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overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Fred on
Wednesday, 4 February 1998, at 12:14 p.m.
Hi ya'll!
Quick couple of questions.
Have a 1995 850 Turbo Wagon. 47K miles. On smooth asphalt roads it's smooth as glass, even at high speeds, but get on these Ca. freeways at the same high speed, it jiggles my spare tire, middle-age spread, or fat stomach. It communicates every teeny bump in the road. Is there anything that can be done to desensitise the suspension?
Does anyone know of an aftermarket for accessories for Volvos. I want to put on a roof rack, the dealership wants $330.
Thanks,
Fred
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by han 850T5 on
Wednesday, 4 February 1998, at 1:30 p.m.
I hear ya.....
I just got used to it after 30K miles. I'm getting a set of bilsteins and IPD sway bars for mine. I'll let you know what changes it will make to the ride. you might do a search on the board on shocks and bilsteins. there has been lots of talk on that subject before on the board.
about the roof rack, are you thinking on the OEM cross bar setup? or the euro rails? the euro rails cost about that much, but i would suggest yakimas for the rest.
try www.yakima.com. ( might be cheaper and better).
good luck.
han
97 850T5........
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Fred on
Wednesday, 4 February 1998, at 1:35 p.m.
Han,
Many thanks for the info. I'll let you know what happens.
Fred
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Dennis Wolfe on
Wednesday, 4 February 1998, at 5:14 p.m.
Fred,
I'm picking up a '95 855T next Monday and have the same concern you are experiencing - harsh ride. I've read through the board postings on shocks and several people have noted Bilsteins smooth out the ride by reducing the initial impact shock. They cost over $100 apiece though at IPD. There may be cheaper sources.
Another possibility I may try is to fit a higher cross section tire. The "fatter" tire absorbs the bumps better. I think the OEM tire was 205/50-16 but 205/55-16 was an option. The 55 series tire is about .75" larger diameter. I'd like to find out just how big a tire would fit without interfering with the suspension or sheet metal.
205/50=24.09" dia; 205/55=24.88", 215/60=26.14" (from Goodyear literature)
Good luck - Let me know what you end up trying.
Denny Wolfe
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by HAN CHUNG on
Wednesday, 4 February 1998, at 6:35 p.m.
I have a 97 850T5 wagon and this is my opinion on the tire size. I used to have the 205/55-16 Michelins and here's my verdict on the ride comfort level... unfortunately, still pretty harsh. So what the heck, since my front tires were pretty well worn and irregularly (surprisingly early with only 30K miles, may be the way I drove), I opted for the 205/50-16 nitto's. Just a bit harsher, but not too much different from before. The only improvement was the handling. Which I enjoy very much. I try to take it easy now with the new set.
As far as the Bilsteins .... try more like $200 for the front each from IPD. I just purchased my set from this company i don't have the number with me now, but I could post it if you'd like. They special order them from Bilsteins (3weeks delivery) and cost way less than IPD.
I guess that if you get the bilsteins and the 55 tires, you'll be riding comfortably. Lots of $$$$$$$$$$ for the upgrade, I'll tell you.......
good luck
han
97 850T5 .........waiting for the Bilsteins + IPD swaybars.
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by pat on
Wednesday, 4 February 1998, at 8:12 p.m.
Yes, could you please post the number and amount per shock? Are the shocks the same for the S70/V70?
thanks
pat
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by han chung on
Thursday, 5 February 1998, at 12:23 a.m.
name of the place: APS (805) 388-7171
cost: front - $129.35/each and rear - $77.35/each.
they told me it's special ordered and takes 3 weeks. I'm still waiting for them.
as far as for X70's? honestly don't know. i believe they said for models up to '97(not sure, doesn't hurt to give them a call Pat).
good luck.
han.
97 850T5 ... just painted my grille in black(just like the IPD eurogrille)... looks O.K.
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Bill Matthews on
Thursday, 5 February 1998, at 7:54 p.m.
On my 94 855T the largest I can fit is 205x55x16 or 215x45x17. I've got the shiny metal spots showing wearthru on the inside of the fender liner to prove it. You could get more by playing with the offset in the wheel but then the tire would stick out past the fender well and give you that real boy racer look. Another option is to go from a Z rated tire to a V or even lower speed rated tire. You give up some cornering precision but you get a more compliant sidewall in the same size tire if gentler ride is your goal. I have had enough different tires on my car to realize that you can do a lot with sidewalll hieght and speed rating to change the ride - Its a matter of how you want to drive the car.
Bill Matthews
Hockessin DE
94 855T IPD sport springs, Bilstiens, 215x45x17 Toyo Proxes T1's, IPD strut tower brace - I guess you can tell where I stand on the soft ride vs cornering precision curve. IPD ECU & Exhaust system to go fast, Brembo cross drilled rotors to stop fast I love hot rod wagons !
73 1800 ES Stock as a stove except for the paint job and the radio/cd player
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Dennis Wolfe on
Thursday, 5 February 1998, at 8:08 p.m.
Bill,
Thanks for the feed back on the fender well clearance. Question: of the tires you've tried which set up gave the most compliant ride?
Denny Wolfe
Marine City, MI
95 855T - Black w/yellow lab interior
83 BMW R80RT
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Bill Matthews on
Friday, 6 February 1998, at 4:48 p.m.
Most compliant ride comes from the Pirellii 205x55x16 210P's. they are an H rated performance snow tire and a long way from the Z rated tires in sidewall flex. The tire prssure you run can have a noticable affect too but I don't change that much from the Summer Z tires to the winter H tires - 39 psi front 35 psi rear.
Bill Matthews
Hockessin DE
94 855T
73 1800ES
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Patrick on
Thursday, 5 February 1998, at 9:16 p.m.
In the nov/dec issue of street power A&L racing did a project 850 turbo wagon
and did a bunch of performance upgrades. Changing the turbo, HKS EVC etc...
However, they fitted 215/40ZR-17's in the front and 225/40ZR-18's in the back.
That's rite...17's in fron and 18's in back. I'm hoping to be able to put the
the rear set up on the front as well. Let me know any thoughts on this. Might call up A&L and ask them a few questions on that.
Regards
Patrick
95 yellow T-5R
Re: overly sensitive suspension[ALL/1988] posted by Peter on
Friday, 6 February 1998, at 6:00 p.m.
Wider tires on the BACK of an 850... Geez... THAT takes the "Boy Racer of the Year" award!
Next they'll add a wing on the back to neutralize the massive high speed oversteer inherent in a nose heavy front-wheel drive car.
Re: overly sensitive suspension - Top Racks[ALL/1988] posted by Brace on
Thursday, 5 February 1998, at 7:17 a.m.
Best price I could find for Eurorails (P.N. 91666430) was $279.35 from a dealership in MO.. Sorry, but I don't remember the dealerships name. I decided to pass on the eurorails and just get the yakima Q-tower system. It doesn't look as nice as the eurorail system, but it is about $300 less because even if you have the eurorails you still have to purchase towers, locks, and bars to use the yakima rack system. Although, I would suggest that if want to leave the yakima system on your car for long periods of time the eurorail/yakima would be worth the extra $. This is because non eurorail - yakima set up looks a bit obtrusive (kind of like a plumbers truck) and the fit kit (Q-clips) might eventually damage your door gaskets (I agree with pat on this). It is also awkward to install. I use my non-eurorail-yakima rack system very seldom and for short periods of time, ie. vacation trips - few and far between, so the money that I didn't spend on the eurorails bought a yakima space booster box.
I looked at the Thule system also (price very much the same as yakima) and simple liked the yakima design better. Also, Thule dealers were few and far between in my area.
Anyway, the cost for the yakima rack system for a V70 without eurorails is as follows:
Q-towers (1 box of 4) $115.00
Q-clips, fit kit (Q-51for front) $20.00
Q-clips, fit kit (Q-52 for rear) $20.00
58" bars (set of 2) $40.00
6 lock cores $49.50 Be sure to get enough lock cores to use for addtional
attachments so the key will match.
These are retail prices. Agee Bike (www.ageebike.com) has better prices on everything except luggage boxes.