TLC.

For those with Rubber Boot Tear, an INEXPENSIVE option is "Energy Suspension" Boots IF the Tear is detected early on:

http://www.energysuspension.com/products/Tie-Rod-Ball-Joint-Boots.html

I used these "Energy Suspension" Boots in my 1983 BMW 735i and it worked fine. Just grease the joints well when installing new Rubber Boot.

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great shopping list, looks like the front end is going to get the full rebuild.

that Eeuro strut mount is probably not Volvo anyway, right?

a lot of that hardware on top (cross-shaped nut, washer etc) there is no reason to replace unless it is really trashed or you want the shininess. 30 bucks is 30 bucks.

Your correct, I'd like to replace everything. In the event of oxidized hardware and tired threads.

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