Are we really stuck with KYB OEM replacements for "upgrades?" Seems Summit Racing is selling Bilsteins still...but I don't really know that $500 is a good investment if I can't stretch it to more replacement pieces?

KYB is not so good no more.


If you have a facebook account, you can ask here, with an international audience.

Volvo 164
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12163788922/

You can join yourself with a facebook account. I can ask for you as you like.


You may want to check the revised Bilstein lineup. I believe Bilstein offers a version of the HD (B6) and the Touring (B4) damper for 164. May want to check the spring rate with damper compression and rebound, though should be plug n' play.

https://www.bilstein.com/en/

So, the Bilstein (B4) Touring front and rear. And the Bilstein (B6) HD front only. Maybe new old stock for the 164 HD rear axle someplace?

VOLVO 164 SALOON 2.9 [Details] All years, carb or injected.

http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.aspx?34=0,100121&240=0&32=6247&230=29&1271=48&1272=b3660b6e-df5b-4832-b898-39c26c15d8b0&1273=1&10=BBC4852188A74D608F1559114CF49DAE018004&14=4&12=130



Part Number: 19-019420


o.I
BILSTEIN - B4 OE Replacement
Fitting Position: Front Axle,
Gas Pressure,
Bottom Yoke,
Top pin


[Store selection in shopping basket]


Part Number: 19-019635


o.I
BILSTEIN - B4 OE Replacement
Fitting Position: Rear Axle,
Gas Pressure,
Top eye,
Bottom eye


[Store selection in shopping basket]


Part Number: 24-002899


134.00 EUR / Piece (excl. VAT)
BILSTEIN - B6 Performance
Fitting Position: Front Axle,
Gas Pressure,
Bottom Yoke,
Top pin

You may be able to find eBay or Amazon or damper vendor deals if they are not knock-offs. Try AutoZone also. Avoid Meyle, Sachs by Bog or Boge by Sachs, and the like. I dunno if you could get Euro Gabriel and if they are good anymore.

-------------------------


KYB seems ot offer the Excel-G front and rear and like 240, the Gas-a-just for rear only. KYB Gas-a-just was good in 1989. Not now.




-------------------------


In the UK. Yet I'm unsure of the brand quality.

https://www.classicswede.co.uk/Springs___Dampers_1_series/cat1733345_1625018.aspx


------------------------

iPd offers rear Bilstein HDs with a modded lower mount for the 140 & 160 lower trailing arm. Shipped on order. Not stocked? Does that help you?


104296 - HD Rear Shock 140 160

129$ Available to order - Ships in about 10 business days

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/6108/104296-hd-rear-shock-140-160


iPd also has the front dampers for 99$

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/6107/100194-hd-front-shock


--------------------------------
FCP Euro. Back ordered. No ETA.
Volvo Shock Absorber (142 144 164) - Bilstein HD 24-002899

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-shock-absorber-142-144-164-24-002899

No front Bilstein at FCP Euro.



--------------------------

I know Koni made a set .....

http://www.koni-na.com/en-US/NorthAmerica/Home/

I guess they don't?

Here is KONI Red rear for 164:

http://classicgarage.com/80-1932.html


It would appear KONI for 164 is NLA, yet remaining stock is being soled off. Persistence may result in finding a matching set of a Koni model. Red or black Classic?

Bilstein may be your best bet as Touing (B4) or HD (B6).

Hope that helps.

Damper Boyeeeee.



--
Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

Wow, thanks for all that info!

As a matter of fact, I am a member of the Volvo 164 Facebook Group! I was recently posting about a coolant blowout, and was about to press on with this next question, but I figured I'd let that topic die down a bit before I post up another question....don't want to overwhelm them, lol..

What I found yesterday mirrors pretty much the same results you were able to find (thanks again!), and I did get a note (via Turbopricks, er...bricks) from the guy who apparently runs that ClassicSwede site. I've not heard good things from his equipment and honestly, not that I've got fragile sensibilities, but "Your google skills are weak" isn't exactly the kind of sales pitch that works for me (man, i hate posting on Turbobricks...)

Bilsteins are what I'm after....what I've always been after. I would very much like to find a full set of B8's actually. If the B6 is for "stock ride height," then the B8 are supposed to be for "adjusted suspension" heights. That is what I'm looking for.

So I did a little "cross platform reconnaissance." As it happens, the KYB part number KG4550 gas-a-just shock is also the same part number listed for C3 corvettes (63-82). ALSO listed as options for the C3 Corvette are Bilstein B6 part number 24-009461.....OR.....the B8 part number 24-184526! (both from their new line up, i gather). That potentially solves the front...but I'm having a hell of time finding a cross platform for the rear. I was hoping there would be a part number for the 240....but alas....as far as Bilstein is concerned, the 240 is also a dead platform...

The search continues!

As it happens...the Bilstein B6 Part Number 24-002899 is available from Summit Auto for a song, right now! All else fails, I'll run IPDs 240 leftovers on the rear, and the Summit fronts

Hi cbevis,

Oh, very pleased to halps yooo. The Volvo 164 is the worthiest of RWD Volvo causes. The B30, the M410 (or if BW35, adjust them bands through the holes in the floor and regular fluid changes!). You only get the full notion of that B30 torque through the M400 or M410.

And the search engines are not always your friend. Google results show bias with all sorts of inquiries on any inquiry area. Bing does well to counterbalance though you may get more false positives or unrelated results. Most other web searches resell Google or Bing.

Like using Google or Bing to search for Volvo 164s for sale. I'll use these and target 'craigslist.org' or 'cragslist.ca' (Canada craigslist) domains. I'll post current craigslist Volvo 164 sales results on the Volvo 164 Facebook Group.

I'd not futzed all too much with this new Bilstein damper model lineup. Yet it appears, though I'm unsure, Bilstein (B4) Touring front and rear dampers are available for the entire Volvo 240 model year production range on all 240 models. The Bilstein (B4) Touring is the best bang for the buck for 240. They are somewhat close to the real made in Germany Boge "Turbo Gas" or performance that I installed in the 1980s at two shops I worked at.

You should still be able to find Bilstein (B6) HD for 240 up to the late 1980s when the strut tube spacer was permanently affixed to the strut tube, limit strut cartridge dimensions to that like installing factory Boge to the 1970s and early to mid 1980s where you had to use the drop in spacer (or a little or a lot of sticky grease) to stick on that spacer. Other than ABS or no ABS as a guide, no one offers up definitive answer as to the late 1980s cut off as to whether Bilstein (B6) HD fits the front 240 strut tubes. Sachs, Meyle, and I'm no fan of today's KYB. KYB Gas-a-justs used to be good and a good match to Boge performance if mixing Boge Gas performance at the front and Gas-a-just rear in the mid-late 1980s. It was alright and the KYBs lasted as much as the Boge gas performance or sport shocks.

I'm unsure about that UK sight. These look like Made in China stuff. Buying and importing may be very $$$ for your 164. I only mention it as they have something for 164. Maybe asking on the the UK Volvo form may help (https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/)?

Yeah, the larger Turbobricks forum with like 7-8k members seem to be little more than slapping on +Turbo from a 700-900 into a neglected and abused stock normally aspirated 240 and doing burnouts or welding an open differential and drifting / burnouts to the point that the M47 transmission and / or welded diff breaks. No one seems interested in learning how to race on the track or mixed-surface racing. They have folk racing in Nordica in Finland and like places. They do care for their RWD with some rather large investment in their Volvos though they do crash sometimes.

So you have or mean to lower your 164? I've read the Bilstein (B6) HD is meant for normal-ride height suspension. Yet the B8 Performance may be meant for lowered or restrained articulation. Koni was good for this. No more Koni on most RWD Volvo?

Anyhoo, the cold medicine makes me goofy and chatty. Sorry.

So, let's look for some 240 Bilstein (B6) HD. In moist instances the available Bilstein (B6) HD models are probably in-stock old stock before the Bilstein re-set their damper model lineup.

Though on this form, and elsewhere, many felt the Bilstein HD for 240 rear dampers too easily compressed and did not rebound as well. Maybe some variance between what rear springs are on the different 240 models. One 240 sedan of mine has the Sweden TME springs meant for Wagon, so a light rake with not much drop. At first the rear Bilstein HD seemed to compress to easily. Not so much the issue. Yet I do not motor aggressively. These meant for 240 rear Bilstein HD dampers may be served well with and high spring rate with limited articulation like that on lowered or larger diameter wire. I dunno about progressive versus fixed rate springs.

Also, I believe, yet am not sure. the 240 rear damper mounts are the same at the top and below where it anchors at the trailing arm. Though for some reason their may be issue with the 164 carbon steel tube spacer versus 240. I'm unsure. Should be a drop-in though.


Bilstein HD damper for 240 rear
https://www.ipdusa.com/products/4953/100190-hd-rear-shock-240-260


iPd has Koni yellow hydraulic dampers
https://www.ipdusa.com/products/4962/106693-sport-rear-shock-240-260


Bilstein HD rear for 164, 140:
https://www.ipdusa.com/products/6108/104296-hd-rear-shock-140-160


Bilstein HD Front for 164 (The same sold for 140, in spite of the added front end 164 weight)
https://www.ipdusa.com/products/6107/100194-hd-front-shock


I sort of doubt you'll find Bilstein B8 for 240. Yet as you found some cross-reference application, your luck may hold.

Hope that halps you. The cowld medicine makes me goofy. Goofier with a caffeinated beverage. Sorry to go on so.

Hope that halps.

Coughy and Coffee Boy.
--
Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

OR....lets try a different approach...

Logic check:
What I've been able to determine is that the KYB part number KG4550 gas-a-just shock is the best shock I can throw under the front of the 164. Now...I also know that the corvette, from 63-82, can ALSO use that front shock. Does it not stand to reason then that whatever else might be listed as a front shock option for the 63-82 corvette would also apply to the front of a 164?

I have a possible solution for you--at least for the front -- a pair of Volvo new-old-stock GT shocks--still in the original boxes. I bought them years ago for future use. But I've been running a set (4) of old orange Konis (lifted from a scrapped car) on my '69 144S and don't think I'll ever need anything else. If interested call me at six-three-one 968-8933 -- or email at ---fastforwardphoto(AT)yahoo(DOT)com---Dave

Thank you for the offer! If this whole Bilstein thing doesn't pan out, i'll let you know!