8501995 Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 Hi,Today I brought my 1995 Volvo 850 to the dealer because they send me a letter concerning a recall for a possible leak in the gas tank or something.So I brought the car in for them to check this out and have the oil changed at the same time.The mechanic just called me saying that the stabilizer bar is broken in two....!He said it would cost around 500$ to repair it including parts and labour. Now that's a lot of money, so I told him not to do it.After looking a bit on the web (because I did not really know how a stabilizer bar worked or how it was installed) I figured its a metal bar connected to both side of the front suspension. I've seen installation guides for other brands of cars and it did not seem to hard to install.Am I wrong? Do you think installing it myself would be not too hard?How much would I need to pay for the part?Thanks a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r850glt Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 Hi,Do you need a stablizer link OR sway bar ?I might have spare one in my garageToday I brought my 1995 Volvo 850 to the dealer because they send me a letter concerning a recall for a possible leak in the gas tank or something.So I brought the car in for them to check this out and have the oil changed at the same time.The mechanic just called me saying that the stabilizer bar is broken in two....!He said it would cost around 500$ to repair it including parts and labour. Now that's a lot of money, so I told him not to do it.After looking a bit on the web (because I did not really know how a stabilizer bar worked or how it was installed) I figured its a metal bar connected to both side of the front suspension. I've seen installation guides for other brands of cars and it did not seem to hard to install.Am I wrong? Do you think installing it myself would be not too hard?How much would I need to pay for the part?Thanks a lot!← Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8501995 Posted March 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 What's the difference between a stabilizer link and a sway bar?I've been reading both on web site and I don't know what the difference is. The guy from the garage told me stabilizer bar is broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 What's the difference between a stabilizer link and a sway bar?I've been reading both on web site and I don't know what the difference is. The guy from the garage told me stabilizer bar is broken.←The stabilizer link is attached from your strut to your one end of your sway bar. A wimpy piece of metal compare to your sway bars. The sway bars are attached from both sides by the stabilizer links horizontally. Since your mechanic is asking for $500 I'm figuring he is talking about your sway bars unless he's taking you for a ride. If it's your sway bars I would recomend Ipd sway bars...lifetime guarentee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8501995 Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Hi,I have gotten the car back from the dealer and took a look under the car.Don't really like what I saw!Here are some pictures, the quality is not so good but it gives a good idea.http://www.ece.concordia.ca/~s_lemay/So looking into this, I thought I would be able to repair it myself. I think that by raising the car and removing both front wheels I'll be able to remove the bar. There are two "semi-circles" holding the bar near the frame, and then the bar is attached to the two arms with plastic bushings.So I'm thinking I would change the bar (obviously), the plastic bushings and the rollers on the frame.Can anyone tell me the parts I need for this?I am thinking right or is it harder than that to change?Thanks a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesoam Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 thats your front sway bar...the same happened to my rear sway after the koni install i say upgrade to the IPD's sway's and get the better handlingIPDand its on sale! :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kashif Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Before you start to think about doing this kind of a job, buy a haynes or chiltons repair manual for you car. If you going to do the front end it will require you to loosen the sub frame mount bolts, and lower the sub frame a little bit. For some that might be too much for them. If you are thinking about doing this go buy a torque wrench and a angle metre for this kind of job. I would also agree to buy IPD sway bars over the OEM volvo sway bars. Its 300 USD and you get both front and rear sway bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8501995 Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 I'd rather install something like the original. I don't race the car at all, I have been driving with a broken bar for god knows how long and I don't have problems.How much would be an original or near original bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kashif Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 I don't know how much the orginal costs, but upgrading Sway bars is not for racing only, they really help the car turn better. Actually if you bought the car from the dealer you could opt in for the sport trim that included bigger sway bars.You can ask around almost everyone love larger sway bars it does not effect the ride only turning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kashif Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Some one is selling his orginal sway bars on this site, go herehttp://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php?showtopic=18684Maybe it might be worth it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachnut Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Several people here have leftover stock sway bars after installing the IPD bars, myself included. PM me if you're interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8501995 Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 That could be a good idea!Only problem is I live in Montreal Canada, so shipping from Floride would be propably be a killer!Several people here have leftover stock sway bars after installing the IPD bars, myself included. PM me if you're interested.← Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeH Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 you should replace your sway bar end links since they look like they are in rough shape. They are fairly cheap. Did you notice alot of clunking or poor steering/bodyroll with that broken swaybar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeH Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 The shipping shouldnt be too bad. Around $40cad.But he can quote it for you through online methods.Also make sure the sender puts a small value on the commercial invoiceor else you'll pay like $70 to customsIts $20cad or less to import. $200usd to goto USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Only problem is I live in Montreal CanadaBut you have such nice restaurants!Seriously, the bar looks like it's solid. I thought the factory bars were hollow. Could it be an IPD bar - it looks kinda like mine? The other tipoff is that the IPD bars have poly bushings. IPD, I thought, warrants the bars for life. ("Plus if your safety anti-sway bar fails for any reason, at any time, due to defects in parts or workmanship, we will replace it free of charge. ") I've snapped my rear IPD bar and they sent me a replacement bar for free, no questions asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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