Anyone install the IPD bars on a S70 T5 (not 850). IPD states 3-4 hours. Call me crazy but I took a very quick look under the rear and no bar. Did the 98 T5SE come with a front/rear sway bar. Was the front tough to remove/install?

Any thoughts would be great.

Paul

Hi-

I had the IPD bars installed on my S70 T5M. Yes, there were smaller OD bars there stock, that were replaced with the thicker IPD bars.

The rear bar is easy to get at, but from what I under stand, to replace the front bar, you need to raise the engine a bit to thread it in. Thats why they recommend professional installation.

I had it down at my local volvo dealer, took total of 2 hours to install both bars.

Joe

Thanks Joe,

Did you find a big/noticable diference between the stock bars. I am wondering if it's worth it on the 70. I know for some of the older 850 with no bars, it obviously makes a BIG difference. Just wondering if I should do the shocks first.

I did find the rear by the way after the second look.

Thanks

Paul

Paul-

I did find the handling through the corners to be much improved. I used to complain that my car was wallowing through the curves like my big old grand marquis.

Perhaps someday I can do Bilsteins and IPD springs too!

Thanks, Joe.

One thing I found to be a great improvement are the 225/50 16 Toyo Proxes T1S tires over the stock 205/55 XGTs or Pilots for that matter. I 'll try the bilsteins and strut brace before the bar (if ever).

Thanks

If you're looking for the better bang for the buck upgrade, I'd suggest you give the IPD swaybars a try first. They'll offer the most immediate improvement in handling that you'll notice right away into the first corner you encounter. Bilsteins help a bit in the handling department but the most significant difference I noticed from them was a stiffer ride. Same goes for lowering springs but they do lower the car's centre of gravity making for less roll in turns. I'd list the OMP strut brace as the second best upgrade I did to the suspension of my '95 850 turbo. In my opinion, the 2 best bang for the buck upgrades to a stock 850 suspension are the IPD swaybars and the OMP strut brace.

Derspi,

I've read your posts before and respect your opinion.

It sounds as if its just about unanimous tht the IPD swaybars improve handling. My question to you is: What affect do the bars have in terms of ride harshness, especially over one-sided road degradations such as potholes? I should mention that being an older guy I place a fair amount of emphasis on ride compliance, however I do want to improve the overall stability of the car.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

P.S.- I did try Bilsteins and they were unacceptable in terms of increased ride harshness.

I probably can't give you the definitive answer you were hoping for because I don't own an S70. I'm aware that there are some differences between an 850 (which is what I own) and the newer S70s so how my experience applies to an S70 I can't say for sure, just so you know.

As you know, the IPD swaybars get high marks across the board from those who have tried them, the people that don't try them, always figure they'll end up with a poorer ride. Yes, you will end up with a bit less ride compliance over those one-wheel or one-sided shock motions--by definition, that's what stiffer swaybars will do, that is, make the suspension less independent if you will. How high you place ride compliance over performance is unknown to me but if I had to pick just the one single mod to do to the suspension of my own car, I'd pick the IPD swaybars. Overall, the swaybars and strut brace, had very little negative side effect to the car's ride (brace improved ride a bit actually). But, the swaybars improved the car's response quite drastically on my car even with the Bilsteins and lowering springs I did prior. Just so you know, I bought the car with just the standard supension (no "sport" suspension) so I had the smallest swaybars possible from the factory and, therefore, had a lot to gain from the larger IPD swaybars.

Simply put, if you're looking for a Lexus-like ride (which is impossible on an 850 or S70 mind you) then leave the suspension alone (or go get yourself a Lexus! j/k). I think the performance of the swaybars are well worth the slight loss in ride compliance but that's just me, a young performance-minded guy talking.

Good luck with it.

Thanks for your excellent response. Think I'm going to give them a try. After all I'm not that old.

I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised with your Volvo's handling after getting the bars on. Drop me an email if you get the chance afterward to tell me your impression of them. My email is derspi@hotmail.com

Derspi, Thanks for the input.

Keep in mind that the S70 has desent sway bars front and back, as one of the posters mentioned and from what I hear, the difference between stock and IPD is not huge or at least not as drastic as on an 850 (so it seems according to other posters).

I agree with you on the brace and shocks, which is the first thing I'll tackle.

Thanks

Paul,

FWIW I did the Bilsteins and the IPD strut-tower brace only. Living in Michigan with its roads from hell, I knew beefing up the anti-sway bars would have meant too harsh a ride.

Many posters state that Bilsteins made the ride stiffer. That is not my experience. I would say the ride is far less jarring with better control.

Anyway, how fast do you have to take a corner for street driving?

Bryan