The anti-roll bar links on the Volvo S60 wear out early and cause annoying creaking and knocking noises on speed bumps and uneven road surfaces. This problem is often accompanied by wear to the bushes and mounts, which noticeably worsens your road holding and driving comfort. Do you recognise these signs? Then it is time to take action.
What exactly does the anti-roll bar link do?
The anti-roll bar link connects the left and right sides of your suspension. Thanks to this connection, your car remains stable in corners and over uneven road surfaces. When the link or the associated joints wear, you notice it straight away in the way the car drives. The Volvo S60 is known for its solid road holding, but even on this model the anti-roll bar links are prone to wear.
When wear occurs, play develops in the connection between the drop link and the suspension. This free play leads to noise and can eventually affect the stability of your car. It is wise to have the suspension checked as soon as you notice the first signs.
Typical signs of worn anti-roll bar links
There are various symptoms that point to worn anti-roll bar links on your Volvo S60. These signs usually build up gradually and become more obvious as the wear increases.
- Knocking or rattling noises from underneath the car, especially at low speed
- Clicking noises when steering or driving over speed bumps
- Audible noises on poor road surfaces or over bumps
- Play in the drop link when inspected
- Visibly worn rubber bushes or damaged joints
Owners of the Volvo S60 regularly report on forums that their car starts to rattle more and more as the anti-roll bar links wear. These complaints match the known wear pattern of this model. The noises are often clearly audible before you actually feel anything in the steering.
When should you replace the anti-roll bar links on the Volvo S60?
The right time to replace them depends on your driving style and the condition of the roads you drive on. With lots of town driving, speed bumps and poor roads, the load on the drop links increases. Wear can then occur more quickly than if you mainly drive on motorways.
If you hear knocking noises over speed bumps or bumps, that is a clear sign. Have the anti-roll bar links checked promptly. If you wait too long, the play can increase and driving comfort will deteriorate further. During inspection it is important not only to look at the link itself, but also at the bushes and mounts on both sides.
On older S60 models or cars with high mileage, periodic checks are worthwhile. This is especially true if you notice that your car feels less taut in corners or becomes unsettled on uneven surfaces. A small amount of play develops into intrusive noises and less predictable handling.
Solving a creaking anti-roll bar on the Volvo S60
A creaking anti-roll bar is usually the result of worn bushes or damaged joints. The solution is to replace the worn parts. That may be the drop link itself, but often it is the rubber bushes that are no longer doing their job properly.
Jack the car up safely and check whether there is any play in the joints. Check the anti-roll bar bushes at the same time, as these are often the main cause. Clean the mounting points before fitting the new parts so that corrosion or dirt is not mistaken for a poor fit.
When replacing anti-roll bar links, follow these steps:
- Support the car safely and remove the wheel
- Remove the old drop link and clean the mounting faces
- Fit the new link and tighten the fixings to 50 Nm torque
- Tighten the wheel bolts diagonally to 140 Nm
- After the first drive, check again for noises or play
If one side is worn, consider replacing both sides at the same time. This keeps the suspension working evenly and prevents the other side failing shortly afterwards. On older Volvo S60 models, loosening parts can sometimes be tricky due to limited space around the subframe and suspension.
Buying inexpensive anti-roll bar links for the Volvo S60
Anti-roll bar links are available from various suppliers. The price varies depending on brand and quality. Cheaper alternatives are available, but bear in mind the differences in quality. Some aftermarket parts wear out more quickly than original components.
When choosing new parts, pay attention to the following points:
- Check that the links are specifically suited to your model year and engine type
- Ideally replace the bushes and rubbers at the same time
- Choose parts that come with a warranty
- Compare prices, but balance this against quality and service life
When replacing the anti-roll bar links, it is also sensible to check the surrounding suspension components. Control arms, top mounts and other rubbers may also be worn. A thorough inspection prevents you from hearing new noises shortly after the repair that turn out to come from another part.
Maintaining stability and comfort
The Volvo S60 combines comfort with solid suspension. By acting in good time when the anti-roll bar links start to wear, you preserve that comfort. If you ignore the signs, the noises will increase and the handling will become less predictable.
Do you recognise these issues? Then schedule an inspection. A mechanic can quickly determine whether the drop links or bushes are worn. Replacement is relatively straightforward and prevents small problems growing into major faults. Make sure you stick to the correct maintenance intervals, especially with intensive use or on poor roads.
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Frequently asked questions
Typical signs of wear on the anti-roll bar links of a Volvo S60 are knocking, rattling or ticking noises from the front or rear suspension, especially at low speed over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces. The car may also start to “rattle” more and feel less taut or stable in corners. These noises often increase gradually as the play in the drop links and/or anti-roll bar bushes becomes greater.
The most common causes of wear on the anti-roll bar links of Volvo S60 models are prolonged stress from driving over speed bumps and poor road surfaces, which causes play in the joints and ball ends. In addition, the rubber bushes and dust covers age and crack, allowing dirt and moisture to enter and accelerating wear. High mileage and frequent driving with a heavy load also increase the forces on the links and joints. Finally, rust on mounting points and bolts can contribute to accelerated wear or play.
Wear on the anti-roll bar links usually first causes your Volvo S60 to make more knocking or rattling noises, especially on poor road surfaces or over speed bumps. As the play increases, the road holding becomes less precise and the car may lean more in corners, which reduces driving comfort. In extreme cases the anti-roll bar can hardly do its job, meaning the car responds less stably during evasive manoeuvres or emergencies. Timely replacement restores predictable handling and reduces the risk of unexpected reactions from the suspension.
With worn anti-roll bar links on a Volvo S60, replacement of the drop links (often on both sides at once) is the usual solution; sometimes the anti-roll bar bushes are replaced at the same time. In practice, the existing links themselves are rarely repaired, because the joints and rubbers are integrated and cannot be refurbished reliably. If you have this done by a garage, you can roughly expect to pay for parts plus labour, with the total usually coming to a few hundred euros, depending on the brand of parts and hourly rate. Ask for a detailed quote in advance so you can see exactly what is included in parts and labour.
Yes, there are performance anti-roll bar links and bushes (for example with stiffer rubbers or polyurethane bushes) that make the road holding more precise and thereby improve driving behaviour. When replacing, choose quality brands and, ideally, replace the anti-roll bar bushes and related rubbers at the same time so everything works as one unit. Ensure correct installation with the proper torque setting and, if necessary, have the alignment checked to prevent overloading and premature wear. Regular visual inspection for play and cracked rubbers helps further extend the service life.