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Picked up a 1988 745 with 142,000 miles from suburbia. Struts are worn, but no obvious worn parts in suspension. I live in San Francisco and 90% of my driving is on city streets - plenty of pavement skips, road cracks, poor road repairs. I'm keeping the car at stock height with the stock springs. I want to be fairly insulated from the rough pavement I travel over most of the time.
Question: Boge / Sachs Turbo gas front or Bilstein HD's?
I can get a good price on a set of new in the box KYB gas-adjust for the rears - how well would these mate up with either the Sachs Turbo Gas or the Billy HD's?
I've asked on Turbobricks, but most of the guys there have put on lowering springs or cut the coils - that's not the ride I'm after.
Are there any bushings that are immediately suspect on a car this old that I should just get out of the way? I've had the car on a lift and everything looks ok to me.
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I would say to avoid Monroe. I put shocks and struts on my 245 less than 30,000 miles ago and the rears are shot.
Greg
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I put Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks on the rear of my S90 a few years and 40k mi ago. They still seem to be fine. Disclaimer: it's hard to detect any decline in performance (of anything) when it is so gradual, but the ride is good. The Sensa-Tracs were not cheap.
Monroe market a variety of shocks to meet various price points. I see their name on shocks being advertised at big automotive chains as "low price specials", but they are called Magnum and Reflex, etc.
You (usually) get what you paid for.
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Bob: Son's XC70, daughter's 940, my 81 and 83 240's, 89 745 (V8) and S90. Also '77 MGB and some old motorcycles
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There was a post in the last few months that said they got some Volvo shocks from Tasca and they were Monores! I'm not joking. It might have been in 200 forum.
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I own a Volvo or Does Volvo Own Me? Try the easy to search Expanded Style FAQ Index http://40mph.com/Brickboard_700-900_FAQ_Expanded_Index_Version/
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If Boge:
- Boge Automatics or what they call the made in Mexico as Sachs Advantage. (Somehow they don't seem the same, though).
- Boge Turbo Gas / Boge Super Touring (stiffer).
Next, we have Bilstein:
- Bilstein Touring. I'm uncertain, yet a problem may exist where the Bilstein Touring upper mounts that secure to the stud may rattle like they apparently do on 240s).
****** Not certain how Boge Turbo Gas / Sachs Super Touring compares with Bilstein Touring. ***********
- Bilstein HDs may be to stiff for you.
Konis? Not soft enough for you.
Tokikos may be soft enough for you, if made for 700 series.
I'd avoid KYB. No good any longer. They are more like Monroe and Gabriel shocks that fail quickly.
I advice AGAINST mixing very different struts up front with rear shocks.
A good match may be Bilstein Touring front and Boge Turbo Gas or Automatics rear. Yet, be careful, the Boge made in Mexico that is branded as Sachs are different.
If you want smooth, use a more compliant bushing material like Volvo OEM rubber bushings, save for the front cone bushings on the front strut rod between the unibody and the bottom of the strut tower.
At 142,000 miles and 25 years, please consider replacing the strut mounts, the rear suspension bushings, ball joints, and steering rack outer and, unlikely, inner tie rods.
cheers,
dud.
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KYB *remains* good, I think they had rough spot in manufacturing in the *past*. That's over, KYB can still be on the list. I'm tired of this bashing against KYB. They're still a decent mid-level shock/strut, not the best, not the worst.
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I own a Volvo or Does Volvo Own Me? Try the easy to search Expanded Style FAQ Index http://40mph.com/Brickboard_700-900_FAQ_Expanded_Index_Version/
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Bushings : The most commonly worn bushings on the front of a 740 turbo are the cone bushings - 2 per side. I think they're the .... radius arm bushings?
Kyb gas-a-justs are my favorite shocks, but they are not at all forgiving on rough roads. I feel most bumps. They do really plant the rear of the car and control roll really really well, but bumpy roads they are not going to make gentler.
I have boge/sachs gas-a-justs in the front and KYB gas-a-just on the rear. I love the KYB's because they're pretty effective at damping. I hate the turbo-gas shocks. They're not cushy, but they are a bit soft. I think they're wimpy/underdamping shocks, and when I bought them, they came with a warning that they're NOT meant for turbo cars, despite being "turbo-gas".
Someone just posted the other day how Bilstein touring shocks are "cadillac ride" style, which sounds like what you'd probably want. I think there are fitment issues with the Bilsten tourings. Rattling or looseness or something like that, but I'm not sure.
What about something like Monroe shocks?
Good Luck!
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I ordered Sachs turbo gas all around and new radius arm bushings. The rears are on, but my buddy doing the install said he would like to replace the upper strut mounts while he is in there in the front. I'll be placing an order the next few days for those (will be using genuine Volvo). Fortunately, the front struts aren't totally shot.
What made the biggest difference so far, believe it or not, was replacing the worn transmission shift linkage bushings on the AW71. There was a constant rattle when the car was running. When that noise disappeared, the subjective ride quality of the car doubled or tripled, I kid you not.
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On my 745, the previous owner installed the Bil HD's all around, but found the ride too harsh and returned them to Bil's USA HQ for revalving at (IIRC) $25 each.
I would describe the ride now as "firm"..a bit rough on choppy city streets but very good on the highway where the extra stability is nice at those speeds.
I have the TurboGas on all 4 corners of the 81-240 and find them a good compromise between control and smoothness.
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Bob: Son's XC70, daughter's 940, my 81 and 83 240's, 89 745 (V8) and S90. Also '77 MGB and some old motorcycles
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Gas-adjust lean stiffer ride in rear, good for wagons and performance, and they do work very well at absorbing bumps. Sounds like you'd should go for Boge. I think HD's are performance shocks too?
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Gas adjusts give a rougher ride than boge turbo gas. I have one set of each on my 940s and wish they both had the boge
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Exactly
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I own a Volvo or Does Volvo Own Me? Try the easy to search Expanded Style FAQ Index http://40mph.com/Brickboard_700-900_FAQ_Expanded_Index_Version/
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Sorry, one more response: the front control rod bushings are almost certainly shot. Replace with urethanes for long life. The rest of the bushings are probably fine.
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See the 700/900 "FAQ" at the menu bar top screen left side.
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Get a set of polyurethanes and new bolts with threadlocker.
Check your sway bar also, the rattles are annoying.
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I have one car (745) with Bilstein HDs and three with Sachs Boge Turbo Gas. The latter last a long time, have a controlled but softer ride, and are very nice. The Bilsteins are very controlled and firm, transmitting far more road vibration through the suspension. If you want isolation, go for the Boges.
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See the 700/900 "FAQ" at the menu bar top screen left side.
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