Suspension & maintenance
Q: My first question is about the suspension in my 2006 Volvo S60 D5 with approximately 65,000 miles. When the car was in for its MOT recently, the mechanic said the lower suspension arm bushes were showing signs of deterioration and should be replaced, at a cost of £400. When I returned home, I jacked up the car to have a look and although the bushes are wearing, they don’t seem to be any worse than the other bushes. There is a bit of movement in the arm, but only about 4-5mm – is this acceptable for the time being? If it isn’t acceptable, is the job do-able by someone with fairly limited experience of working on cars?
My second question regards maintenance. I would like to keep my S60 for as long as possible, so can you offer any advice on keeping it running well and whether this model has any common faults? I usually change the oil and filters every six months – is this too often? Is there any difference in the quality of oil brands or can I use anything as long as it’s the 0W-30 A5/B5 spec that Volvo recommends? Philip Balmer
A: Without checking the lower arm bushes, I can only comment using the information given. My first thought would be that if the vehicle didn’t fail the MOT, the bushes can’t be in a critical condition. I am assuming that, as the mechanic noted the problem, it has been listed as an advisory on the MOT sheet. Having said that, a small amount of movement of even 4-5mm will have an adverse effect on the steering of the vehicle.
The lower arms including the required bushes cost around £160 each. There are two bushes in each lower arm and individually these would be about £50 for the front and £35 for the rear, but would require fitting into the lower arm. The book time for replacing the lower arm is one hour and I would not consider attempting to replace the bushes yourself without suitable tools. After spending £320 on the arms themselves you may not consider the £80 saving over the garage’s quoted price as being worthwhile.
With regards oil, I personally use Castrol Edge in my vehicle, not only because of the advanced protection but also due to the friction-reducing qualities that improve the economy of the engine. Having said that, if the oil is to the A5/B5 specification required, it will provide adequate protection.
Changing the oil and filters every six months will certainly help keep the engine in top condition and is not overdoing it. The best way to ensure the vehicle continues running for many more miles is to deal with any potential problems as quickly as possible. Regular checks of the fluid levels will enable you to spot if any potential problems are looming.