| Time to Replace Those Suspension Components?
Your Volvo (like any other car) is a collection of related components that make up a whole. If one part, or one system of parts, becomes worn, two things will happen.
First, your driving experience will degrade. You might hear new noises, experience a loose feel, or have a hard time driving a straight line. Regular wear and tear comes on slowly, so it’s easy to procrastinate this kind of maintenance. Second, other components will wear out more rapidly - and this can lead to more repairs down the road. For example, if your shocks are worn out and aren’t able to keep your tires firmly on the ground, the tires will wear more quickly. If your ball joints, suspension bushings or steering parts are worn, the suspension geometry will be incorrect and again, your tires wear more quickly than they should. The quick and dirty field test for the steering parts is to have an assistant lightly rock the steering wheel back and forth while you look at the tie rods and drag link. If you can see slop, replace the offending parts immediately. The Haynes manual covers the method for checking the balljoints. Suspension bushings often crack and dry out with age; by the time you can see it, they’re already gone. Bushing repairs are among the easiest to overlook, as you can usually still drive with worn out parts - but the driving experience will be dramatically improved with fresh pieces. If you have questions about how best to proceed, give us a call - our reps are familiar with your suspension and steering systems and can offer the information you need to get back on the road safely. | 
