Where are KYBs made, now? In Japan, hopefully? Not China or Mexico?

Bilstein Touring for struts do very nicely. Unsure whether Bilstein Touring shocks still rattle on the upper shock mount stud.

The Bilstein HDs won't fit at all into the 1990 (and maybe a year or so earlier on the 240s) with the tapered strut tubes (includes the ABS tubes). Some have shaved the Bilstein HD yellow paint and possibly the strut cartridge metal to get these to fit.

Sachs is made in Mexico Boge, yet not Boge quality at all we in the U.S. could get made in Europa Boge like a decade or more ago. I bought a set of made in Mexico Sachs Advantage from iPd (what iPd calls Boge Turbo Gas) strut cartridges. The Sachs gland nuts would not torque and were maligned. I re-used the Boge gland nuts I removed when taking out the failed factory installed Boge Turbo Gas that came with the 1990 240 DL wagon.

Not enough miles to tell the outcome on these Made in Mexico Sachs Advantage. Your story, Uncle 42, us disconcerting.

Bilstein Touring struts are a less compliant (stiffer ride) than the Made in Mexico Sachs Advantage. They've lasted for two years yet not a whole lot of miles. They are a good deal stiffer than the for real made in Europa Boge Turbo Gas.

I had the KYB Gas-a-just shocks on my 242 GT for a decade and they made an pretty fine match with the Koni orange or red struts from 1989 to 2000. Both were stiff as they day as they were new, nearly.

I installed the KYB Gas-a-just in May-June 2001 as shocks with Bilstein HDs in the front on my 1991 240 sedan. The KYBs were in a slow fade since install. These KYBs were about gone at just under 40+k in a decade.

The KYB Gas-a-just are a monotube high pressure like the Bilstein and nearly mythological de Carbons found on Turbo 240s in the junkyard now, I guess (I have a pair of de Carbon junkyard pulls from the 1990s that are like new from an 84 245 Turbo and also won't fir the 1989+ or so tapered 240 strut tubes).

Not futzed with the low pressure GR-2s. They felt cheap like Gabriel or Monroe.

Don't use KYB bushings, certainly the 240 strut mounts. Use only Volvo OEM strut mounts (Now made by Boge, again).

cheers,

dud.
--
Thank you, George Washington Carver, for peanut butter!