eLuSiVeMiTe
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They tend to do that when you fill em full of bricks.
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Barking Mat
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I had a look yesterday, no signs of scuffing, I'll get out and go for a drive in a bit, still on the coffees...
dobbslc
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Be careful - you've be close to running on the bump stops, with weaker springing thatn usual - so it will handle funny, and not like road bumps - won't take much to hit the stops and cause some funny steering effects as the spring rate goes form sofer than usual, to flippin- high
My 850r estate used to handle strange with two twin sets and two weight belts in the back , thats a motor earning its keep ,,,, and then some .
Not that I'm in the market for a Volvo but that's interesting/good to know. With all these makes/models, it's impossible for one person to be aware of everything.
eLuSiVeMiTe
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Used my t5r as a workvan for a few years until I blew it up went like stink
With regards to new funny noises, when you've just changed a shock it could be highlighting something else that was marginal due to the fact the new shocks will be stiffer.
The other thing that can happen is the noise was always there but now you've changed a part you are actively listening.
The other thing that can happen is the noise was always there but now you've changed a part you are actively listening.
Volvos are very overlooked cars , you can get a lot of car for little money and not look like the local village drug dealer along the way ,,, Im driving a C30 t5 {same set up as a focus , simple turbo upgrade a set of injectors and a custom remap is 300 horses and a hoot to drive for under two and a half thousand , and it still looks like your driving a sensible mums shopping trolley .
dobbslc
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RWD3M
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Good morning Mat,
This very thing occurred to me as soon as I read this thread.
My old Rover SD1 had Boge Nivomat self levelling rear suspension. Great while it worked but didn't have a good name for reliability!
On the SD1 the rear springs were a different spec if self-levelling suspension was fitted so, if you have indeed replaced self levelling dampers (which can still self-level even if leaking slightly) you may have options. Either replace the new dampers with potentially expensive new self levelling units or, as a lot of people in the SD1 world did back in the day, fit springs that were spec'd for non-self levelling suspension. It won't completely overcome the issue of drooping with a lot of weight in the back, but it will return the ride height back to normal for normal loads.
By the way, very common to see SD1's that had normal shocks fitted without the corresponding springs back in the day, ar5e on the floor!
God luck with whichever route you take.
This very thing occurred to me as soon as I read this thread.
My old Rover SD1 had Boge Nivomat self levelling rear suspension. Great while it worked but didn't have a good name for reliability!
On the SD1 the rear springs were a different spec if self-levelling suspension was fitted so, if you have indeed replaced self levelling dampers (which can still self-level even if leaking slightly) you may have options. Either replace the new dampers with potentially expensive new self levelling units or, as a lot of people in the SD1 world did back in the day, fit springs that were spec'd for non-self levelling suspension. It won't completely overcome the issue of drooping with a lot of weight in the back, but it will return the ride height back to normal for normal loads.
By the way, very common to see SD1's that had normal shocks fitted without the corresponding springs back in the day, ar5e on the floor!
God luck with whichever route you take.
Barking Mat
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Thanks for that.
Just been to thé shops and back, 10+ miles, on thé way drove normally, and couldn't hear any strange noises, on thé way back going round a round about 3x eventually heard some vague whistling type noise.
Due to years of angle grinders without ear protection my hearings not thé best.
Thanks for all thé help, learnt something New and identifiéd thé problem. What a superb knowledge base we have on this forum.
Last edited:
jerrytug
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Bingo. I suspect you have removed Nivomat self levellers and put normal shocks on. Pretty common mistake.
On a nivomat, part of the load is carried by the shock, so a soft spring is fitted to carry the other part of the load. In service, the motion of the shock, allows it pump up to the preset ride height.
Take this away, and you are now reliant on a spring that was never designed to carry the full weight. Car now sits low.
I know this, as my company offer conversion kits for a number of cars, to fix this very issue as nivomants are crazy money. But not any Volvos
Your only fix is to get springs from a non self levelling model.
Im not THAT up on volvos, but some certainly use nivomats. I see this issue daily on forester, sorrento's, santafes, cruze, etc, etc.
@Roger440 Just on the off chance: can you delete the self levelling suspension in an Audi 100 Avant Quattro, 1989 model non-turbo?
Or pm me the name of your company so I can have a look if they sell them?
There is a lovely one for sale, at a good price near me, but the Audi self-levelling suspension is putting me off, lots of them get scrapped when it fails as Audi are hopeless for spares for older models. thanks Jerry
I can definitely tell you we DONT do a kit for that Sorry!
Cant say i know anything about them, but id be surprised if they used nivomat. Far to simple!
jerrytug
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Thanks. Ha ha yes too simple
premmington
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Nivomats - internally valved shocks!
I had these on a V70 estate once - it would sink if left and after driving it for a couple of miles it would rise up.
I have seen these fitted to Saabs - Chrysler 300C - Jeeps - Volvo estates and XC models - Alfa Romeo SW. Plus one type of Ford Focus 2.0 estate car.
The only real solution is replacement with "like for like".
To be honest - I had self leveling suspension on a Disco 2 that used to sink - plus a Merc E320Cdi estate car - that worked but was too low to be usefull.
I had these on a V70 estate once - it would sink if left and after driving it for a couple of miles it would rise up.
I have seen these fitted to Saabs - Chrysler 300C - Jeeps - Volvo estates and XC models - Alfa Romeo SW. Plus one type of Ford Focus 2.0 estate car.
The only real solution is replacement with "like for like".
To be honest - I had self leveling suspension on a Disco 2 that used to sink - plus a Merc E320Cdi estate car - that worked but was too low to be usefull.
Barking Mat
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Running a 31 year old car, fair play that man!
Moose McAlpine
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Set of V70XC springs would give you a slightly increased ride height!
Barking Mat
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Moose McAlpine
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I doubt it would noticeably. Increased height may give very slightly more body roll, but the anti-roll bar would limit that as it does already.
