I just upgraded the suspension on my 93 945T w/ 120K miles. IPD front and rear sway bars, Bilstein shocks and struts, IPD overload rear springs (I've often need to carry extra weight), and Bridgestone Turanza Revo tires. The results are mixed in my mind. The cornering and body roll are greatly improved. It feels great going through curves at speed and having the body stay relatively flat. I haven't really pushed it yet but the difference is obvious. The day I picked it up I went to one of my jobs and wound up having to transport 2 sets of Baker Scafolds complete with 2 platforms and a double set of wheels. No problem what ever!!, The car handled great! The problem I'm having is with the ride, It feels like a SUV. It hops and jumps over small road bumps or uneven pavement, I live in Jersey so uneven roads are the norm. I came out of the lincoln tunnels the other day and I had to slow way down in order to keep my teeth in my head.

I spoke to IPD (who were very cool) They said they would exchange the Bilsteins for Boges, no problem. That the Boges give a softer ride. But I'm nervous about doing it, cause I just don't know what the result would be. Anybody Have any imput??

When I installed Tokico shocks with the otherwise stock suspension my 244T in the early 90s, I had encountered the same problem as you. (I already had the Austin Healy overdrive, now I had the suspension too!) I also live in the NYC region, where the roads are better suited to Farm-alls and John Deeres than to performance suspensions. Things improved somewhat when I moved to 65 series tires (240 turbos had 60 series from the factory). For this winter, I've just installed what would have been the factory tire/wheel setup for a NA 240: 185/70-14. Now the Toks feel just right on most roads and very good on hilly country roads! Note: these are fresh ones, replaced on warranty. I wonder if they (and Bilsteins) are designed for the standard Volvo tire/suspension configuration?

Thanks for all the imput guys. As far as tires go I just installed 205/60/15 Bridgestone Turanza Revos @ 30psi. They are a nice improvement over the Dunlops I was running. They seem very precise and I like the fact that they are a LOT quieter. I did get a chance last night to rip through a few curves along a river where I live, the pavement is smooth, speed limit 25, I went through at about 55. Hoo Ah! The car stayed flat enough that body roll wasn't a factor and I could feel the tires carving through the curve, no squeel or wiggle, a little like carving a turn on skis. I definetly could go through quicker but a) I hadn't been drinking (haha), b) I got a speeding ticket on this road 6 mos ago, c) It was dark and geese sometimes cross this road and I hate pully feathers out of the radiator, d) I'm 49 and what the hell was I doing anyway at 55!

So anyway, back to the issues... It seems like the car's ride is equally "hard" front and rear and I have definetly heard some new rattles, which I don't like at all. I guess the consensus is that the shocks are mainly to blame, right? So it seems like I should switch to the Boges. Anyone know the difference between the regular ones and the Turbo Gas and have any opinions?

I didn't consult my wife either and she is complaining about the ride, although she doesn't drive it that much, and she complains about every thing else any way, so what the hell. She drives our 93 XJ6 which is a pretty good blend of performance and comfort, so the changes in my 945 are a bit of a shock.

I gotta ask: what Dunlops were you running?

D 60 A2 195 65r 15

Hey Scott;

Ive been using the "ipd suspension" setup with their "steetcoils"and a set of 215 50 16 at 34 pounds

for about five years now ,all bushings were replaced.

I remember my bigist concearn was not to end up with a 3500 pound

go cart that won't let you enjoy HOLDING a nice cup of morning java !

Ive heard once to often,and it's true

Bilstins make hard rides,so I put my faith in ipd and went with the boge(turbo gas), after 5 years the 760 still handles very well,Coffee somtimes a little risky but it all smooths out.

Ron

My wife HAD ABSOLUTLY No say in what I was DOING WITH VOLVO !

I have the same set up as Phil in my 87 745T APC except 205 tires.

I have to agree to the ride, but take these bad boys out on the Interstate

and there isn't much that will+ keep up. I have had mine above 120 mph

and the stability of the car is solid. Around town YES it is rough

on the car. I seem to be searching each week for a new squeek inside the

car. They seem to be harder and harder to find. I know most of the harshness comes from the lowering springs. They are 35% stiffer.

Them Bilsteins are bout as stiff as a lost climber on Mt Everest.Go for the Boge

I have a 245Ti with Bilsteins all around,IPD sways,strut and chasis bars.Unless the roads are really smooth the ride becomes punishing most of the time.I will not opt for them again.Boge turbo gas will be next.I think Volvo "balanced" ride quality and performance pretty well and I too feel bad for "messing" with the Bilsteins although the car sticks like glue.

I had purchased my 745 with Monroes Sensa-Tracks. Ride was fine but on bumps it was punnishing. Changed to stock boges from the dealer and it looks like the banging on bumps is gone. They take of the edge of the bump nicely.

Keep the tire pressure low aprox 28psi in the front

Rob

How are your bushings? They absorb some of the shock.

IPD bars will tend to pull you into little holes and onto bumps, since they try to keep the car as flat as possible.

The Bilsteins should be fine with stock springs. I don't know much about the overload coils. Are your complaints more about the rear ride or the front? Maybe you do not need overload coils in the rear.

What are you using for tires, and have you adjusted tire pressure? Maybe you have low profile tires that do not absorb much shock. Maybe you have stock size tires, but increased the pressure before to firm up the handling. You may want to try decreasing tire pressure. Realize that you are now away from Volvo's OEM specifications on the suspension, so the OEM pressures are no longer relevant. There are many factors that go into ride, and tire pressure and shock firmness/rebound and springs and swaybars are among them. Vary one and you may have to vary others.

I have the IPD bars, Bilsteins, IPD lowering springs, some chassis braces, some poly bushings, firmer endlinks, and 16 x 7.5 wheels with 215/50/16s on an 89 745T. The ride is harsh on rough roads. On smooth roads it is great. I am willing to sacrifice the ride for the handling. But I do like the ride with this combination in the winter when I put on my 185/65/15 studded snows on stock alloys. The smaller and softer tires cushion everything very nicely. One thing I did notice recently is that my upper strut bearings/bushings are separating. The stiffer suspension and alignment with negative camber has stressed them. That creates more banging. I plan to replace them soon.

Experiment a bit before giving up. Try tire pressure. Try putting the old springs back in (it is a piece of cake to swap rear springs). If that does not work, you may have to swap shocks/struts to something softer.

Philip Bradley