I'm shopping for shocks for my '94 850 Turbo Sedan and I keep seeing a "not for T5" restriction for the fronts. What is an 850 T5? And what's so different about the suspension?

An 850 T5 just means Turbo or high pressure turbo. Ever since the _70's came out, instead of calling the I5 high pressure turbos, Turbo, they just call them T5 now.

I think it has something to do with the fact that the Turbo has a stiffer suspension with stiffer, lower springs, with shocks/struts with higher bound and rebound, compared to the GLT, and the base model.

IPD lists the same parts numbers for Bilsteins for all 850-SVC70s, 1994-2000.

While the springs may be different, and the shocks/struts may be internally a little different (sports models would have stiffer shocks/struts) I am unaware that the external dimensions would differ. Suggest you ask the seller to check on this.

"T5s" are 850-SVC70s with the high pressure turbocharged inline 5 cylinder motor. Apparently puting badges on the back of the cars that reads "Turbo" became déclassé when Honda Civic rice rockets began to sport 2 or 3 "Turbo" badges. Volvo marketing must have thought "T5" looked more sophisticated.

-Groundhog Phil

Phil Punxsutawney wrote:

"Volvo marketing must have thought "T5" looked more sophisticated."

Yep, like every other manufacturer these days, the marketing types think that acronyms are cooler than actual car names. I don't know, just my opinion but if this keeps up, we'll soon run into generic-sounding car models like the Ford ABC and BMW XYZ!

The original Datsun 240Z (ca. 1969) was sold as the "Nissan Fairlady Z" in the Japanese home market...

-Groundhog Phil

So there is a "regular turbo" (mine) and a "high pressure turbo"? I notice that the pocket data book rates the T5 engine at 240hp and the T at 225. Can't see what that has to do with the shocks though.

rest-of-world market spec differ from US. T5R has 240hp, R has 250hp.

T5 or Turbo name difference again depends on market preferences. US calls them Turbo for 94 and earlier, i think, while the rest just called them T5s.

as for springs, there IS a difference between 850 and 70series - generally 850s had less forgiving suspension, 70 series slightly better ride (after too many 850 owners complained about the hard ride, volvo dialled in a bit of comfort into the 70 series).

all said, i am not sure of the difference in Front shocks between Turbo and T5. in fact i don't think there's any. just hazarding a guess but prolly, the warning you saw is for Turbo/T5 owners not to choose NA shox.

rgds

jeff

95 855T5A, SAM chip, IPD swaybars, full S/sprint exos, Bilsteins.

The T5 and Turbo are the same (high pressure turbo, initially 225 HP later 240 HP). In the US the Turbo badge was replace by the T5 while here in Europe it used to be T5 all the time. So its the same car.

yeah it's the same here in SE Asia, we never got the Turbo name just T5 all along. but i believe the 850T5R wagon existed in Europe at the same time and they got 240hp engine isnt it. also slight differences in the actual turbo unit - we 850T5s and auto Rs get the 15G while the Manual R got the 16T.

rgds

jeff from Malaysia

I always thought the same but when I was in Paris last Spring I saw a wagon that said 850 turbo on the back and was French registered (not an import). Just thought I'd add this.

Rade