i need to replace my shocks and struts and i'm trying to decide which brand to buy. i figured i'd buy the parts online and take them to my mechanic to install to save some money.
i don't do much heavy hauling and i'm a fairly conservative driver.
IPD sells packages of all 4 and i was considering the boge turbo gas. From what i've been reading in the archives it seems some folks have experienced a clunking sound with these.
i've seen a lot of good comments on the KYB. but when it comes to struts there are many components - how do i know if i have everything i need (insert, bellows, spacer, etc.)
does anyone know if the IPD sets come with everything needed?

any opinions on what i should buy to get best quality for best price?

thanks
adam

Sachs Advantage from FCP. Nice product, nice dealer. Good ride, not really stiff, but firm enough for me. Great so far. Been on the car only 7 months.
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Thanks everyone for all the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, turbo bars and wheels, M46; 86 244, B230, 150k , auto.

I'm a big fan of Boge, but only in the Sachs German made versions, had just the oil shocks on my 244, and gas on the 760T, both gave a very good ride, never had a problem with either, and I drive some rather rough roads...
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Wagon Power, My 88 745 Turbo

I had boge turbo gas all round, but the rear shocks made a constant, terribly annoying rattle so I replaced them with KYB - rattle is gone now. The Boge rears were made in Turkey and I think some others had the same trouble. This was 1 1/2 yrs. ago so any quality control issue may be rectified by now. Some people were going to the sachs advantage which is the same part but manufactured in Germany and I think these were trouble free (and available from FCP).
Good luck,
Tom
'86 245DL 238k

Just my two cents and my own personal experience. Never again will I buy KYB's! I have them on at least three of my cars and one set of rears went bad, flat and pressureless. I contacted the company and without the original receipt and full documentation regarding purchase etc. they will not even talk about inspecting the shocks for replacement. My fault for not keeping the receipt handy, and actually one day it will surface, but the company was as rigid and rough as their product is in my vehicle. Rude, inflexible, uncaring, and antagonistic. NEVER will I have a KYB product in my car. I may remove that crap from all my vehicles and replace them with other more deserving products. It's amazing that some companys truly stand behind their product and this is what I love. Other companys like KYB want to stress you out, have your darn near provide them with video tape proof of your purchase, intallation and every mile you drove with their crappy product. Would Home Depot, IPD or FCP Groton behave in this manner? Never! But then again, they absolutely value their customer and want repeat business. No KYBs for me ever again. Just MY personal experience, take it for what it's worth.

Other companys like KYB want to stress you out, have your darn near provide them with video tape proof of your purchase, intallation and every mile you drove with their crappy product.

You're embarassing. Requiring a receipt is hardly as extreme as any of that.

Would Home Depot, IPD or FCP Groton behave in this manner? Never!

Given the unreasonable tone and nature of your complaining, and your resistance to hearing any reasonable points to the contrary, it seems like a sure bet that YOU assumed a hostile attitude towards THEM when they wouldn't replace your shocks willy nilly, without any proof whatsoever that you even bought them in the first place.

Would Home Depot, IPD, or FCP Groton behave in this manner? Always!

Would they replace anything without a proof of purchase? Never!

Every shock company out there has similar requirements in their warranties. Are you planning on making your own?

--
alex

There's always the Boge Turbo Gas. They seem to be a good mixture of inexpensive and good quality. I'd take them over the KYBs.

I had Bielstein Touring on the rear of my 245 for about 5,000 miles of clunking. They drove me crazy and took them off. Boge Turbo Gas are very nice, stay away from Monroe and Gabriel for your Volvo. Dan

hello adam,
you'll get some good replies. do-able job.

several things to consider: budget, ride, performance.
* boge is oem and good, maybe 100k minimal.
* KYB, i don't know.
* bilsteins, touring class, noticeably stiffer ride, but can handle turns with ease, lifetime guarantee, i have these on my 86 245 and i'm pleased. i can handle a full load and still have very good ride and control going 70-80 mph.

* bilsteins HD (heavy duty), top of the line performance, lifetime guarantee, very pricy but worth their cost.

there are some others shocks & struts, too.

Dave Shannon has an excellent writeup on this, but with some extra stuff like springs, ipd sway bars installed, etc.
dave's suspension mod page:
http://www.homestead.com/volvo2/suspension.html

dave's strut replacement page:
http://www.homestead.com/volvo2/240struts.html


i bought the shocks (rear) from autopartswarehouse.com for $30/ea w/ free shipping over $50, april 2004. and the rest of the parts from fcp groton. keep your receipts--lifetime warranty, but you might not need to, just ship them back if they go bad, i guess.

i didn't need spacers for my bilstein t/c struts.

buy skf brand strut mounts--oem, but now mfr'd somewhere other than sweden.

i bought 2 bellows--just simple rubber boots.

you will need a spring compressor, i had a 48 hr free loan here in houston at a parts store. also a strut tool, (ipd), torque wrench and a good tool box of tools, maybe another person to help when you drop the strut down.

be sure to read up in the archives, have a bentley manual, and torque to specs.

keep one side intact so you have a reference if you get mixed up. have plenty of jacks and jack stands. take your time.

before you start, mark where that curve band is located on top of the strut tower, and try to put it back exactly the same position when you tighten those 3 12 mm(?) bolts. if out of place,you will need to realign your car.

a couple of days job for me since it was my first time.

one other thing, i went ahead and replaced my complete front suspension, ball joints, tie rod included, all busings and installed the ipd sway bar upgrade with new poly bushings.

what a difference. rides better than my 92 245.

others will be able to add some more stuff.

regards,
byron golden
86 245
92 245

Boge turbo gas is all I use and never had any grief so long as the work was done correctly. Those are OEM for the 244T anyways.
--
80 262C Coupe- (FSO black, M46, original) 82 244GLT- (auto)

Yeah, I'd go for the turbo gas; see FCP Groton or shox.com for prices.