S60 servicing costs and finding a decent garage!

[vesparider]

Hi all!

My S60 probably needs drop links and bushings replaced front and rear.

How much should I expect to pay for this to be done? More importantly does anyone know of a good place to get this done in the west London area? I'm a student so I'm not keen on paying main dealer prices, but I would shell out if the place had a really good rep.

Thanks all!

[martinrpeachey]

The labor costs alone will be quite high, droplinks aren't too expensive (40 quid for the fronts in Mayle HD) bushes however, can be pricey as most places will want to replace the whole wishbone. If you know someone with a driveway and a fair set of tools, you'd be better off fitting powerflex bushes - fit and forget. Droplinks are easy enough.

Have a look round some of the dedicated Volvo forums (VPCUK, T5D5, Volvoforums, Volvotuning)
There's loads of how-to guides.

[norchi]

Braydon Motor Company in Downs Road, London E5, best non franchise business, by far in the London area....bit of a hike from west London, good specialist too here in Chesham where I live.

Otherwise go where many best informed and sensible owners go for the very best work at sensible prices...Tim Williams in Coalville, Leicester.

I can give you his.... or others contact details if you contact me [e-mail].

Don.

[solo2]

Not West London but seeing as you're in Kingston why not try GB Autos in North Cheam. They are a Volvo Specialist and well respected in the area.

[vesparider]

Thanks for the replys guys, that Specialist in Worcester Park looks ideal. Not too far away either.

I thought about Powerflex bushes, but I wonder will even the softest grade make the ride a bit harsher. Its a very wafty car as is...

[martinrpeachey]

vesparider said:

Thanks for the replys guys, that Specialist in Worcester Park looks ideal. Not too far away either.

I thought about Powerflex bushes, but I wonder will even the softest grade make the ride a bit harsher. Its a very wafty car as is...

Added harshness is a common fear but having had powerflex bushes everywhere for a couple of years now, I can happily say the only negative effect is a tiny (and I do mean tiny) amount of extra road noise. The positives however... sharper, more precise steering, more feedback through the steering wheel, reduced torque steer and a more positive feel to the car.

I did a how-to guide on vpcuk for fitting powerflex bushes, it's not difficult if you know what you're doing

[morgrp]

vesparider said:

Hi all!

My S60 probably needs drop links and bushings replaced front and rear.

How much should I expect to pay for this to be done? More importantly does anyone know of a good place to get this done in the west London area? I'm a student so I'm not keen on paying main dealer prices, but I would shell out if the place had a really good rep.

Thanks all!

Do you know which bushes are shot?

with front wishbones, as far as I am aware the bushes are non-replaceable so a complete wishbone is required. I have found in the past that genuine Volvo Wishbones are actually cheapest so check with you local dealer to compare part prices. Drop links are fairly easy to do - They cost about £15 each for non genuine and then about 30mins to an hour's labour to fit depending on the garage. You could do them yourself but really you'll need an impact wrench to remove them. Wishbones are again fairly straight forward with only seized bolts being the biggest ball ache to contend with, bear in mind with wishbone replacement you may want to factor in a front wheel alignment as changing can upset tracking. Rear bushes can be more complex but it depends on which ones are shot

[williredale]

I did my front drop links (first gen C70) without an impact wrench with the car on axle stands and me sat in the road. For a couple of days before I gave the bolts repeated thorough soaking in plus gas and then they came off with just a normal ratchet.

[vesparider]

Honestly, no I don't know at the moment exactly what needs doing. I'm putting the car up on the lift at uni on Thursday and I'll have a proper poke around under the car to see whats what.

I needed a car at short notice and this is what I ended up with, it didn't appear to be borked at the time but the more I look around the car the more it seems it hasn't been looked after at all. Now its 87,000 miles and 8 years old, I figure things are probably starting to wear out and I need to start thinking about repairing or replacing them.

[morgrp]

vesparider said:

Honestly, no I don't know at the moment exactly what needs doing. I'm putting the car up on the lift at uni on Thursday and I'll have a proper poke around under the car to see whats what.

I needed a car at short notice and this is what I ended up with, it didn't appear to be borked at the time but the more I look around the car the more it seems it hasn't been looked after at all. Now its 87,000 miles and 8 years old, I figure things are probably starting to wear out and I need to start thinking about repairing or replacing them.

I doubt its a lemon - all s60s are hard on their suspension and with the state of the roads these days I personally see suspension bushes and ball joints as effectively serviceable items - my C70 almost does a set of drop links a year now - has improved since I've started using motorways for my commute to work

[vesparider]

morgrp said:

I doubt its a lemon - all s60s are hard on their suspension and with the state of the roads these days I personally see suspension bushes and ball joints as effectively serviceable items - my C70 almost does a set of drop links a year now - has improved since I've started using motorways for my commute to work

Ah yeah I should have been a bit clearer, the engine seems to run and idle smoothly and the auto box is smooth(ish) so I don't think its going to throw a big bill at me. I'd just like to get it perfect if I can. A set of drop links a year though?! I knew S60s were hard on suspension before I bought it, but I didn't think they were that hard!

[rat840771]

Just ordered all of the cambelt parts from 'rufe' in Swansea for S60 2.4d:

£180 all in..quoted £90 plus vat for cambelt change...result!

also order oil, filter, air filter, sump plug bringing the total to £330 delivered so i think i have made a saving and Rufe is worth a call as you get massive discounts if you quote code C3 tel..[phone].

It was the oil that was expensive and they only got 10% discount 4 litres was £60!