Volvo 480 Club Europe

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?

Thanks.

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

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

Steve

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

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.

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 . I didn't know about the knocking issue . 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 What a difference .
Hope you find what you're looking for Rachel
Re
Dave

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 . I didn't know about the knocking issue . 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 What a difference .
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 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.

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

easy fix , as long as you can get the bolt out
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

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!

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

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

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!

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
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

Second drop links! Just changed mine as this 480 creaked constantly! Now absolutely silent.

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.

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

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.

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

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.