Hi everyone.
I am about replacing the struts and rear shocks on my 1993 940. I am considering Sachs/Boge and Bilstein but do not have enough experience to decide which is a better strut/shock combination. The 940 is the basic model - no Nivomat. Can someone point me in the right direction please. I need all the help that I can possibly get. Thanks.

I replaced my struts and rear shocks with Boge Turbo Gas at 130k miles.

At the same time I changed the ball joints and radius arm (conical) bushings, plus the strut mounts and bearings. I would suggest you change the strut mounts and bearings, as you have to remove the strut anyway.

The car rode immediately better, and was more stable in crosswind situations. The car now has 210k miles and I am still happy and would not chose different shocks if I had to do it over again. The car rides well for me. I drive about 50k miles a year.

One caution, however. The radius arm bushings I used were (correct me if I am wrong) made by "meyerle". About five bucks each. Avoid these like the plague! They failed within 30k miles. I replaced them with bushings made by Boge, whom I believe is the OEM. These have performed flawlessly. The car feels like brand new. The BOGE's were about nine bucks each.

Make sure you have an extension for your torque wrench, if you change these bushings, as they need to be loaded up when the car is on the ground.

>One caution, however. The radius arm bushings I used were (correct me if I am
>wrong) made by "meyerle". About five bucks each. Avoid these like the plague!

Meyle ... made in Germany. I have those on my 745 too, though they're still intact.

I recall the iPd catalog from a few years ago noting the revisions over the years on these bushings - each newer version getting better and longer in life.

-- Kane ... who may just go with poly next time around, though.


--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

I have a post below (http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=746498) where I describe my experience with shock/strut replacements. Paragraphs 1 and 5 apply to ride quality.

The reputation for Bilsteins is that they are well made but very stiff. I think that they best suited for agressive drivers and high performance application. Boge Turbo Gas/Sachs Advantage are stiffer than stock. The stock OEM models by Boge should work well and ride well for drivers in normal use. I put puit in Sachs Advantage all around with new heavy duty Scan Tech rear springs in my 940 wagon, and I think the ride is stiffer than most folks will want.

Steve C

Sachs/Boge make very good shocks and are typically OEM on RWD Volvos. It's relatively easy to upgrade among their grade levels. Bilstein, is of course an excellent shock, but I would be somewhat fearful of the ride if you install regualr Bilsteins. It may be too harsh to your taste. I know nothing abut the newer Touring Bilsteins, but I would assume they are high quality. You may have some difficulty finding a match since they're farly new, but I don't know.
--
John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

Thanks everyone, for your responses. I am going to go with the Boge Turbo Gas. Thanks for your suggestions.