Over the last 18 months I have replaced the following:
Front strut cartridges, ball joints, strut bearings, and related parts as well as rear shocks (done about three or four months into ownership). More recently the cone bushings on the front control arms as well as the stabilizer links and their bushings. About a week or two ago I replaced the steering rack (I didn't much like the way the left front heel was trying to leave the vehicle by it's frantic left-right gyrations at 65+ mph). Had the new tires put on at Costco last week (great sale on Bridgestones- saved $80!) and then the front end aligned (all that was needed was toe-in adjustment).
I have had the opportunity to drive the car on one of our twistier roads over the weekend and must say that the thing is handling like it should now. I am glad I am older (wiser [and wise enough to know, a bit slower] {and too poor to pay for the consequences}) because this thing sticks in corners now like a race car. For a station wagon (estate) it handles way too good! At speeds that would have had most passengers wetting themselves (I was alone) I didn't even hear a single squeal from the tires.
I can say that, based on my experience, if your Volvo of the same era/design is handling poorly with symptoms that may include:
- chattering of wheels when anti-lock brakes are brought into play
- vibration in wheel that increases with speed
- knocking sounds from front on rough or dirt roads
- body lean in corners
- dead spots in steering when apexing a corner (a slight wheel movement in one small area does nothing to correct direction)
- Front end pitching down when braking
- Car does not sit level from front to back or left to right
- Has around 110,000 or more miles without the above-mentioned work having been done It is time to look into the replacement of some parts.
I am glad these cars are so relatively easy to work on. After replacing the entire firnt differential on my '74 Ford pickup truck (alone in the gravel of my driveway) it was certainly a pleasureable experience to do the work on the 960.
Hope you are reading this, Rob. G! A VW!? Ughhh..... BTDT (had 3 back when), and never again!
__ __ Randy & \ \/ /alerie's \__/olvo '93 960 Estate