I am going to change out my rear coils and shocks and have been advised(by most) not to go with IPD heavy duty springs. So, I have been looking at reasonably priced aftermarket rear sedan springs. Eeuroparts has Scan tech stock coils for 48.00, 25.00 cheaper that IPD and free shipping!! IPD kills me on shipping because I live in Ohio.

Also, I have been advised in my other post about what rear shocks to go with. The Sachs advantage seems to get high marks. Is that the same shock that Eeuroparts sells as a stock Boge shock? I am looking for the Sachs advantage shock and free shipping. Thanks.

Guys,
Sorry to drag this post out any longer. One more question for Zima. What did you use for spacers under the springs?

I went to Home Depot bought a stack of galvanized washers large enough to fit under the spring. The hole in the center was large too so I bought a second stack that fit inside. I also replaced the hold down bolt with a longer grade 8 bolt and nut. The system was completely adjustable for height and cost less than $20 and outlasted the rest of the car. -- Dave

Used aluminum rod cut to "puck" size from these guys:

https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=12644&step=4&showunits=inches&id=191&top_cat=60

Raw cut was 3.5"dia x 1.5"thick. When I say raw, it truly was. No attempt at finessing the edges or even a consistent thickness/cut for that matter. I did what I could to bevel the edges a bit and drilled out the center hole to accomidate stainless hardware. Ordered 4 pcs. (2 cars) which with shipping was in the $50 range as I recall. Not cheap, but better then buying new springs.

The 1.5" lift was perfect for my application but may be a bit high for others. In that case a 1" or smaller cut would work.

Good luck with your project!

I was wondering how that went. I think I'm the one who recommended Online Metals. I suspected you would have to clean up the "pucks" (good choice of word) but if you tried to get someone to precision cut Al alloy the way you wanted, I bet it would have cost about three times as much.

So they're working out well?

Everything went smoothly and installation was a breeze. Actually considered using a real hockey puck, but glad I didn't :)

http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=pucks

Would like to see it blend solid aluminum...

Put a set of their "overload" springs on an '88. I liked the extra stiffness (10% increase in spring rate) and they got rid of the rear end sag. In fact, I really liked the way the car looked with the lift from the new springs. Absolutely no quality problems.

Good luck! Glen

Did mine last year. Springs and Sachs all round. And, as much as I'd like to say the replacement rear springs picked up my 84's rear end, which was my primary intent....they didn't. Used what I though were HD springs, but after measuring them with the old springs....same size...just more coils. Was really bummed and ready to replace them with wagon springs when a fellow bricker offered the suggestion of using spacers UNDER the springs instead... which I did. Couldn't be happier. Back end is up the way I like it, especially when pulling a trailer. Ride is good and firm but not harsh.

Zima,
Did you go with HD scan tech in the rear, or standard springs?

The replacement variable rate springs I used were purchased 10yrs ago through a classified ad that included a bunch of factory Volvo stuff so I assumed they were factory also, but I can't say for sure, and frankly doubt it now. In hindsight there was no need to replace my existing springs, since the spacer alone would have provided the lift I needed.

The recomendation given to me was to go with WAGON springs and not HD springs which were much stiffer. Others can perhaps give you a better comparison between the two. As I recall, the HD were really harsh with no load.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Zima, this http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/7005/nm/1985_1993_Volvo_240_Sachs_OEM_Rear_Shock_Absorber/category_id/188 is the only Sachs shock that I see on the FCP groton website. Is this the Sachs Advantage shock?

Also, would this Boge http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDetail.aspx?id=1206641B

the same shock since Sachs/Boge are owned by the same company now?

Yes, them are the ones...from FCP Groton. There are differences between the two. The Automatics retain the cushier factory ride. I like it a bit firmer so went with the Advantage. Same mfgr.

IPD has the automatics for a little less...not sure on shipping.
http://www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-200/Suspension-&-Steering/Shocks-&-Struts/Shocks-&-Struts-Boge/p-69-265-469-731/

I did all four corners of two cars with Sachs Advantage shocks/struts from FCP Groton. No problems. (They came in Scan Tech bags.) I like the ride.
--
Thanks for all the help. DougC 1981 242, IPD bars and Turbo wheels, M46 :::::::::::::::::: 1993 245, B230 NA L-Block, M47, Turbo bars::::::::::::1984 760, B23FT, M46, waiting to donate engine to 242

You understand that coils are not a wear item, right? I mean, there are certainly cases in which stock coil springs develop sag, but ordinarily, replacing a coil spring with the exact same spring will not show much improvement, if any.

I know what you are saying, about replacing a good spring with a good spring. That is why now I am thinking HD Scan Tech because they are supposed to be only 10% heavier, not like the IPD overloads. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

And, no, there are no quality issues with Scantech coils that I know of. I'm using Scantech HD front coils and love them. Scantech's bad reputation comes from rubber/plastic parts.

I changed out a set of rear springs on my sedan and it firmed the ride and helped it to not sit low when loaded. I think springs should be replaced at some point.