shocks

Does your 480 have tracking-problems? Does your car pull to one side? Or is your steering wheel vibrating? Read the posts in this category to find out what's going on.

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Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

shocks

Post by Rachel » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:41 am

Hello,
I'm looking to replace my top strut mount bearings and all my shocks. I have been searching around for some better than standard shocks to fit my 480T which is lowered but I've not come up with anything conclusive. Please can someone advise on some good shocks please?
:hopping:
Thanks.
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

User avatar
doingitsideways
480 Expert
Posts: 659
Joined: Wed May 02, 2012 8:55 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: shocks

Post by doingitsideways » Wed Aug 06, 2014 12:21 pm

PFV online still stock Bilstiens, and even sell them as a kit :)

Just don't get the last set... They're mine, right?! :angry:

Steve :hopping:
"If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical fault!"
Hammers can't fix a 480!!!

gsa60
Started learning about 480
Posts: 96
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 10:18 pm

Re: shocks

Post by gsa60 » Wed Aug 06, 2014 12:51 pm

There are not many options when it comes to upgrade.
Bilstein are are an improvement over standard ( I hear). However there are som issues with the rear ones.
Koni would be the best ones. But they are not being produced anymore and pvf does not have them in stock.
This link has some shocks info for the 480
http://hjkort.webs.com/480sport.htm

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:57 pm

Thanks for the replies. I'm "shocked" there isn't much on the market :( I have heard a lot about Bilstiens and the rear knocking. I was hoping not to have to go down that route. I have checkout Koni's website, they list nothing for the 400 series. Thanks gsa60, I will check out the few on that site. The hunt goes on.
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

oldgitdave
Started learning about 480
Posts: 58
Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:04 pm
Location: UK

Re: shocks

Post by oldgitdave » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:12 pm

Hi folks, I've just changed the rears on Dusty to Bilstiens from PFV. Had to wait a good while for delivery though :( . They're a great improvement; mind you the originals were leaking badly :rofl: . I didn't know about the knocking issue :shock:. Is this something that happens from new or after a few months/miles? Certainly not noticed anything yet but they've only been on a couple if weeks.
Also replaced the drop links all round. Stopped all that dreaded creaking completely :hopping: What a difference :D .
Hope you find what you're looking for Rachel :)
Re
Dave
Current:
1995 'M' 480 ES Auto S/R 'Dusty'
2010 RAV4

Previous:
2002 S60 2.0L Turbo Auto
1995 'N' 480 Celebration Auto 443/480

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:29 pm

oldgitdave wrote:Hi folks, I've just changed the rears on Dusty to Bilstiens from PFV. Had to wait a good while for delivery though :( . They're a great improvement; mind you the originals were leaking badly :rofl: . I didn't know about the knocking issue :shock:. Is this something that happens from new or after a few months/miles? Certainly not noticed anything yet but they've only been on a couple if weeks.
Also replaced the drop links all round. Stopped all that dreaded creaking completely :hopping: What a difference :D .
Hope you find what you're looking for Rachel :)
Re
Dave
Thanks Dave. I have heard the rears knock after a time, not sure what's that due too. Mind rear knocks anyway due to anti roll bar linkage :lol: might get them changed too ;)

What about Bilsteins B4's? Anyone use these? I read they are better for lowered suspension, would that make them stiffer? Not found anyone in the country selling them but I won't mind waiting for the right ones. Not searched to hard though yet, maybe some here does sell them.

Thanks.
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: shocks

Post by Alan 480 » Mon Aug 11, 2014 8:19 pm

Knocking 'might' also be down to the void bush at front end of trailing arm being rather more 'void' than 'bush' :D

easy fix , as long as you can get the bolt out :wink:
I think I stuffed a bit of rubber into one void before I sold it to stop the rattling (mind you I only got £100), so didn't feel too bad ;-)
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

timrosser
Advanced 480 rookie
Posts: 546
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:22 pm

Re: shocks

Post by timrosser » Tue Aug 12, 2014 9:35 am

I got my kybs of ebay, there were a few about lst time I looked, rears were cheaper too.

Can anyone tell me a bit about the drop links, my care creaks a bit and Im running out of things to renew so these sound hopeful!

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:23 am

timrosser wrote:I got my kybs of ebay, there were a few about lst time I looked, rears were cheaper too.

Can anyone tell me a bit about the drop links, my care creaks a bit and Im running out of things to renew so these sound hopeful!
Is your 480 lowered Tim? How do you find the KYB's?? What kind of ride do you get?

Drop links are cheap and easy to replace a far as I can remember. I changed mine a while ago and they are still good. Got orig. Volvo ones.

Thanks
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

User avatar
doingitsideways
480 Expert
Posts: 659
Joined: Wed May 02, 2012 8:55 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: shocks

Post by doingitsideways » Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:33 am

If your car is lowered and creaks at the back, check the bump stops.

I couldn't get my head around mine, then found it was sat pretty much personally on the stops.

IIRC, many lowering spring manufacturers recommend cutting them down.

Steve :hopping:
"If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical fault!"
Hammers can't fix a 480!!!

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:49 am

Mine creaks bad at the front during slow turning/parking, but this due to the top strut bearings...99.9% sure. When we took the ones off my old 480 the bearings looking they were sat in mud not grease! They didn't even sound too bad, god knows what these ones are going to look like...probably non existent! :eek:
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

oldgitdave
Started learning about 480
Posts: 58
Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:04 pm
Location: UK

Re: shocks

Post by oldgitdave » Tue Aug 12, 2014 11:03 am

Well I guess it can be caused by any number of things on the 480 :) On mine it was definitely the drop links cos it's spot on now :D
Can't post links yet but search for items 23177603990 & 250555912349 on fleabay for the rear & front ones. Dead easy job to do!
Re
Dave
Current:
1995 'M' 480 ES Auto S/R 'Dusty'
2010 RAV4

Previous:
2002 S60 2.0L Turbo Auto
1995 'N' 480 Celebration Auto 443/480

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: shocks

Post by jamescarruthers » Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:21 am

Second drop links! Just changed mine as this 480 creaked constantly! Now absolutely silent.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: shocks

Post by jamescarruthers » Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:27 am

Also, have you considered keeping it standard but with all new parts?

I've had 7 480s, and this '87 ES I have now handles significantly better than all the rest after new anti-roll bar links all around, new shocks all round and new wishbones with bushes up front.

I'm not kidding when I say it is like a little go kart now! I'd either forgotten or never knew how good a properly set up, standard 480 was.

It is stiffer than I expected, nearly too stiff having been driving a hydropneumatic Citroen loads until this one hit the road again.

I wish I'd done strut mount bearings at the time like you mention though. They seem fine but it would have been a good chance to change them.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:36 am

Hi - most if my suspension is good - I replaced front arms and drop links as soon as I got it so they've not done too many miles. I'm keeping the lowered springs - I've driven standard and lowered and even as you say standard is good I still prefer the handling and look of it dropped a little - only 30mm.

I do need to change anti roll bar linkages though - will do this at the same time shocks are done.

Thanks :)
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:12 pm

Got myself some Bilstein B4's, new strut bearings and rear drop links.....will be fitted soon. I will report back. I hope I've made the right choice on the shocks, time will tell.
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

User avatar
doingitsideways
480 Expert
Posts: 659
Joined: Wed May 02, 2012 8:55 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: shocks

Post by doingitsideways » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:55 pm

definitely interested to hear your results on this.

I just have cheapy lowering springs on mine, new Boge rear shocks and no-doubt original fronts.

The ride is nothing short of awful, although it does corner like it's on rails due to being stiff as a board!!

Compromises, huh?! ;)

Steve :hopping:
"If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical fault!"
Hammers can't fix a 480!!!

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: shocks

Post by Rachel » Sun Nov 02, 2014 11:58 am

Just an update. All the springs are now fitted and I have to say I'm very happy. I didn't go from standard shocks as I can't tell you how the differ from those, but the ride is comfortable, not too hard at all, even on my lowered springs. Happy to also say the rear is perfectly quiet now after fitting the drop links....none of that banging, and no more creaking when I'm parking with the new top strut bearings....happy days. Lets hope I won't have to do anymore on the suspension for a while, but then again it is a 480...they crave attention don't they.
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

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