Volvo RWD 200 Forum

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Groover on Mon Mar 24 17:05 CST 2003
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I recently had Bilstein HD's and IPD swaybars installed in my '88 245.
I have been driving on them for about six weeks now. The handling is great but the front end is riding at least 1" higher on the left and 2" higher on the right. It looks like a damn SUV.

I would like to restore my stock ride height or maybe go a little lower but I'm not sure I want to go with lowering springs and the associated stiffer ride. Any ideas/suggestions?

I have read several threads on this board and find some conflicting info about whether the Bilsteins have some "spring" in them or not.

Also does anyone have or know where to find official specs on ride height?

88 245, 5 speed, Turbo 15" wheels/205-60 tires, poly bushings in rear, now with Bilsteins & IPD swaybars

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Groover on Wed Mar 26 15:10 CST 2003
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HI; Groover here with more info. A friend and I worked on my car today to do front brakes and we were examining the front coils. It seems that I have a unmatched pair in there! The right side has a spring made of 13.9mm diameter (thickness) wire. The left is 13.5mm wire. This seems consistent with the fact that the right side is riding 1" higher than the left. (Both are too high IMHO)

I suspect that the mechannic who did my install may have advertantly or inadvertantly put back one or 2 different coils than were in the car.

I called a Volvo dealer parts counter to find out about part #'s for stock 240 front coils and he asked "What size ? 13.5, 13.9, or 13.3mm?" He didn't have any info about which ones go in which cars, just said you have to measure the old ones and get the same ones as replacements.

Any of you brick-o-philes out there with micrometers who want to give me info on the wire guage of your front coils - I would be happy for more info.

Thanks

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Sterndogg02 on Wed Mar 26 00:31 CST 2003
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I too noticed what looks like an increase in ride height (in the front at least) after having the Bilsteins installed last week...but only noticed it after reading this post.
Best,
-Adam
--
'92 244GL silver-metallic, 140k, Hella 550 Front Fogs, K&N filter w/modded box (no thermostat, and screens), Bilstein HDs, IPD anti-sway bars and upper and lower chassis braces, Volvo 240 OEM rear wing/spoiler, waiting on cam and header

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Erling on Mon Mar 24 18:53 CST 2003
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last visit: Wed May 22 00:57 CST 2013

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I don't know about official, but my 240 sedan measured 63 cm from ground to top of rear wheelarch (24.8") unloaded, with stock springs and shocks. With wagon springs and Sachs Advantage: 66.5 cm (26.2").

FWIW.

Erling.
--
1987 240 GL 82K miles

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Groover on Tue Mar 25 07:04 CST 2003
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Hey Erling, thanks. What about front end measurements (especially stock)?

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Erling on Tue Mar 25 09:10 CST 2003
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last visit: Wed May 22 00:57 CST 2013

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Groover,
I'm just in from the garage - the distance from ground to top of front wheelarch is 66.5 cm (26.2"). Same as the rear after putting in the wagon springs, actually. The front has the stock, original set-up; neither springs, bushings or shocks have ever been replaced.

Erling.
--
1987 240 GL 82K miles

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by JetDriver on Tue Mar 25 05:16 CST 2003
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last visit: Mon Jul 25 08:59 CST 2011

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The struts can't change your ride height. Only springs can do that. The springs hold the car up and the struts merely dampen the oscillations. Some faster than others such as the bil hds vs boge stock. Maybe the person that did the insert swap didn't get the spring into the seat(s) correctly or they installed the wrong shock? That is all that I can think of that would change your ride height. Did you check the height before changing? Most wouldn't unless they were installing lowering springs which would drop the car about 1.4 in.
--
92 244 lowered, Bilsteins, IPD sways, Unitek cam/header, TSW Revo 18x8's - 94 965 Niiice MONEY PIT! - 76 Datsun 280Z lowered, modified head, cam, headers, intake

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by daveshan on Tue Mar 25 12:59 CST 2003
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last visit: Sun Oct 19 07:03 CST 2014

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The gas presurized struts/shocks can raise ride hight. Take a Bilstein or any other good gas shock, it will extend by itself after compression, this will raise the car a bit. The Bil's in my turbo were a pain to compress from fully extended. I can't say what the effect was on the car as I adde lowering springs at the same time. My '88 gained about 3/4" over the Boge set which had lost their charge when I installed the bilstein touring set, either I've gotten used to it or it has settled back down a bit.
Dave Shannon
Spring Valley, California (San Diego area)
'84-245 200K+
'85-244Ti 200K+
'86-740 230K+
'88-240 180K+
www.volvo2.homestead.com (Opens new window)

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by southern fried volvo on Fri Mar 28 09:07 CST 2003
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last visit: Thu Dec 19 00:38 CST 2013

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How did if affect your ride when you went from old Boge to Bilsteins? Did it feel rougher with the new shocks/struts?

[[ southern fried volvo ]]

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Bilsteins & ride height 200 1988

posted by Groover on Fri Mar 28 09:25 CST 2003
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I wouldn't describe the ride as "rougher" - well maybe a little bit. I would describe it as tighter, firmer, more precise feeling.

I would say that when I go over a patch of pavement that has been dramatically disturbed by big tree roots, for example, that it seems somewhat rougher, but...

I also upgraded to IPD swaybars at the same time, and IPD says that may increase a feeilng of roughness on potholes and/or rough or poor roads.

So there you go FWIW - hope this subjective info helps.

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