The new to me 98' S90 feels a bit too much like an old Buick (or a new Camry :-(), it rolls a bit too much than necessary, and the steering response could be crispier. It also started making noises going over bums slowly - from reading this group archives, it points to the sway bar links.

I've got this car not so long ago, I have never been under the car myself yet, had my mechanic check it out and do few things right after I bought it. So, I am not sure whether it has Nivomats or not.
Is it possible to figure it out from the VIN?

Searched the archives, found an old thread from February, discussing this and other issues. It never reported the solution though.

Apparently, there is no such thing as poly bushings, no sway bar upgrades, and not much selection for the shocks/struts.
Monroe shocks have been mentioned few times. Are they any better, than OEM? Do they last? Are they gas shocks? Any place to get them on-line? How much do they cost?

-Michael
98' S90 82K
90' 740 GLE 191K

As for the front struts, the Monroe SensaTrac struts are nice and firm compared to the stock Volvo versions (and they are indeed gas struts). I own two '95 960 wagons, have installed the Monroes on each, and am very happy. The stock Volvo strut mounts and bellows work fine as long as they are in good condition. I've had the Monroes on one of the cars for a little over 2 years and they hold up great as well. Check rockauto.com. The part number is 71520 and they cost $89.79 each (same part number for '95-up 960's as well as 90 series cars). Shipping was very fast and the quality was oustanding. Unfortunately, I don't know of too many options for the rear suspension. Hope this helps, Jim

With some creativity you may be able to get 850 front shocks fitted (and thus take advantage of the aftermarket options that are available for the 850).

With some cash (~$3,000) you can get the factory lowering kit from Europe. One of the Turbobricks guys did this, but didn't install the lowering spring (indeed, I think for whatever reason... probably language barrier... he didn't even receive the spring). The car thus oversteered quite dramatically, and ended up in a wreck.

Doing custom whatever with the front suspension shouldn't be too hard.. doing whatever with the rear presents a challenge, as to deal with the rear spring you'd need to find the proper (dealer only) spring compressor and perhaps someone willing to fabricate a leaf spring (try finding someone to make a fiberglass one for an affordable amount... ha).

--
alex

the monroe shocks made a big diference on my v90. they've only been ont he market for a year, so reliability is untested. you can get them at sears for not too much installed. Cheaper than OEM. As for the sway bar links and bushings, Febi/Bilstein makes them both. I thi they are also making shocks for the 90 series as well.

Just checked bilstein site:
Nothing for S90...

From what I've read... the mushy/cushy springs started on the 90 series (both V and S) when it replaced the 960 in '97. The '95-'97 960 uses the same suspension with higher rate springs at both ends. Those cars got good handling reviews - even better than the 940 with the older type suspension that goes back to '83.

You probably do not have the Nivomat option, making it easier to fit stiffer rear shocks to the car. A quick glance at the current rear shocks will tell you which. Body of shock at bottom = standard tube type. Upside down with accordion boot on shaft = Nivomats.

There really is not much available, unfortunately. I have Bilsteins and Nivomats on my 965 and that is a nice combination.

It is highly unlikely you have Nivomats. There is a designation for them in the code, but you will have to look this up or ask your friendly dealer as I do not recall it. It seems only a few cars came with this option and the special, weaker spring is NLA. The shocks and heavier 22mm sway bar are still available but you need all three for the proper suspension. Look at the shock. If it has a big rubber bellows you may have gotton lucky. No bellows and you have the standard cush-mobile version.

Monroes are reputed to be better than stock. I have not tried them yet but that is one of my next projects as I happen to agree that the V90 is a lot closer to a Custom Cruiser station wagon than any other Volvo I have owned. Too bad the aftermarket performance shocks were discontinued. Since this car was targeted towards a faily well-heeled luxury buyer, the firmer suspension probably did not sell very well to the original owners that drove back and forth to the country club.

I am sure is you google Monroe and volvo you will find a number of companies that will sell you these shocks.

Forget about fancy bushings too.

Bob
'97 V90 60K
'93 965 149K
'66 Sunbeam Tiger
'61 Bugeye Sprite

>>It seems only a few cars came with this option and the special, weaker spring is >> NLA. The shocks and heavier 22mm sway bar are still available but you need all >> three for the proper suspension.

"All three" - meaning springs, shocks, sway bars?
What is the place selling 22mm bars? I guess, links will need to be upgraded too.

I checked few sites selling Monroe shocks. They also list different strut mounts, and Monroes has theirs to compliment their shocks. How much difference dies the strut mount make? It costs about 1,5x the strut?

-Michael

The entire Nivomat upgrade kit included shocks and spring and the heavier bar.

Volvo sells the 22mm bar, but I don't think it would be wise to put it on the sedan unless you get a heavier bar made for the front. perhaps IPD would make a custom front bar for $$$$. No aftermarket performance suspension parts are available to my knowledge. Paul Newman has (had?) a V-8 powered '95 wagon from Converse http://westpundit.blogspot.com/2006/08/volvo-i-should-have-bought-at-13759.html he had the suspension tweaked a bit and I think IPD made the custom bars. I did find a company that makes customer fiberglass springs search engine and it really is up to how much you want to spend.

The sedan came with a heavier rear anti-sway bar than the stock wagon. Jim Bowers has the heavier sedan bar on his wagon and he was adamant that the 22mm would be WAY too much oversteer with the stock springs. I THINK the sean has a 16 mm bar and wagon is 14 mm but it may be something like 16/18. You can hunt for some of Jim's posts as he has the details in his footer.

No, I am not up to big $$$ experimenting and re-tuning the handling, I don't want to change the slight understeer, that Volvo engineered into it, just looking into making it firmer, and less bouncy.
If there was a well tested bar set for both front and rear, for a resonable price like IPD for 2/7/9, I'd go for it, otherwise, I'll start with the shocks/struts.

Sachs Advantage made quite a difference on my 90' 740, together with the poly bushings in front, though. Sway bars are still in the garage...
More than 80Kmiles after these were installed it still feels firmer and more responsive than my S90.

-Michael
90' 740 192Kmiles
98' S90 82Kmiles

Have to disagree on one point. While the Nivomat cars came equipped with a lighter spring, it is not required. In fact, it would make the soft suspension even softer. The auto-level function will work properly whenever the ride height is reduced by load. Removing Nivos, however, does require the full rate springs.

From a performance point, Nivos are mediocre at best. They are designed for a soft ride, not tight control.

I disagree with you. I went back to Factory engineering and they instructed me not to install the Nivomats and the 22mm bar on my car without the spring. I ordered the entire kit which in the book showed spring, shocks and bar. When it arrived it had the shocks and bar only because the spring was out of production and NLA. The parts diagram clearly had all three so as of a few months ago the dealer parts book had not caught up. Factory Engineering instructed the dealer to take the kit back at full refund. Why do you suppose they did that if it was acceptable?

I agree that Nivomats are not a sport shock but I do think they are a great load-leveler as I have had 30 boxes of tile in the back of my '93 and before I was out of the Home Depot lot it was all trimmed up and level.

The combination of Bilstein Touring struts and Nivomats has excellent predictable control without being too harsh. By nature the solid axle ride is not as compliant as the idy rear on the V90. However, I can push the '93 with very predictable control and over roads that take the weight off the suspension, the '93 will squat and scoot while the V90 will bounce a bit too much to inspire the same confidence I have in the '93. Not that I drive like that very much anymore... ^_^

It is very possible that FE requested the refund as good will for an imcomplete kit. It was easier than researching the feasability of using the heavier spring or convincing their customer (you) that it might be an acceptable alternative.

Years ago, there was a dealer installed Nivomat option for the 740. Standard springs with Nivomats bolted in place of regular tube shocks.

I absoulutely agree that the Nivos are a good auto level shock with a much better ride than air-lift types. All our cars came with them and I wouldn't convert.