Our 99 V70 GLT now has about 56,000 km. Both my wife and I are noticing a deteroriation in the handling. The car seems a little sloppier in the handling lately and a little harsher in handling bumps in the road. We just switched to our winter tires and don't feel much difference, so I'm not sure the tires are the problem. We are running recommended air pressure in the tires but find lower works a bit better, at least for the harshness. Anyone have any advice on where to start to improve this?

Do we start with tire/wheels, or go to upgrading suspension bits? The Volvo recommended tire pressures seem high to me at 34psi. Does anyone run tires below the recommended without the underinflation problems. Summer tires are the OEM Michelins and winter are the Swedish tire (can't remember the name).

I also have a Saab 9.5 with 27,000 km and driving the Volvo is becoming very disheartening after driving this car. It didn't use to be. Any Help?

I added the IPD bars to my R wagon (and strut tower brace) and it did make a differance. The car leans less, and corners faster than before. Now my wagon had bars on it OEM, the new ones were larger diametor with stiffer bushings. On a GLT the differance would be more noticeable, since the OEM bars are smaller than what comes with the R. Look at any sports car, or sports oriented car and you will see larger diametor stabilizer bars, they are there for a reason. Why else would IPD offer your money back if not satisfied?

Wills
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98 R AWD Wagon IPD ECU, 2.5 Dual Exhaust, Dawes MBC, 94 854 turbo, IPD Goodies, 92 740 Rag Wag

Forgot to mention front sway bar endlinks (aka, link rod ends). The bushings soften up over time and distance, and perhaps yours are getting spongy; this would certainly effect crispness in handling. Replacing them is a DIY job if you're good with tools, and the parts are cheap. If you look under the front of the car (or remove the front wheels) you'll see a short, vertical 'link rod' on each wheel. That's them.

Your mileage is a little low for this to be a serious problem; usually replacement is recommended around 100-120K km. Still, they're three years old, and age/heat/cold have possibly taken a toll.

If you really are serious about improving handling, instal the IPD sway bars
IPDUSA.COM
and upgrade the struts/shocks. Also you might consider 16 or 17" wheels (I am assuming you have 15" now?)

Wills
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These things add tautness to the ride, and won't be felt as improvements if a stiffer ride isn't what you were after. And stiffer eventually means more squeaks, not fewer.

These things, will however, make the car better at cornering. I don't think swaybars from IPD will help, even if they're available. I believe they've been unable to engineer a significant improvement, as FWD Volvos apparently have a pretty effective rear swaybar. A tower brace will help with turn-in because it helps counteract the incipient 'lightness' typical in FWD steering (IPD's is $250, a Volvo-branded alloy is $150 -- why didn't this come installed as original equipment?). But again, this increases torsional frame rigidity, and some have complained about the development of new squeaks especially in the dashboard.

One thing we both forgot to mention: front swaybar endlinks.

I had a similar experience, and eventually had to put on new rubber. At the recommendation of my indy tech I replaced the Eagle GTs with Michelin Pilots -- man, what a difference! It's hardly the same car. Far smoother, responsive, and softer. The GTs look cool, but I think this car was tuned to the pricier Michelins.

Recommended tire pressure is 36psi (250 kga)
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David \\ (98 S70 T5SE Black, misc mods (mostly lighting), red calipers) (92 940GLE)

How old are your summer tires? Are they the original Michelins? Even if you still have "legal" tread depth the rubber compounds do dry out and become less "sticky' over time. Do you get wheelspin in the rain? If so, replace your tires.

I recently replaced a set of barely-worn 6-year old Dunlop D40s on an '86 Porsche with a new set of Yokohamas and the difference in ride and handling was simply amazing. From being extremely annoyed by the car, I'm in love again.

If you do replace your summer tires, I'd suggest a 4-wheel alignment at the same time.

-bill d cat

34 psi is not high. i run 38 psi on my 17". 32~36 psi should be good for a 15". never run anything below 32 psi,that's as low as i'd go. best thing u could do is replace the shock and spring mounts. these are rubber and tend to wear out ~50k...i suspect that's what ur feeling. (s80 models have shown premature shock/spring mount wear at 20~30k.) also, some shocks may wear faster, so u're not getting the damping u need...not likely at 50k tho, more like 80~100k...i'd go with the mounts first