Ok, well, today, I had enough. I pulled out my Bilstein rears and replaced them with Sachs Advantage (what FCP sells now if you ask for Boge Turbo Gas).

Similar price, great ride, easy install, good quality, made in Germany, and the key factor:

THEY DON'T MAKE NOISE!

I tried re-tightening my Bilstein Economy (Touring Class) rear shocks. Figured something must have been loose. No change. Going down the road, sounds like DIGGITTA DIGGITTA.

Went through all my other rear suspension parts. Initially, yes, I had bad torque rod bushings. Replaced the bushings, tightened up the rear dramatically, particularly some noises of axle movement and possibly even driveshaft u-joint binding, when engine-braking. And it still went DIGGITTA DIGGITTA over every tiny bump.

I dunno what the hell is wrong with these things but I don't need them. They made the same noises on my 87 that I sold- no, it's not the same shocks, I bought a new pair. These were installed in July.

At least FCP is good enough to honor the warranty. I still had the original boxes, and they liked that, so the supplier can track them back to the batch they came from. Hopefully someone will start a class action suit against them or something. Not that I'm out any money, unless my time counts for something. Maybe I should be reimbursed for pain and suffering. Believe me, I suffered over every bump and manhole cover.

I heard someone remark "They won't admit they have a problem" regarding these shocks. I can't believe they're letting such a troublesome product out the door! This is a quality company! They've got a great reputation, and in this business, that's all your company has. I don't want to bad-mouth Bilstein, believe me. But the annoyance factor on these units is very very high. They are not what I expected.

Meanwhile, I'll be riding around with my Sachs shocks (which cost more by the way), enjoying the peace and quiet...
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244-M47-208K ::: Bilsteins, Turbo swaybars, Virgos, Lowered, Group A wing, Tach, 6-Disc, Satellite Radio, Keyless Entry ::: Coming Soon: B-Cam!

Bilstein (B6) HD front struts: With strut cartridge accordion boots, water gets past the seal and they leak and seize. Have these on my 1991. I replaced the factory installed strut mounts. Stupidly knicked the piston. So leaking and seizing got worse.

I had orange De Carbons front struts made in the 1990s. Replaced the seized yell HD with the orange De Carbon gland nut. As Bilstein (B6) HD did not fit 1991 strut tubes in 2001, swapped in salvage 1984-1985 240 strut tubes. HDs fit. Orange de Carbons fit. Left front Orange de Carbon nearly the same as 18-year old Bilstein HD at the right front.

The yellow Bilstein (B6) HD at rear on 1991 240 never rattle or anything. Are fine after 18 years yet they more easily compress than front. Bilstein (B6) HD is not the best with lowered. Have TME 240 Wagon springs on this 240 sedan. Want to restore normal ride height with HD rated springs, eventually.

On the 1992 240 GL, Bilstein (B4) Touring are fine at the front. Rattle-rattle-rattle as Aye-Roll (Rob Bareiss) descrbes. Install in 2012. May be better for lowered.

A solution I want to try on 240 is Bilstein Touring at front and Bilstein HD at rear on a 240. No rear rattle-dinga-rattle.

I know the thread is old.

Enjoying the newly upgraded and well-tuned brickboard.com.

Now TransWarp Drive equipped. All thanks to Mr. Stenberg.
--
7 240s total since 1984. 3 240s today and rotting away.

I have the bilstein touring and I have a noise that I never could figure out. It sounds like a plank of plywood in the trunk (with no carpet in the trunk). I may change them out and see if the noise goes away.

when you pull the rear shocks, consider replacing them with KYB GAS ADJUST. the are a good match--- Unfortunately KYB no longer makes the GAS ADJUST struts that will fit in the front of Volvo 240s.

I bought them years ago --- the Gas Adjust ---front and rear for my 1980 240. Combined with IPD Sway Bars ---

https://www.kyb.com/products/gas-a-just/

I installed TC strut inserts on my '84 242 and like them. Based on the problems with the rear TCs was considering using HDs (my 73K mile car has original Volvo rear hydraulics) but many of you are praising KYB Gas Adjusts. I used them years ago when they were available front and rear and they were great.

Are the rears still monotube (Like Bils HD) and do they still have the 3 way adjustable feature?

(my alter ego used =when I'm too lazy to log in)

Check the specs form KYB ---using the posted Web address (CeeBee1)

I got the KYBs when Rusty who owned RPR in Oakland---I still have his comprehensive parts cataloge ($5 - with credit applied to you first order)..had them in it as a less expensive choice ---vs Blisteins and Koni.

my experience with Bilstein HDs all-round was on a BMW 2002 -- a much shorter wheelbase than the 240 --- if I wasn't driving and sitting in the passener seat I'd get car sick. The driver has a big smile tho.

I got the Bils Touring only because KYB killed the Gas-Adjust front Inserts.
The only way that you can get the Gas-Adjust on the front it to buy from KYB the entire Strut --- they don't make them for Old Volvos. they now market that for newer models.

just check out the KYB home website.

i used bilsteins in my 940 n its been clunking for a year,,they come w the square plastic donuts but there is no clearance to use them,,junk

Bilstein (B4) Touring at th rear of your 940 rattle?

Nearly 11+ years on the rear of my 1992 with the Bilstein Touring. Rattle, Rattle, Clackity, Clackity. Getting me down.

Time to treat the trailing arm bushes. They say Made in W. Germany on the larger rear ones. Bilstein HD at the rear.

I very much like the Bilstein Touring ride front and rear. Factory springs at the front and 1991 or 1993 Wagon springs at the rear.

Clackity, Clackity, Clackitty ...

The well greased up with SuperLube NLGI 2 red urethane torque rod bushes work well and relay the singing differential to the unibody. Yet I like that sound.

Clackity, Clackity, Clackitty, Clackity, Clackity, Clackitty, Clack. Don't talk back!
--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity

Hiya Boxcar Man,

https://www.kyb.com/

Yep, I'm re-considering KYB, at least for the Excel-G low pressure dampers.

I installed the high pressure monotube Gas-A-Just, like DeCarbon and follow-on Bilstein B6 HD, in the 1980s. They were then beefy with higher compression and rebound rates versus my one time install of the then Gas-A-Just Monotube (Part Number KG5553) at the rear of my 1991. No match for the front Bilstein (B6) HD.

All Bilstein (B6) HD are named B6. At leats in your 1982 242 the Bilstein HDs fit the front strut tube.

The Gas-A-Just Monotube (Part Number KG5553) will be a great improvement over failed damper and will endure.

The Excel G (Part Number 343010) is a low pressure rear damper for 240 that mimics the factory Boge installed in your 240. (Boge and Sachs are not the same yet ZF owns the brands and cobbles them together running on now defunct Boge mythos branded as Sachs.)

So far as I know, KYB did not offer any variety of adjustable compression / rebound dampers on 240.

Yet I had Koni with the older compress and click clockwise for greater compression resistance. Koni offers one model for front / rear 240 to date.

http://www.koni.com/en-US/Cars/Products/Catalog/

Front 8641-1245 Sport
Rear 26-1129 Sport

Adjustable using a dial or pin.

If 1982, yet meant to fit 78-93 240 front strut tube, on mid or so and older 240 made need the spacer at the bottom of the strut tube.

Avoid made in Mexico Sachs. Soft, bloaty ride like a Cadillac at the front of my 1990 240 DL (li'l read) Wagon and softening up more so. KYB appears the better brand yet nbot as durable / quality as I recall.

Questions?

Hope that helps.




--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity

Hi pittroj,

The 240 rear Bilstein (B4) Touring dampers, where they mount to the upper and lower mount points, rattle after install.

Does this on my 1992 240 GL sedan. Terrible.

Bilstein continues to sell these as is. I read in posts other that have Bilstein (B4) Touring on the rear of 240 have informed Bilstein corporate without much in the way of reply. Usually they send back to the retailer if the warranty applies.

I tightened and re-tightened the rear Bilstein (B4) Touring dampers. They continue to rattle. I was worried I'd turn the rear upper damper mount stud.

Installed in 2012 or 2013 or so. Rattling became noticeable a year or more after.

The next go around, should I do so, will be Bilstein (B6) HD rear and Bilstein (B4) Touring dampers front on 240.

I'll not get Sachs, what some vendors named Boge. These are made in Mexico for the Americas. Boge in Europa no longer makes dampers for 240. Real Boge Turbo Gas was the stuff!

KYB for Volvo 240, the Excel-G may not be so bad. They seem to last and are rather more stuff than Sachs / Boge.

Else, Koni? Gabriel makes some good dampers for Volvo in Europa. Not the same as here, yet am unsure.

RWD Volvo New year!
--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity

It is always disappointing when you pay for a premium brand product and find it to be a less than premium product.

Personally I find KYB products to be a real sweet spot for price:performance visa-vis Volvo shocks and struts.

John

Mine lasted maybe 50k. Leaked, made a popping noise on corners. I put in cheapo NAPA shocks. They are fine, if they die, I won't get angry.

Bilstein HD > Bilstein TC.

My 100K Bilstein HDs are still stiff as new, do not leak and NEVER make noise, ever.

I'm trying Koni Yellows next.

Arrrrrgh !!! This weekends 2 dew list: replace rear bushings & install Bilstein's. Sounds as though I should pick up Sachs Advantage. Thanks for info.

Enjoy
--
84, 242GLTi, 167K, 4+OD, not on the road yet; 89, 245 DL, 339K, M 47, daily driver; 93, 245, auto, 167K; daughters 84, 242 Ti, 193K ; and other toys.

I see you did a thorough job, Rob - you even replaced the Bilstein in your signature picture!

I have been running Sachs Advantage front and rear for three(?) years now, and find them a great compromise between comfort and handling.

Best regards,
Erling.
--
My 240 Page

I had the same problems with the Bilstein TC's after only 7000 miles. diggity diggity was replaced with some cheap kyb gas adjusts that cured the problem and make for some good towing shocks.

Yep, they're crap, I tossed mine after less than 5k, they made noise on 2 different cars. That was a couple of years ago so I guess they have ongoing issues. Like I say, Bilsteins in name only, they darn sure aren't up to par as far as quality goes.
--
Dave Shannon
Durango, CO
'63 P-210
'67 1800s
'88-240
'06 F250 Diesel 4X4
my pages

wanna say: that's odd.

i have a set of bils HD, one year old, & i would swear on my beloved 244 they make clunking noises -this is after redoing EVERYTHING under the car.

i just cant figure it out & i have done 4 very thorough, utterly complete, highly detailed inspections of all components, torque settings, nuts, bolts, you name it.

i think, since the car is lowered, that either the springs are seating & unseating (some type of movement) or the shocks are tweaked.

the other day, i was replacing ignition components (cap, rotor, etc). i was exaxt in my request for german parts at minimum. i noticed that the boxes were marked made in germany while the parts had made in china on them. hmmmmmmmm.

think about it.
--
Enem v15 cam, adj. cam gear, new head, trans cooler, stainless brake lines, e-fan, braces, IPD sways, 100% poly bushed, Bils, boxed front & rear arms, wagon lowering springs, FWD rims, 25/32mm adapters, powder coated stuff, zero mile-d, & more

The rear of mine is not lowered, and the cheap Bilsteins made the noises.

In this recent job, I *only* replaced the Bilsteins with Sachs. I wanted to eliminate other factors, and I drove it most of two days before going over and turning the parts in.

There's no question, the noise was from the shocks. The Sachs are just about as stiff, and the ride is well controlled and quiet.

Credit on my Visa card, thank you very much. From the discussions at the parts counter, it seems no one is having trouble with these on other cars. Just us lucky 240 owners I guess...
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244-M47-208K ::: Bilsteins, Turbo swaybars, Virgos, Lowered, Group A wing, Tach, 6-Disc, Satellite Radio, Keyless Entry ::: Coming Soon: B-Cam!

From the discussions at the parts counter, it seems no one is having trouble with these on other cars. Just us lucky 240 owners I guess...

Yep, I got a set for my '86 744 at the same time I got the ones for the '88, great ride and damping. I wouldn't hesitate to recomend them to 700 owners.
--
Dave Shannon
Durango, CO
'63 P-210
'67 1800s
'88-240
'06 F250 Diesel 4X4
my pages

My experience also. Dan

I had the same problem with touring class, Bilstein replaced them with HD's. I thought the HD's we clicking after about 10K miles so I took em off and sent them back for testing. According to Bilstein they are good but I haven't put them back on yet to see. I'm real pleased with Sachs Advantage, don't even think of trying Gabriel, BTDT. Dan

Just installed Sachs rears myself - love them.

But then, the shocks I took off were, *shudder*, the originals. They didn't even attmept to uncompress.

Can't wait to get some time to install the Sachs struts too. Gary, you were right; they're responsive, but a smooth ride on these, "impecably maintained Virginia roads."
--
Sean - now frolicking in the Land of a Thousand 240's (aka, Fredericksburg) thrice a week.

Yep, and our roads are not going to get any better with the current batch of MORONS in control? in Richmond. Shamefull.

Politicians are just like baby diapers. They both need changing on a regular basis, for the exact same reason.
--
Gary Gilliam Sumerduck VA,' 94 940 Regina, '86 240GL