1. The front sway bar links are subjected to radial (vertical), thrust (side), as well as torsional (twist) loads. However, the stock link body is too thin to deal with these loads effectively. When exposed to these forces, the sway bar links deflect (flex) and do not allow the front sway bar to work properly. Handling suffers as a result. Steering feels disconnected and loose, and road handling is unresponsive and sloppy. In fact, the deflection is so severe that it's common for the stock endlinks to bend 3/4" or more!
2. The stock end links have poorly designed ball joints. The ball itself has a poor surface finish and the race is weak. The boot protecting the ball joint is thin rubber that cracks and tears, allowing dirt to enter the ball race (which starts to rust). The dirt combined with rust "grinds" out the ball joint, causing the all too common front end clunking noise. If ignored, the link may fail altogether.
3. The stock end links were not designed for lowered vehicles. On lowered vehicles the ball joint is forced to operate at extreme angles beyond its normal range. The rubber ball joint tears as a result, causing the problem outlined in #2, but at a much faster rate (a new set of end links can be ruined in less than 2k miles!)
4. On vehicles with the large factory sway bar (turbo and R models, or models equipped with the road handling kit), the sway bar links are subjected to higher load forces than with the smaller sway bar found on the base model. And with larger aftermarket sway bars (IPD, etc) the end links are subjected to even higher load. This means that the sway bar end link becomes less and less effective as the front sway bar increases in diameter!

In early 2005, Quickbrick Motorsports publicly released their first-generation performance end links to address the deficiencies with the stock Volvo end links. The QBM performance end links were constructed of better materials than the stock end links, were exponentially stronger (1900% stronger) than the stock links, and completely eliminated flex even on the largest of aftermarket sway bars.

The impact the QBM performance end links made on the vehicle was night and day - handling and steering was transformed from sloppy and unresponsive to crisp and immediate. Lowered vehicles benefited from increased misalignment angles of the joints, which allowed more travel on stock and lowered vehicles. And for the first time owners could properly preload their sway bars thanks to the adjustable length design.

Our original performance link kits were a tremendous success, but there was still room for improvement. We continued to refine and revise the design until we arrived at the current generation of performance sway links - the X-Treme Performance End Links™.

The X-Treme Performance End Links™ are our best and strongest design ever. The X-Treme Performance End Link™ bodies are stronger than the previous design. They feature larger rod ends for a 70% increase in strength vs previous designs. And the X-Treme Performance End Links™ have a greater range of length adjustability than ever before. Independent metallurgical laboratory stress tested and race proven, the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ outperform ALL other links on the market and literally leave the stock end links in the dust.

While other performance end link kits may look similar to the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™, none have the features that set our links apart. Read on to find out what makes the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ the best end links available for your Volvo.

The X-Treme Performance End Link™ Rod Ends

The QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ use rod ends (or heim joints), not ball joints like the stock end links. Rod ends are superior to ball joints in both strength and design. Rod ends also have a larger range of travel, and there is no rubber boot or grease to tear or break down.

The rod ends are the most important component of the entire QBM X-Treme Performance End Link™ kit. Not all rod ends are created equal however - this is what sets the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ apart from the competition. All rod ends share the same basic design - a threaded body and bearing housed in a race - but that is where the similarities end. There are a wide range of differences in rod end design, construction, and price. You can buy rod ends for as little as a few dollars, and as expensive as hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

The rod ends used on the X-Treme Performance End Links™ are aerospace quality and have features not found on other rod ends. The rod end body is made of heat-treated chromoly steel, and the cross section is significantly larger and stronger than other rod ends. The bearing race lining is a superior Kevlar-reinforced Teflon that is self-lubricating. Through a unique injection-molded manufacturing process, the bearing race is completely sealed against the bearing and does not require lubrication. When installed properly they will far outlast lesser quality rod ends with metal or teflon lined bearing races. And when combined with our rod end boot upgrade, the rod ends will be protected from harsh environmental elements!

Do not be fooled by inferior quality rod ends - the rods ends QBM uses comprises the majority of the cost of the end link kits!

The X-Treme Performance End Link™ Body

The QBM X-Treme Performance End Link™ bodies are made from alloy steel and plated for corrosion resistance. The hex shaped link is stronger than the round link found on our original version, so it resists radial, thrust, and torsional loads better. The hex also provides a convenient way to hold the link with a wrench for easy length adjustments or while tightening the jam nuts. The left-hand side of the link is marked for clear and easy identification.

The QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ are 525% stronger than the IPD heavy duty link, 1200% stronger than the stock P2 endlinks, and a whooping 1900% stronger than the stock P1 links! Our P2 X-Treme Performance End Links™ have a 35% higher tensile strength than the competition's aluminum links.

The following visually illustrates the difference in end link body diameter between the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ and other end links:

As you can see, the QBM X-Treme Performance End Link™ dwarfs the others in comparison.

Here is the QBM X-Treme Performance End Link™ next to the stock Volvo end link:

Other features include:

All parts plated for corrosion resistance
Grade 8+ mounting hardware included
High-angle misalignment spacers for maximum travel (especially important on lowered vehicles)
Proper endlink geometry is maintained (which not all of the kits available on the market do)
Complies with NHRA regulations (i.e. NHRA racing legal)
Detailed instructions cover installation as well as adjustment of the links
Rod End boot upgrade available for maximum rod end life

 

The QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ are available for the following models:

	Front End Link Kit (Pair)	Rear End Link Kit (Pair)
93-97 850
98-04 C70
98-00 S70
98-00 V70
01-07 V70		(*)
01+ S60		(*)
99-06 S80		(*)
04+ S40	coming soon!
05+ V50	coming soon!

Front Kit (Pair) for 93-97 850, 98-00 S/V70, 98-04 C70: $180
Front Kit (Pair) for 01-07 V70, 01+ S60, 99-06 S80: $180
Rear Kit (Pair) for 01-07 V70, 01+ S60, 99-06 S80: $180
Front+Rear Package for 01-07 V70, 01+ S60, 99-06 S80: $335 Save $25! (Package price cannot be combined with any other discount)
Boot Upgrade for all X-Treme Performance End Links: $18

Q: My front end clunks/rattles/etc. Are the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ going to make the noises worse?
A: No. Clunking sounds coming from the front suspension is usually a sign of damaged or worn out sway bar end links, strut mounts, spring seats, or bad control arms. You should inspect your end links, strut mounts, spring seats, and control arms and replace any worn parts. Assuming the other suspension components are in good operating condition, the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ will not cause any additional sound at all. In fact, most customers note that the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ eliminated their front end noise. You will only feel the difference the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ make, not hear them!

Q: Will the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ put more stress on other suspension components because they are so strong?
A: No, because the only moving suspension component that the sway bar end link mounts to is the sway bar itself. The QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ simply allow the front sway bar to work as Volvo designed it. Because the stock end links flex so much, the sway bar is less effective and cannot work as designed. Since the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ eliminate the sway link flex, the sway bar can actually do what it is supposed to do. In addition, since the adjustable length design allows you to properly preload the front sway bar, less stress is actually put on the sway bar bushings (not more).

Q: Will my car ride stiffer or more harshly with the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™?
A: The QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ do not make the car ride stiffer. They will however make the front end feel solid, tighter, and steering is more crisp and responsive.

Q: Why doesn't QBM make rear end link kits for the 850, C70, and 98-00 S/V70 models?
A: The P1 vehicles (93-97 850, 98-04 C70, 98-00 S70, 98-00 V70) do have rear sway bars, but they do not mount using sway bar links. On the P1 vehicles the rear sway bar is attached directly to the delta link suspension and does not use endlinks. The P2 vehicles (01+ S60, 01-07 V70, 99-06 S80) do use rear sway bar links, and QBM has X-Treme Performance™ rear end link applications to fit the P2 Volvos.

Q: Do I need to get an alignment after installing the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™?
A: No, you do not need to get an alignment after installing the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™.

Q: I am not a mechanic and don't have a lift and fancy tools. Do I need to have a mechanic install the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™, or can I install them myself?
A: All QBM products are designed to be easily installed by customers using basic hand tools. The QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ are no exception. They are very easy to install yourself - all you need is a jack and basic hand tools (a socket and wrench in a few sizes). Detailed installation instructions are included that walk you through the process from start to finish.

Q: Do I have to remove the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ to adjust them?
A: No, you do not have to remove the end links to adjust them. Simple loosen the jam nuts, turn the end link rod, and retighten the jam nuts.

Q: How do I adjust the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™, and what setting should I use?
Detailed installation instructions are included with the end link kit, including how to adjust the end links correctly.

Q: I have brand X springs, brand Y struts , brand Z strut bar, and brand Q sway bars. What is the best setting for my QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™?
Detailed installation instructions are included with the end link kit, including how to adjust the end links correctly.

Q: Why don't the QBM X-Treme Performance™ rod ends come with a grease fitting like some rod ends I have seen?
A: While most rod ends look similar, the reality is that you can't even compare a $2 low end "hardware store" rod end to the high end aerospace-grade rod ends used in the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™. Rod ends with grease fittings are not recommended for high-strength applications because grease fittings significantly reduce the strength of the rod end body! Also, grease fittings are typically used on rod ends that have a metal bearing race because grease provides the only source of lubrication between the bearing ball and the race. The rod ends used on the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™ have a self-lubricating Teflon-Kevlar lining that does not require lubrication.

Q: Will the QBM X-Treme Performance™ end links wear out, or do they last forever?
A: Like everything on your vehicle, suspension parts are maintenance items. No rod end lasts forever. However, the best quality rod ends will far outlast inferior quality rod ends. QBM X-Treme Performance End Link™ rod ends are produced from the highest quality materials possible and have features that set them apart from all other rod ends, ensuring the longest life and highest performance possible. The rod ends should be regularly inspected (before races or at oil changes are a great time) and worn ends should be replaced as necessary. How long the rod ends last depends on many factors including proper installation, driving environment, road conditions, vehicle condition, racing, etc. Click here for more information. Finally, the life of the rod ends can be maximized by installing a set of our rod end boots!

Q: Do you ship outside of the USA?
A: Yes! QBM has many customers outside of North America, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, etc.

StickThatClutch

"I'm very happy with the QBM link kit. I would recommend that people who think of these as only a performance product also look into the refinement quality that these bring to the chassis. Since my install I've heard NO squeaks from the front end and its much smoother over bumps. Even in normal commuting it makes the car just that much nicer to drive. Thanks for putting out good products."

I'd almost recomend getting them and IPD sways before getting a chip. The fun to drive factor now has gone way up. Speed is nice, but responsive suspension is definitely right up there with it. The Konis and springs helped out a lot, but these two upgrades really make the suspension shine now!"

YOUR comment

If you would like to tell us about your experience with the QBM X-Treme Performance End Links™, we would love to hear from you. Contact us and tell us what you think. Your comments may just end up right here!