volvo shocks

kev · Post by **kev** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:30 am

I am going to replace all the shocks ,springs ,top mounts and all bushes
and drop links .
On catgrooms post on volvo stiffer springs I have a choice of blue or
yellow of which I think I will choose yellow.The question is what part
No is the matching shocks as there are a few and Volvo didn't know !
Or what shocks could I use as the yellow springs are slighty shorter?

Ettore Bugatti · Post by **Ettore Bugatti** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:17 pm

Do you know what colours you have currently on the car?

My assumption is that Volvo probably only sells 1 set of dampers which all variants...

Just buy Bilstein or Koni. Their prices are quite steep, but the quality remains after the price has been forgotten.

kev · Post by **kev** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:36 am

Hi there, I have yellow springs on the rears and blue springs on the front.
Volvo list about three part numbers for the shocks but are unable to
tell me which ones match the springs .
So does it matter ?
Koni seem too expensive to me and the bilstein rears knock so I figure
if Volvo can't give me the right ones to match the springs I will get.....
Sachs ftont & rear shocks .
Yellow springs front and rear.
Any thoughts ?

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:13 am

I'd buy Sachs shocks all round.

I replaced the suspension on my last 480 with Bilsteins all round, and then tracked down the knocking noise at the back to the rear shocks. I took these off and replaced them with Sachs shocks at the back which cured the knocking once and for all.

My current 480 has knackered original shocks on the front (soon to be replaced with Sachs), and is running the 'knocking' Bilsteins at the back at the moment, that I'd removed from my previous 480. They're only a temporary measure though - and better than the knackered original shocks that were on there.

The cheapest place I can find Sachs shocks is http://www.partsforvolvos.com.

Ben.

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:44 am

I just got all the bushings replacend. Previously I have replaced the shocks with Koni reds and lowerings springs. The rear barnhard rod was the source of the knocking. Now the car feels and drives like new. I love it

Ettore Bugatti · Post by **Ettore Bugatti** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:11 pm

You als could consider red rear springs (avaible on the 440/460). These will give in theory a more neutral handling due to the stiffer spring rate.

In normal condition you have currently a deflection of the yellow rear spring of about 110mm* So the height of the spring in rest is 310-110=200mm.
When you would install red rear springs then the height would be 198,5mm** so almost the same as orginal.

About the dampers. The 3 dampers are each matched to a spring rate, probably.
Although Sachs, Koni, Bilstein and other dampers companies mostly only offer one set for the 480. So for example a Sachs damper will be as good (or as bad) match for a spring as one of the three Volvo dampers would be...

Pol has a damper partnumber of his turbo: 446898
http://volvo480.dragons.org.uk/forum/vi ... hp?t=12969&

Please note this is all theoratical talk, I haven't touch a spanner at a 480 for years.(lucky me

)

*
weight at rear wheels is +/-37% of 1050kg=3810N,
one wheel has a load of 1905N,
the yellow springrate is 17,2N/mm,
1905N/17,2N/mm=110mm

**
weight at rear wheels is +/-37% of 1050kg=3810N,
one wheel has a load of 1905N,
the red springrate is 21/mm,
1905N/21N/mm=91mm
The uncompressed height of the red spring is 289,5mm so the height of the spring in rest 289,5mm-91mm=198,5mm

kev · Post by **kev** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:31 am

Thanks guys, Thats cleared things up .In the mean time if it stops raining I am going to remove the engine now my hoist has arrived.
Then I can clean the engine bay .