I was wondering if you all could reccommend a shock/spring combination for me. I have an '89 Volvo 740 that I would like to make a little stiffer in the suspension, plus the car has 292,000 miles on it and needs to be replaced anyway. I want to replace the springs and shocks, and I am also considering upgrading to the IPD sway bars. I would like the ride quality on trips to be the same, but I would also like it to be firmer in the corners. I think some progressive rate springs would be great for this purpose, but I'm not sure what shock to get based on the spring I order. If you could please explain some spring and shock combinations to me it would be greatly appreciated. Or if you could point me to another website it would also be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve

For my track car, also a 1989 740 turbo sedan, i put on ipd sway bars, B&G lowering springs, Koni adjustable Sport shocks and polyurethane bushings wherever I could. I used a Volvo factory manual modifiaction of the sturt bearning in order to produce about -1 degree camber.

The combination has been great for my uses as the adjustability of the shocks lets me drive the car on the street with enjoyable characteristics, yet lets my tighten it up for high performance.

The street ride is very nice, firm yet not harch, unless i forget and leave teh front shocks set to "FIRM". Then is really bangs like the shocks are coming through the firewall! On their softest setting, though, they're great.

I set the rear shocks to a medium setting because you need to remove the shocks to adjust them and I don't want to always mess with that.

The car is stable and fun in the turns and a real treat on the open highway.

I sourced the lowest prices on things through ipd and shox.com

It still came to about $1000

An alignment is also needed after your DIY installment.
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'Don't Understand Why People Abort Volvos, Either'

I'm prolly a minority opinion here but I tried and did not like the ipd bars on my '90 740. On smooth roads they're fine and switching lanes is good but on a back road, not a terribly bad one either, they were very harsh and unpleasant.
I've had other bars on other cars including 240's and didn't have this much of a problem, so I know it's not just me and a one time experience. I did put on a wagon front bar which is slightly larger and has a slightly different feel but not as much as I expected. I did that on my 240 and it was obvious. I think the ideal is between that and the ipd.

I tend to agree with you. The 240's could stand some help with suspension (depending on your preferences of course), but the 740's were pretty danged tight out of the box. They had the built in tower brace, as well as some desent bars. Of course, one can always up-grade; but with as many miles as this car has, a simple parts replacement might save a lot of money and give very fine ride. Allen

The only issues with the 740's suspension are the '85-90 745 GL/GLE. These came with the mushiest shocks and NO rear sway bar. These cars can and did improve vastly with the IPD bars and a good set of gas shocks like KYB. I wouldn't use the Bil's on them. On the other hand, the stock Turbo suspension of later years is OK, but I found the front strut cartridges wore out fast, then really showed poor handling, say >80k mi. I was very satisfied when I put the Bil's and IPD bars (not IPD springs, stock ones) on a '91 740Ti at 95k mi.
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'89 245 sportwagon, destroyed by hit & run driver, RIP. '04 V70 2.5 T Sportwagon, 12k mi and '91 245 5-speed, 209k mi, replaced the '89

Have the quality issues been resolved on the Bilstein HD's? I had to take out the rear Bilstein HD shocks on my 740 because of the horrible knocking they made. The fronts groan, and will go away as soon as I can get to it. I had read alot of posts about a year ago with similar situation. I had KYB's on my last Mustang GT and they were very nice and had great ride/handling with 1 1/2 inch lower springs. I am going back to the KYB shock/struts on the 740.

Wow thanks for the heads up! I had no idea about any quality issues with the Bilstein HDs. Maybe I will reconsider. I have heard a lot of mixed feelings about the KYBs. Some say they're great and some say they stand for Keep Your Bilsteins. ON a certain model of KYB, the rear shock is adjustable and I like that a lot. Do any of y'all know how well they work?
Thanks,
Steve

I would rercommend that you first check that your suspension is not in need of new bushings,ball joints and tie rod ends. If this all checks out then replace the shocks first. I recommend the Bilstein Touring shock or if your budget permits, the Bilstein HD. If this isn't enough for your taste then buy the IPD 25mm front and rear sways. You could then buy the lower strut brace or both upper and lower strut braces. I would not recommend replacing the springs with stiffer and shorter ones unless you drive on billard smooth roads. I have the Sways,Bilstein TC's and lower strut brace and the car rides nice on the hwy and handles better than most full size wagons in the twistys. Good luck!

If you have a sedan, you can use the stiffer wagon springs. I would definitely buy IPD sway bars and the best new shocks you can afford. Don't overlook the Japanese shocks which may be less expensive.

I have a 1989 765 with wagon rear overload springs ($25 a pair at PnP), Tokico shocks, IPD 25mm sway bars, lower chassis brace, 16 inch rims and sticky 205 Yokohamas. Handles perfectly on the twisty roads I travel to/from my home
everyday.

Check out www.fcpgroton.com for what seem to be the BEST Volvo prices around including shocks, springs and suspension parts. Swaybars: www.ipdusa.com.

Sorry put it in the wrong place.
These springs have about 290 thousand miles on them. The back springs do need replacing because they are sagging. Do you think this high mileage car could benefit from the front springs being replaced? I've heard good things about progressive rate springs. I would like the Tokico shocks maybe. If price wasn't an issue, and I'm still not sure if it is yet, I would get the Bilstein HDs. Do you all know of ANY progressive rate springs that won't lower the car? The only reason I don't want to lower the car is because of driveline shudder associated with the whole car being closer to the ground.
Thanks,
Steve

I recently put on IPD swaybars (25mm front/rear) with poly bushings and TME sport springs. I don't know what shocks the previous owner put on the car - they ride well and did not need replaced. The ride is firm, not too rough, the car is lower by 1.25 inches. Have not noticed any shudder. The difference in handling is fantastic....If you do not want to lower, the swaybars still make a huge difference in handling.

Jay
84 245 GLTi 230k
88 740 GLE 197k

What about the use of CHEVY Camaro shocks/Springs? I've heard these work wonders and give the ride stance a higher in the rear and lower in the front look.

I've seen them on a 240 with Camaro Springs--the spring perches are the same!... Might be worth looking into.

-Andy

I think I am going to lower the car. I'm gonna get either the SAM sport springs from www.eurosporttuning.com or the IPD TME sport springs, as they are on sale for $150 and either Bilstein HDs or the Tokicos. Any suggestions???
Thanks,
Steve

If you can find a good set of Nivomats and matching springs from a ~93-94 965, you will have a super set-up. The Nivo's used on the 965 are monsters, and you could cut the springs to suit your ride height. Personally I would leave the ride height stock, and put a set of Bil HD's in front w/IPD bar. If you have the Nivo's I would stick with the stock rear bar size.
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'89 245 sportwagon, destroyed by hit & run driver, RIP. '04 V70 2.5 T Sportwagon, 12k mi and '91 245 5-speed, 209k mi, replaced the '89