This Volvo XC90 came in for servicing, and our inspection turned up more: sunk and cracked mounts, worn front arms, two oil leaks and worn rear brakes. Here is what the owner chose to fix, what was left for later, and a return visit for a noise.
Job completed: July 2026
| Car | Volvo XC90 |
|---|---|
| Symptom | In for servicing; the faults were found during our inspection |
| Fault found | Engine and gearbox mounts sunk and cracked, front control arms worn and cracked, an oil leak stain, the propeller shaft leaking oil, rear brake pads at 30% with worn discs, and a battery in bad condition |
| Repair done | Replaced the engine and gearbox mounting set, both front upper and lower arms and both linkages with a wheel alignment, the oil separator, the rear brake pads and discs and the battery, along with the servicing. The owner chose to wait on the propeller shaft |
| Parts | Original parts on the quoted repair items |
| Time taken | Timeline confirmed after inspection |
| Cost | Quoted item by item after inspection |
| Warranty | Contact us for warranty details on the specific parts replaced |
The XC90 was due for servicing, and at drop-off the owner confirmed the visit was for servicing only.
During the service our technicians checked the car over, including underneath. They sent the owner a report with photos and videos of what they found before doing any extra work.
The Volvo XC90 is a large SUV. Engine mounts hold the engine and gearbox in position and absorb the engine's vibration before it reaches the cabin. At the front of this car, an upper and a lower control arm locate each wheel, with rubber bushes and ball joints where they pivot.
This XC90 also has a propeller shaft, which carries drive to the rear axle. When the rubber in the mounts and the bushings in the arms gets old, vibration starts coming through to the cabin and the handling becomes less sharp.
Our technicians checked the car over during the service and reported what they found, with photos and videos:
We then priced each item separately, so the owner could choose what to do.
Engine mounts, control arm bushings and brakes are all rubber and friction-based wear items. They tend to reach the end of their life around the same time.
Singapore's heat and humidity accelerate the ageing of rubber parts in particular. Engine mounts and suspension bushings that might last longer in a cooler climate harden, crack and fail faster here. The vibration and rough handling that follows is the first sign, but by the time the symptoms are obvious, the wear is usually already well advanced.
The owner went ahead with the servicing and the repairs, and chose to wait on the propeller shaft. A new shaft had to be ordered in, and our team said the old one could still last for now, though not for certain how long.
The repair parts were quoted as original parts.
After collecting the car, the owner messaged us about a noise from the front, but only on full-lock U-turns, not over humps, uneven roads or normal bends. The car came back to us, our technician took it out for a test drive, and our team then told the owner it was ready. When we followed up the next day, the owner said the car had been running fine.
What a job covering engine mounts, control arms, an oil leak and brakes costs depends on how many arms need replacing and the extent of the brake work, so we quote item by item after inspection.
We lift and inspect the car first, identify exactly what is worn, and give you a clear quote before any work begins. We do not guess from outside the car.
A vibration that was not there before, especially at idle or at a specific speed, is often the first sign of a failing engine mount. A rough or unsettled feel over bumps, or any clunking from the front or rear suspension, points to worn control arm bushings.
Any oil stain under the car is worth investigating promptly. A small seal leak stays small if caught early but can become a bigger job if left to spread. Getting the undercarriage inspected every year or two on a high-mileage Volvo is a good way to find these faults before they get expensive.
This Volvo XC90 (Front control arms, engine and gearbox mounts, oil separator and rear brakes replaced) was handled at 1 Car Service, an independent workshop in Sin Ming AutoCity, Singapore. For Volvo, we use dealer-level VIDA diagnostics. We hold a 4.9★ rating from 1,836+ Google reviews.
WhatsApp us your car model, year and what it is doing. We will check the suspension, mounts and undercarriage and tell you what needs doing before any work begins. We use Volvo VIDA diagnostic tools to read the car properly.
It depends on how many arms need replacing and the extent of the brake work. We lift the car, inspect everything and give you a clear quote before any work begins.
Vibration often comes from worn engine mounts letting the engine rock, or from worn suspension control arm bushings. Sometimes it is both. On this XC90 our inspection at a routine service found sunk, cracked mounts and worn, cracked front arms together. Lifting the car and checking the undercarriage properly is the only way to be sure.
It depends on where the leak is coming from. On this car we found two: an oil leak stain, for which we replaced the oil separator, and a propeller shaft leaking oil, where we advised replacing the shaft. The owner chose to wait on the shaft, and our team said it could still last for now. Any oil stain under the car is worth having checked promptly rather than leaving it.
Yes. We use Volvo VIDA diagnostic tools to read the car's systems and check for stored faults.
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