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Wow! Spent the day putting Bilstein HD's on my '95 850 and just got back from the first test drive. Car sits about an inch higher, my butt told me that when I scooted in the first time. Much less body roll and a firmer but more controlled ride. The ride is not objectional, I was afraid that it would turn the car into more of a gocart than it already is. Not a problem. It feels like a new rig. Really worth every penney.
I replaced the spring seats on the front with IPD parts and the rear mounts with FCP Groton replacements, strictly a money decision, I like both dealers and have always been treated fairly and well at each. Kept the stock springs, just replaced the struts and shocks. Notes on doing the job:
1. Just jam a 17MM open end wrench over the boot on the sway bar link bolts, there are two flats on the bolt on the back side, you can't see them but I figured they must be the same as the lower bolts which you can see. I found no info on this on this site by the way. The manual just says to remove it, duh! I didn't have a thin wrench and after looking at the problem (the nut would just spin in place without a wrench to hold the bolt and I didn't want to tear the boot) decided I had nothing to lose. I did displace the boot on one link, but popped it back into place.
2. Recommend loosening the nuts on the strut knuckle while the thing is bolted in place, as well as the upper nut on the top of the strut. I was a little leary about reefing on the knuckle bolts while the whole rotor/suspension mechanism was dangling free. I propped a jack stand under the rotor to avoid any strain on the CV joints.
3. I removed the star bolt on the top of the strut with a punch and a hammer, and tightened it the same way. I did'nt have the inevidable weirdass special volvo tool. It is not coming loose.
4. ON the rear shocks, they are a snap, the biggest problem is tearing up all the carpet to gain access, I suggest buying some additional carpet buttons, I'm off to the dealer on monday to replace a couple that separated while being removed.
5. The Haynes manual was pretty useful other than info on the link. I even subscribed to alldata for $15 just to see how to remove the link and they were even less helpful. Some stuff is really just "do it anyway you can."
I'll get it aligned on Monday. Glad to have this little project done, it was really much less of a hassle than a lot of other things I've attempted.
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Professionals have thumbs too.
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