When a ball joint or tie rod begins to wear it will usually increase the amount of effort required to steer the car.
Once wear has started, these parts usually will deteriorate rapidly as the load generated by the suspension and transferred through the ball joints and tie rods is very great. Typically you will begin to notice some looseness in the steering or you may notice that your Volvo has a difficult time holding a straight line down the road.
Although the parts aren't terribly difficult to inspect, you should have a good workshop manual handy for reference. If you suspect you've got a problem in the front end, make a point of inspecting these parts soon.
Aftermarket parts are a reasonably priced and good alternative to OE products. We often supply aftermarket products in place of OE parts that are no longer available as well.
Some items will be better than stock or considered an upgrade from the OE design in the aftermarket brand.
Other items will work as a less expensive alternative to stock.
We will not sell a product that we do not believe in, so rest assured you are fine with the aftermarket brand in most applications!
If you have any questions, contact our customer service team to advise on the best aftermarket products for your Volvo.