Shock advice

MisterT · Post by **MisterT** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:04 am

I need new front shocks and I was wondering if there's a brand or type that's best for the 480? I don't know anything about shocks and I don't want to be put up with cheap crap shocks.

Usually I go to Kwikfit (ready while I wait

), but there you have to have some knowledge on what they shouldn't put on your car (standard crap).

Thnx in advance for any advice!

gerrsvolvo · Post by **gerrsvolvo** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:47 am

Hi MisterT
For your shockabsorders you will probably get many answers.
Because even shockabsorbers are a thing where peaople think differently about.
For my or in my opinion get some KoniÂ´s and you will not have any trouble again. The are a bit more expensive.
Other wise go to volvo or get the original make volvo uses as factory installment.
I think that volvo uses Billstein or Sachs as original equipment.
I wold not go to any other make unless you know exactly what you are doing.
Maybe there are cheaper makes on the market but are they as good on the long run?

I have heard things as that par example Spax do not even last 20 000 km

.

And I know out off own experience that KoniÂ´s last your lifetime and that is longer thanm the lifetime of one car.

Good luck
gerrsvolvo

sakis480 · Post by **sakis480** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:41 am

Originaly Volvo uses Sachs for the 400 series....they sax anyway...I do have red konis, and they are so good for the 480...i have done 40.000 km with them, no problems at all...at 30.000 i went to the specialist and he set them up to be at at the second level (medium hard??)..

never heard about bleistein abs on a 480 before..only BMW maniacs use them...

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 4:45 pm

Hi!

I use Bilstein with PI 40mm lowering springs,as this is what they supply when you buy Bilstein as the kit for the 480!
They are hard,Ive done 16000 MILES!Then 30000 in this car using the same springs and shocks and even though the springs do sag a bit,the shocks are still good!

However,Koni are by far the best,and the least comfortable.But,I have found when lowered,my 480s have outhandled my old 944 Porsche,honestly!

Cheers!

Steve.

Swe480T · Post by **Swe480T** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:35 pm

sakis480 wrote:Originaly Volvo uses Sachs for the 400 series....they sax anyway...I do have red konis, and they are so good for the 480...i have done 40.000 km with them, no problems at all...at 30.000 i went to the specialist and he set them up to be at at the second level (medium hard??)..

never heard about bleistein abs on a 480 before..only BMW maniacs use them...

My 1987 480ES, 1988 and 89 480T had KONI gas shock absorbers, all of them Volvo original.

In the early nineties Vovo used De Carbon shocks in their lowering kit or road kit....whatever.... for the 400.
Two years ago I bought Volvos lowering kit for the 400series because new shocks would cost me ~410â‚¬ and the lowering kit(springs and shocks) 350â‚¬.
I thought I would get DeC or KONI gas shocks but all I got from Volvo was some shitty Oil filled shocks, rear shocks were gas filled thou.

lee · Post by **lee** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:00 pm

I will give you my opion.

If you use the car everyday as a comfy cruiser then go for the bilstein standards.

If you like taking to the track or round the country roads

then go for the koni yellows not the red. But beware these will stiffen the car more than you will imagine and change the way that it handles to a level you wouldn't believe.

I have a 480 on sachs, one on bilsteins and one on koni's.

MisterT · Post by **MisterT** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:13 pm

Thnx for all the advice!

I don't think I want the Koni's, as I don't drive on circuits. If the handling is better, that's a good thing but the Netherlands are loaded with speedbumps (the last house I lived I had to take 6 speedbumps before I was out of the neighbourhood...), so I need some comfort (or asperin).

I think the Bilstein will do fine for me.

sakis480 · Post by **sakis480** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 5:46 am

hI again...bleistein seems good according to people here...I know that yellow konis are hard and the car is full of internal plastic sounds because we all know that the quality of the dashboard is not of the best...red konis are softer...at least the car behaves with comfort when i do drive on a bad road and when passing ramps...

I will try bleistein for the winter...but which bleistein for a full comfort???

Rytis · Post by **Rytis** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 12:58 pm

Black Bilstein are "comfort" ones. I have the black gas shocks. Satisfied. But they are harder than original ones (probably because of gas).

Yellow are designed for better handling and are told to be "sporty" but as I was informed by local dealer, they produce only black ones for 480.

sakis480 · Post by **sakis480** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 6:15 am

Thank you very much!! will try them in the winter!!

Volvo 480 Club Europe

Shock advice

Shock advice

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