Worn control arms, especially the bushes and ball joints, can lead to unstable, wandering handling, particularly when braking and cornering, which reduces control over the car. In practice this can increase stopping distances and make it harder to carry out sudden evasive manoeuvres safely. The car may also pull to one side and steering behaviour can become unpredictable, increasing the risk of accidents. If you keep driving, components may fail further without warning, potentially creating immediately dangerous situations.
What options are there for replacing control arms on a Volvo S60, and what are the average costs?
On a Volvo S60, you can usually choose between replacing only the wear parts (rubber bushes/sleeves and ball joints) or fitting complete control arm assemblies, in either genuine Volvo quality or pattern/aftermarket variants. For replacing both front control arms including a four-point alignment, average all-in costs are around £750 with genuine parts; on some newer S60 models this can rise to around £1,250. Pattern parts are often a little cheaper to buy, but their service life is less certain or can vary. Replacing only the bushes can be cheaper, provided the control arm itself is still in good condition.
Are there any known weak points or common causes of rapid control arm wear specific to the Volvo S60?
On the Volvo S60, the rubber bushes and the ball joints in the control arms tend to wear relatively quickly; the solid metal part of the control arm itself is usually very durable. Common causes include ageing/hardening of the rubber, repeated heavy impacts (speed bumps, potholes) and the loads placed on them during braking and steering movements. Worn bushes often lead to a vague driving feel, especially noticeable under braking, without there always being vibrations in the steering wheel. Rapid wear can be made worse by poor roads, a sporty driving style and the lack of timely wheel alignment and inspection.
Are there aftermarket control arms or upgrades available that could improve the lifespan or performance of a Volvo S60?
Yes, there are aftermarket control arms and suspension components available for the Volvo S60, such as polyurethane bushes and reinforced ball joints, which can improve durability and steering precision. Brands such as Lemförder, Meyle HD and Powerflex, for example, offer reinforced or “HD” versions of standard parts. These parts often last longer than the original rubber items and can make the handling feel sharper. Bear in mind, though, that very stiff bushes can reduce comfort and sound insulation slightly.
How do I recognise the symptoms of worn control arms on my Volvo S60?
You can mainly recognise worn control arms in a Volvo S60 by a vague or wandering driving feel, especially noticeable when braking or following ruts in the road. You may also hear knocking, tapping or creaking noises over bumps or while steering, and the car may feel unsettled in corners. Sometimes the tyres wear unevenly or the car is difficult to keep driving neatly in a straight line. If in doubt, have the suspension and control arm bushes/ball joints checked visually and for play in the workshop.
What are the risks of continuing to drive with worn control arms in terms of road safety and the handling of my Volvo S60?
Worn control arms, especially the bushes and ball joints, can lead to unstable, wandering handling, particularly when braking and cornering, which reduces control over the car. In practice this can increase stopping distances and make it harder to carry out sudden evasive manoeuvres safely. The car may also pull to one side and steering behaviour can become unpredictable, increasing the risk of accidents. If you keep driving, components may fail further without warning, potentially creating immediately dangerous situations.
What options are there for replacing control arms on a Volvo S60, and what are the average costs?
On a Volvo S60, you can usually choose between replacing only the wear parts (rubber bushes/sleeves and ball joints) or fitting complete control arm assemblies, in either genuine Volvo quality or pattern/aftermarket variants. For replacing both front control arms including a four-point alignment, average all-in costs are around £750 with genuine parts; on some newer S60 models this can rise to around £1,250. Pattern parts are often a little cheaper to buy, but their service life is less certain or can vary. Replacing only the bushes can be cheaper, provided the control arm itself is still in good condition.
Are there any known weak points or common causes of rapid control arm wear specific to the Volvo S60?
On the Volvo S60, the rubber bushes and the ball joints in the control arms tend to wear relatively quickly; the solid metal part of the control arm itself is usually very durable. Common causes include ageing/hardening of the rubber, repeated heavy impacts (speed bumps, potholes) and the loads placed on them during braking and steering movements. Worn bushes often lead to a vague driving feel, especially noticeable under braking, without there always being vibrations in the steering wheel. Rapid wear can be made worse by poor roads, a sporty driving style and the lack of timely wheel alignment and inspection.
Are there aftermarket control arms or upgrades available that could improve the lifespan or performance of a Volvo S60?
Yes, there are aftermarket control arms and suspension components available for the Volvo S60, such as polyurethane bushes and reinforced ball joints, which can improve durability and steering precision. Brands such as Lemförder, Meyle HD and Powerflex, for example, offer reinforced or “HD” versions of standard parts. These parts often last longer than the original rubber items and can make the handling feel sharper. Bear in mind, though, that very stiff bushes can reduce comfort and sound insulation slightly.
How do I recognise the symptoms of worn control arms on my Volvo S60?
You can mainly recognise worn control arms in a Volvo S60 by a vague or wandering driving feel, especially noticeable when braking or following ruts in the road. You may also hear knocking, tapping or creaking noises over bumps or while steering, and the car may feel unsettled in corners. Sometimes the tyres wear unevenly or the car is difficult to keep driving neatly in a straight line. If in doubt, have the suspension and control arm bushes/ball joints checked visually and for play in the workshop.
What are the risks of continuing to drive with worn control arms in terms of road safety and the handling of my Volvo S60?
Worn control arms, especially the bushes and ball joints, can lead to unstable, wandering handling, particularly when braking and cornering, which reduces control over the car. In practice this can increase stopping distances and make it harder to carry out sudden evasive manoeuvres safely. The car may also pull to one side and steering behaviour can become unpredictable, increasing the risk of accidents. If you keep driving, components may fail further without warning, potentially creating immediately dangerous situations.
What options are there for replacing control arms on a Volvo S60, and what are the average costs?
On a Volvo S60, you can usually choose between replacing only the wear parts (rubber bushes/sleeves and ball joints) or fitting complete control arm assemblies, in either genuine Volvo quality or pattern/aftermarket variants. For replacing both front control arms including a four-point alignment, average all-in costs are around £750 with genuine parts; on some newer S60 models this can rise to around £1,250. Pattern parts are often a little cheaper to buy, but their service life is less certain or can vary. Replacing only the bushes can be cheaper, provided the control arm itself is still in good condition.
Are there any known weak points or common causes of rapid control arm wear specific to the Volvo S60?
On the Volvo S60, the rubber bushes and the ball joints in the control arms tend to wear relatively quickly; the solid metal part of the control arm itself is usually very durable. Common causes include ageing/hardening of the rubber, repeated heavy impacts (speed bumps, potholes) and the loads placed on them during braking and steering movements. Worn bushes often lead to a vague driving feel, especially noticeable under braking, without there always being vibrations in the steering wheel. Rapid wear can be made worse by poor roads, a sporty driving style and the lack of timely wheel alignment and inspection.
Are there aftermarket control arms or upgrades available that could improve the lifespan or performance of a Volvo S60?
Yes, there are aftermarket control arms and suspension components available for the Volvo S60, such as polyurethane bushes and reinforced ball joints, which can improve durability and steering precision. Brands such as Lemförder, Meyle HD and Powerflex, for example, offer reinforced or “HD” versions of standard parts. These parts often last longer than the original rubber items and can make the handling feel sharper. Bear in mind, though, that very stiff bushes can reduce comfort and sound insulation slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I recognise the symptoms of worn control arms on my Volvo S60?
You can mainly recognise worn control arms in a Volvo S60 by a vague or wandering driving feel, especially noticeable when braking or following ruts in the road. You may also hear knocking, tapping or creaking noises over bumps or while steering, and the car may feel unsettled in corners. Sometimes the tyres wear unevenly or the car is difficult to keep driving neatly in a straight line. If in doubt, have the suspension and control arm bushes/ball joints checked visually and for play in the workshop.
What are the risks of continuing to drive with worn control arms in terms of road safety and the handling of my Volvo S60?
Worn control arms, especially the bushes and ball joints, can lead to unstable, wandering handling, particularly when braking and cornering, which reduces control over the car. In practice this can increase stopping distances and make it harder to carry out sudden evasive manoeuvres safely. The car may also pull to one side and steering behaviour can become unpredictable, increasing the risk of accidents. If you keep driving, components may fail further without warning, potentially creating immediately dangerous situations.
What options are there for replacing control arms on a Volvo S60, and what are the average costs?
On a Volvo S60, you can usually choose between replacing only the wear parts (rubber bushes/sleeves and ball joints) or fitting complete control arm assemblies, in either genuine Volvo quality or pattern/aftermarket variants. For replacing both front control arms including a four-point alignment, average all-in costs are around £750 with genuine parts; on some newer S60 models this can rise to around £1,250. Pattern parts are often a little cheaper to buy, but their service life is less certain or can vary. Replacing only the bushes can be cheaper, provided the control arm itself is still in good condition.
Are there any known weak points or common causes of rapid control arm wear specific to the Volvo S60?
On the Volvo S60, the rubber bushes and the ball joints in the control arms tend to wear relatively quickly; the solid metal part of the control arm itself is usually very durable. Common causes include ageing/hardening of the rubber, repeated heavy impacts (speed bumps, potholes) and the loads placed on them during braking and steering movements. Worn bushes often lead to a vague driving feel, especially noticeable under braking, without there always being vibrations in the steering wheel. Rapid wear can be made worse by poor roads, a sporty driving style and the lack of timely wheel alignment and inspection.
Are there aftermarket control arms or upgrades available that could improve the lifespan or performance of a Volvo S60?
Yes, there are aftermarket control arms and suspension components available for the Volvo S60, such as polyurethane bushes and reinforced ball joints, which can improve durability and steering precision. Brands such as Lemförder, Meyle HD and Powerflex, for example, offer reinforced or “HD” versions of standard parts. These parts often last longer than the original rubber items and can make the handling feel sharper. Bear in mind, though, that very stiff bushes can reduce comfort and sound insulation slightly.
Wear in the control arms of the Volvo S60 often results in a vague, wandering driving feel. The handling also becomes less taut, especially under braking. The weak point here is not the control arm itself, but the rubber bushes and ball joints. In this article, you’ll read how to spot this wear and when replacement is needed. You’ll also read what to look out for when buying a Volvo S60 used car. Are you unsure whether your car has this problem? Then read on quickly.
What causes control arm wear in the Volvo S60?
The control arm itself, the solid metal component, does not usually fail quickly in the Volvo S60. The rubber bushes and ball joints are what do wear. These parts connect the control arm to the rest of the suspension. They damp movement and allow the wheel to move. Over time, however, they lose their precision. This creates a vague driving feel, with the car seeming to drift loosely on the road.
Wear can develop gradually as the rubber parts age. A heavy impact, for example hitting a speed bump hard, can also cause wear. Both causes lead to the same result: less precise steering and reduced ride comfort.
How do you recognise worn control arms in the Volvo S60?
Worn control arm bushes rarely cause vibrations in the steering wheel. That can make the problem difficult to spot. So pay attention to other signs pointing to wear in the front suspension.
- A vague driving feel, especially noticeable under braking
- Uneven tyre wear on the front tyres
- Clicking or creaking noises when steering
- Less stable handling at higher speeds
Do you notice on a longer journey that the car feels less stable? Or does it seem to drift across the road? Then that is a strong indication of worn control arm bushes or ball joints.
When should you replace the control arms in the Volvo S60?
If an MOT test or maintenance inspection shows that the rubber bushes are worn or damaged, replacement is needed. There is no fixed mileage at which this automatically happens, because wear depends on driving style, road conditions and the car’s age.
On the Volvo S60 up to 2018, both front control arms are usually replaced at the same time. That means both the left- and right-hand control arm are renewed in one go. This job is often combined with a four-wheel alignment. That helps prevent uneven tyre wear.
For the newer S60 II, from 2015 onwards, similar advice applies as for the older models. However, costs for this model are usually higher.
An indication of the cost of replacing both front control arms including alignment:
- Volvo S60 up to 2018 with genuine parts: around €750
- Volvo S60 up to 2018 with pattern parts: around €1,000, without a lifetime guarantee
- Volvo S60 II from 2015 with genuine parts: around €1,250
After replacement, a four-wheel alignment is essential. This involves aligning all four wheels precisely to the manufacturer’s specifications. The position of the control arm directly determines the wheel alignment. This affects both handling and tyre wear.
Best control arms for a used Volvo S60: what should you look for?
When replacing parts on a Volvo S60, you quickly face a choice. You choose between genuine Volvo parts and pattern alternatives. Genuine parts offer greater certainty over service life and fit, such as the well-known part number 30635230. Pattern parts are cheaper initially, but their service life is often unknown. Pattern parts means non-genuine parts manufactured by other companies than Volvo.
If you are looking at a Volvo S60 as a used car, keep the following points in mind:
- Ask about the service history and any replacement of control arms or bushes
- Check whether a wheel alignment has recently been carried out
- Look out for uneven tyre wear as a sign of previous or current wear
- Ask whether genuine or pattern parts were used in earlier repairs
Sometimes replacing only the bushes in the rear control arms is enough. However, this only applies if the control arm itself is not yet worn. This can be a cheaper alternative than a complete replacement.
Repair it yourself or have it done?
If you want to tackle replacing control arms yourself, it is wise to prepare carefully. Consult a detailed step-by-step guide for this. The mounting points of the rubber bushes and ball joints require precision. On various Volvo forums, owners say the right information can sometimes be difficult to find.
- Check which part number fits your model and year of manufacture, such as 30635230, 36012458 or 36051003
- Choose between genuine or pattern parts based on budget and desired service life
- Replace the control arms or only the bushes, depending on the condition of the control arm itself
- Always have a four-wheel alignment carried out after replacement
For most owners, a professional replacement including alignment is the safest choice. A garage then replaces the worn parts and re-aligns the wheels accurately afterwards. This prevents installation errors. It also restores road safety immediately.
Want to know more about car problems and maintenance?
Control arm wear is one of the topics that come up in the maintenance of a Volvo S60. There are many more points of attention that are important for the condition of the car. On the Carnews website you will find extensive information about common car problems, maintenance tips and experiences from other owners. For example, also read our article about common suspension problems with the Volvo S60, so you are well prepared when buying or maintaining your car.
Frequently asked questions
How do I recognise the symptoms of worn control arms on my Volvo S60?
You can mainly recognise worn control arms in a Volvo S60 by a vague or wandering driving feel, especially noticeable when braking or following ruts in the road. You may also hear knocking, tapping or creaking noises over bumps or while steering, and the car may feel unsettled in corners. Sometimes the tyres wear unevenly or the car is difficult to keep driving neatly in a straight line. If in doubt, have the suspension and control arm bushes/ball joints checked visually and for play in the workshop.
What are the risks of continuing to drive with worn control arms in terms of road safety and the handling of my Volvo S60?
Worn control arms, especially the bushes and ball joints, can lead to unstable, wandering handling, particularly when braking and cornering, which reduces control over the car. In practice this can increase stopping distances and make it harder to carry out sudden evasive manoeuvres safely. The car may also pull to one side and steering behaviour can become unpredictable, increasing the risk of accidents. If you keep driving, components may fail further without warning, potentially creating immediately dangerous situations.
What options are there for replacing control arms on a Volvo S60, and what are the average costs?
On a Volvo S60, you can usually choose between replacing only the wear parts (rubber bushes/sleeves and ball joints) or fitting complete control arm assemblies, in either genuine Volvo quality or pattern/aftermarket variants. For replacing both front control arms including a four-point alignment, average all-in costs are around £750 with genuine parts; on some newer S60 models this can rise to around £1,250. Pattern parts are often a little cheaper to buy, but their service life is less certain or can vary. Replacing only the bushes can be cheaper, provided the control arm itself is still in good condition.
Are there any known weak points or common causes of rapid control arm wear specific to the Volvo S60?
On the Volvo S60, the rubber bushes and the ball joints in the control arms tend to wear relatively quickly; the solid metal part of the control arm itself is usually very durable. Common causes include ageing/hardening of the rubber, repeated heavy impacts (speed bumps, potholes) and the loads placed on them during braking and steering movements. Worn bushes often lead to a vague driving feel, especially noticeable under braking, without there always being vibrations in the steering wheel. Rapid wear can be made worse by poor roads, a sporty driving style and the lack of timely wheel alignment and inspection.
Are there aftermarket control arms or upgrades available that could improve the lifespan or performance of a Volvo S60?
Yes, there are aftermarket control arms and suspension components available for the Volvo S60, such as polyurethane bushes and reinforced ball joints, which can improve durability and steering precision. Brands such as Lemförder, Meyle HD and Powerflex, for example, offer reinforced or “HD” versions of standard parts. These parts often last longer than the original rubber items and can make the handling feel sharper. Bear in mind, though, that very stiff bushes can reduce comfort and sound insulation slightly.
