We have a V70 that we absoultly love! Having said that we have a serious problem. Our rear shocks have gone bad long ago. Our tires are wearing unevenly and we have even considered giving up our car. The reason is the rear shocks are Nivomat self leveling shocks. When we go to order the shocks everyone asks for the code under the hood, and the same happens everytime. They tell us our car does not have these shocks. Our VOLVO dealer here in Northern Michigan has not been able to figure it out. Aparently, there are more then one type of Nivomat shock for our year and model. Our mechanic has been on the horn to a place that he used to say had everything. Should I just cut off the brackets and go with normal shocks readly available?
Any help would be wonderful.
Peace Troy

Well this is my problem! The chassie # that I have on my car does not match with a set of shocks that anyone will sell me. I went to the site and they were very nice but refuse to send me a shock without my comming up with the correct #. Please help!!! My car is getting beat to SH_T on my seasonal road. Does anyone have a number they could give me off another AWD 98 V70? Would that work? Any help with this is much appreciated.
Peace Troy

The specs for 1998 cars; Base, GT, GLT, and T5 are 56.2 in. high
The AWD and R models are 57.2 in. high
The XC model is 58.3 inches high.

So, you probably have the same Nivomats as the R model. The rear suspension according to the specs manual are the same for AWD and R: Multilink independent with viscous coupling, locking differential, self-leveling shock absorbers

The R does have 'sport' springs, which I cannot verify for the AWD model.

How about showing us your Chassis code????

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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic

The # is 875W2401438. This is where we run in to trouble. This should be an eight digit code? I have not personaly been to my Volvo dealer but my mechanic was in contact with them. Ahhh Watson we have a mystery!! The previous owner knew the original owner and said the car was not in an accident. I looked it over pritty well and cannot see any sign of previous body work. I suppose someone could have replaced the fender with another of the same color. Could anyone give me the number's off another V-70 with AWD. At this point we have the car mostly sitting in the driveway undriven, looking sad.
Peace Troy

The chassis code is a 7 character set, the next to last line on the product plate. The product plate has two halves, look on the right side and then down. Usually under the 'made in belgium' column. You have too many numbers.

Position 4 is for the rear shocks, position 5 is for the rear springs.

To verify the Nivomats have failed (mine leaked on the driveway, easy), measure the distance from the ground to the top of the rear bumper. Then add weight to the back of the load floor (a teenager should do it). Bounce the car up and down about 6-12 times and measure the again. If the distance is within 1/4 inch, then the shocks are good and there is something else wrong, like a broken spring.

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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic

Notice in Klaus' post there is an inch different in shock length for the XC and AWD. In '98 only there was an AWD and an XC. There's a 1" different in rideheight and you can see it in the Nivo shock length that Klaus provided. I hope I'm not stating the obvious by saying be careful about asking someone else with an AWD for shock specs. If they're not careful about the distinction between the xc and awd you may get conflicting information. Please ignore this if I have merely restated the obvious.

I understand your problem, but have you visited your dealer's parts dept? They were quite helpful when I had the same problem. They will ask for the chasis code and will look at #3 and #6. #6 is the spring type and determines which Nivomat to buy.

If the left front fender is from a different car, you may be out of luck.

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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic

There are 3 different Nivomats, V70 fwd, V70 awd, and V70 R, each have a different ride height. The 1998-2000 are the same for each model. None are cheap! I suggest calling Tasca Volvo as it might be cheapest and you will know they fit.
http://www.tascaparts.com/parts/1998/VOLVO/V70/X/C%20AWD/?siteid=213668&vehicleid=1433999§ion=REAR%20SUSPENSION&group=&subgroup=&component=&searchText=&startRow=51&maxRow=10

As you know, Nivomats have a nice rubber boot cover on the bottom.

Conversion to 'normal' suspension is not fun or easy. Besides shocks, you will also need springs - the Nivomat springs are softer.

Klaus
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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic

Klaus,

Don't mean to hitchjack this thread, but I do have a question. Do all 98 V70 FWD cars have Nivomats or just some? Or is it the V70 AWD and the V70 R cars only that have Nivomats?

Thx,
Jim

Nivomats were optional except for the R.
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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic

Good info. Who knows, I might buy a 98 someday..:)