Reasons Behind Suspension Bushing Failure in a Volvo
by europewpadmin May 5, 2020As the owner of a Volvo, you expect your vehicle to fulfill its promises of lavish comfort, deft precision, and revolutionary performance. The suspension bushings in your Volvo play a tantamount role in providing a smooth ride that is both secure and enjoyable. However, like all other vehicle components, the suspension bushings experience normal wear as time goes on. When this happens, you will begin to notice changes in the driving quality of your vehicle, and you will want to have the suspension bushings replaced.
In this article, we will discuss suspension bushings in more detail, explain why your Volvo may be experiencing suspension bushing failure, and what you can do about it.
What are suspension bushings?
Commonly made of rubber or polyurethane, suspension bushings are an important feature of your car’s suspension system. Suspension bushings are mounted on various other parts of the suspension system, including the shock absorbers, control arms, trailing arms, springs, and sway bars. They are also attached to the steering joints in your Volvo. The primary purpose of suspension bushings is to absorb the shocks and vibrations that are caused during driving. In addition, they also help to hold your car’s suspension in place.
As the suspension bushings wear out or experience substantial damage, their ability to act as a buffer against vibrations significantly decreases. This noticeably impacts the overall comfort of your ride. While the rate at which you should replace the suspension bushings mostly relies on how fast they wear out, Volvo recommends that they be replaced every 100,000 miles or so.
Signs of Suspension Bushing Failure
Since suspension bushings are essential to a smooth, comfortable ride and because they protect your car’s suspension system from excessive wear, it’s important to pay careful attention to any of these signs of suspension bushing failure:
- excessive rattling or squeaking noise when driving over a rough patch of road
- clunking sound when trying to turn or brake
- steering is either significantly easier or harder than normal
- noticeable shaking or trembling coming from the front of the vehicle
- abnormal or uneven tire wear
If you notice any of these signs, you should have the issue diagnosed as soon as possible to determine if it is suspension bushing failure. Once diagnosed, the problem can be properly fixed before any further damage is caused.
Common Reasons Suspension Bushings Fail
As we mentioned above, suspension bushings become worn, just like every other part of your vehicle. Furthermore, because the suspension bushings function under an intense amount of pressure, they tend to experience more wear than other components of your Volvo’s suspension system. In addition to normal wear, there are several other factors that could influence the speed at which the suspension bushings deteriorate.
Rough Road Conditions
Because the suspension bushings are responsible for absorbing the shocks that your Volvo experiences, the state of the roads you are driving on can quickly wear out the suspension bushings. In particular, if you drive on an unpaved road or a street with a lot of potholes, the suspension bushings will have to work harder to absorb the consequent vibrations.
Corrosive Fluid Leaks
Oil and fluid leaks can be detrimental to the condition of your car’s suspension bushings. Rubber bushings must stay dry in order to function properly. If your Volvo is leaking onto the suspension bushings, the oil or fluids can be corrosive and cause significant damage.
Exposure to Elements
When suspension bushings are exposed to extreme amounts of heat or cold, they can deteriorate faster. In addition, dirt and debris can find their way inside the suspension bushings, wearing them down and causing them to crack.
European Auto Tech is Here to Help
At European Auto Tech, our expert technicians 
pride themselves on providing the quality service that both you and your Volvo expect. In addition to Volvo, we specialize in maintaining and repairing other luxury European vehicles including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche, and more.
If you live in or around Allen, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, Highland Park, McKinney, Park Cities, Richardson, Southlake, University Park, or Plano, TX, call us today to set up an appointment or if you would like more information about the services we offer.