Trying to order rear coil springs for a 94 940 sedan. Tasca says given my VIN I should be ordering a different part, # 6819404. This returns a spring for a wagon marked C. I would like to know if someone has product plate information that will identify the suspension, especially the coil spring.

Unfortunately, I replaced the coil springs several years ago, so I can't check the original for color markings, etc. The car did fine, but now it is sitting too low in the rear. I used 1273977 at that time.

My next question is if 6819404 is for a wagon but were in fact used on my sedan from the factory, would IPD's overload coil springs work? Tasca rep and a few other places say it would ride too high. Is that true even if the original spring was for a wagon?

And one final fact. Volvopartswebstore shows both 1273977 and 6819404 as for sedan and wagon. What's the difference between the two, other than price? Nordicar shows that 1273977 is a standard spring for a wagon and 6819404 is a heavy duty spring for a sedan and gives two additional part numbers for HD on wagons and standard on sedans.

So, again, can the HD sedan spring be replaced by IPD's overload coils? How much of a difference is there between HD sedan springs and HD wagon springs?

talk to these guys (email)... worth a try

http://www.voluparts.com/

My 94 940 also stated C in the chassis code for the rear spring, which refers to #6819404. This spring is used with shock absorber #1329500. Your #1273977 spring is meant to be used with Nivomat absorber - a self levelling system for the rear. This from blue Volvo Pocketbook. I'm currently using #6819404.

Volvopartswebstore is correct in stating sedans also use #1273977. Its meant for sedans with Nivomat. Can't comment on wagons using #6819404 but the weight differences between sedan and wagon is around 30 to 50kg depending on tail extension and accessories. This refers to the weight of whole car. Nowhere in the book only the rear weight is stated so as to facilitate choosing springs for the rear.

One thing is clear about the IPD spring is for owners who haul loads of cargo at the back. It is an aftermarket item. Could be used for both wagon and sedan. Up to owners to experiment.

Amarin.

This was helpful, thank you. Neither Tasca nor Volvopartswebstore indicate that 1273977 is for Nivomat, hence my confusion. And that would explain why the car doesn't sit right.

A Tasca rep says 6819404 is only available from Sweden and is insanely expensive - $157 a piece. 1359710 seems to be available on the cheap from FCP in Lesjofors brand. From what I can tell, 1359710 is a heavy duty spring for the sedan.

Can you confirm that? Not sure I want to spend $157 x 2 for new springs.

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94 944 na 319,000 and still rolling - 05 XC90 2.5t AWD for the wife

The blue Pocketbook just deciphers the chassis code but doesn't say which rear spring is for sedan or wagon. No mention any HD spring. So below is what I could gather from the web:

Spring #1359710 is for 740/940 wagon conversion from Nivomat which had used spring #1273977. Spring #1359710 have thicker coil than #1273977. Both springs have 400mm uncompressed height. Spring #1273977 may be softer and have lower ride height but compensated later by Nivomat.

Spring #6819404 is for HD use sedan/wagon with thicker coil (thicker than springs above) with lower 380mm uncompressed height. Its harder to compress but when the car sits down the ride height would still be in specs.


Hope these helps,
Amarin.

Interesting. When the blue book says thicker, is that wire diameter or overall diameter of the spring? Volvopartswebstore shows 6819404 with a smaller diameter wire.

Either way, you've been helpful, and I appreciate your time. Not sure what I'm going to do. $364 is a lot to pay for new springs. I may see if FCP can translate 6819404 into one of their Lesjofors stock numbers.
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94 944 na 319,000 and rolling; 05 XC90 2.5t AWD for the wife; 97 Chevy Suburban 3/4 ton 6.5 diesel daily driver; 92 745t beautiful condition (sold); 88 764t failed experiment (sold)

When the blue book says thicker, is that wire diameter or overall diameter of the spring?

-> The blue book doesn't mention any wire diameter. I got those diameters (not spring overall diameter) from few other sources.

Spring #1273977 has wire diameter of 11.3mm, #1359710 has 11.9mm and #6819404 has 12.7mm (measured this on my car). And there's also spring #6819405 with diameter of 13mm.

Surprisingly spring #1359710 were installed on 940 wagons - confirmed this by looking into websites that sells 940 wagons with their chassis number mentioned.

So that leaves spring #6819404 and #6819405 as HD variety. Even if #6819404 installed as standard in 940 sedan, it must have been coupled with soft damper/absorber to balance it out.

Amarin.

I'll talk with FCP and IPD and see what I can figure out. I need to do something but can't stomach the dealer's price. I'm only considering IPD's overload coil because they're at a discounted price right now and from everything posted so far, it almost sounds like it would be comparable. But I don't want the car to sit too high or have an abnormally harsh ride. I'm teaching my oldest son to drive in this car, so I don't want to do anything that would make it squirrely either.
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94 944 na 319,000 and rolling; 05 XC90 2.5t AWD for the wife; 97 Chevy Suburban 3/4 ton 6.5 diesel daily driver; 92 745t beautiful condition (sold); 88 764t failed experiment (sold)

A quick check of stock at PullaPart locations shows one 940 at their Atlanta East, Atlanta South and Charlotte facilities. Their price for coil springs is less than $15 each. Just sayin'. Bring calipers (the tool). -- Dave

Amarin wrote - "So that leaves spring #6819404 and #6819405 as HD variety. Even if #6819404 installed as standard in 940 sedan, it must have been coupled with soft damper/absorber to balance it out."
From my experience it doesn't work out that way. I base my opinion on having monkeyed with spring and shock combinations with both 140 and 240 series Volvos to accomplish carrying capability and general handling. When I purchased my 1980 245 it had been used for towing a camper and family vacations. It had overload springs (larger wire diameter) and brand new standard Volvo shock absorbers. What I found was the car had uncomfortable gyrations before settling down over bumps. I had a set of HD Bilsteins on the shelf so went ahead and installed them. That took care of the gyrations but resulted in an extremely stiff ride. I went to a later standard 245 spring (larger wire diameter than standard 1980 245) and that, with the Bilsteins, was a happy medium. I'll say this--it took a lot of crawling around under Volvos with my dollar store plastic caliper to gather info. :-) Dave

Thanks for the info. I'm saying "it must have been coupled with soft damper/absorber to balance it out" as when I looked at my installed absorbers (#1329500 Volvo OE made by Sachs) they're the slimmer ones compared to other Volvo absorbers which looked more heavy duty. The ride is just okay although I would like it to be firmer. Maybe its just the Michelin tires known for its soft walls. Currently using 15' rims. Could change to 16' or 17' rims for firmer ride.

Amarin.