I can't decide whether to spring for the IPD bars. I know IPD has the coolest stuff for Volvo's, and have bought many things from them. But, the bars went up approx. 50.00 in the last few years, and to me this is a bit much. Especially when they know you have no options, and you have to pay $hipping from the left coast if you live anywhere else but the pacific northwest, this is co$tly $hipping, due to the weight and distance. I feel they should have by now, opened another lacation in the east, or have free shipping since the buyers are paying shipping that live in the midwest, or east.

Anyway, to the bars. I have read the reviews and have not seen a negative one yet. Plus, if I were ever inclined, I could always sell them. Do the bars wear ANY front end parts out quicker than the standard. If they do wear things out quicker than the OEM bars, I will opt not to get them.

Put your name on the iPD mailing list and evey so often you'll get specials in your email. Last year I got one for free shipping and I jumped at it. I'm really glad I did. The bars make a nice difference in handling exit ramps at high speeds and taking unprotected left-hand turns.
--
...
'92 245, Black & Tan, Virgo Mags, 140K
http://jayboucher.com/blackbrick

it amazes me that anyone would seek to modify these cars thinking they will ever be anything other than they were conceived, designed and built to be.

a safe, solid albeit dowdy family car. running a circuit around lime rock or watkins glen it was never meant to do so why waste money pretending tweaking this or that will ever honestly transform this quintessential family boat.

imo spend your money on parts and stuff which keep your ride in the style it was accustomed to be.

whenever i look at the ipd site all i see is bling for volvo's at high prices.

bling and a 240 just don't go together.

keep your machine up to high standard and it will never let you down. a lotus elan or europa it was never meant to be.

no doubt i'll get some flames for speaking heresy.

If you have never driven a 240 with a well-tuned suspension, you don't know what you're mising. With a little work and money, this VERY customizable car can become a lot more fun to drive, and maybe even a bit safer.

Anyway, your statement doesn't hold up. You say the 240 was never meant to be a well-handling, sporty car? Why, then, did Volvo make so many turbos, and GTs? Almost every performance part that IPD sells for the 240 is a copy of something Volvo themselves put on these cars.

Put them on both 87 and 88 240 years ago, now with 15 inch Aries and 16 inch Hydras. bilsteins pirellis the handling is outstanding. Avoidance maneuvers,turning,instant response with little to no body roll.Purchase mine on sale for 220 many yrs ago

If there's any product IPD sells that is well worth the money, it's their sway bars. Such a nice improvement to the handling over the stock sways. Which let the car lean way over and dial in massive understeer.

I got a little lucky on my 245, it came to me with IPD sways already on it. w00t!

I put a set on my PV and completely transformed the handling. From vintage creep around the corner or it will heel over like a sailboat in a stiff breeze to corners flat as a modern sports car. And not even any real impact in ride quality (spring rates are unchanged).
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'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 +t

Hi pittroj,
Where on the east coast are you? I am in Ma. and have a set of the 240t sways, as mentioned by someone in a reply post to yours, on a parts car in my backyard.



Dan

cx,
I am in Cincinnati. I will take the bars if they are for sale. I will email you.


Pittroj

Apart from good quality tires, and assuming your suspension is in reasonably good shape, installing uprated anti-sway bars are probably the best thing you can do for your vehicle's handling.

I am in Australia and managed to find a pair of second hand locally made bars - 27mm and 23mm solid front and rear. I paid $270 and I still am glad I paid that much. It really transformed the handling of my 1992 wagon.

Poly bushings for the bars and the end links are a must.

Not to mention that IPD must have paid for the simple Designb and Tooling by now. the price should have gone down
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

TonyH,
I agree. It is an outrageous price really. The owner has made his millions, and now it should be time to give back to the customers, HA yeah right like that is going to happen. It isn't done that way these days.

I have a turbo front sway bar off a 1983 242 Turbo. I called IPD and asked if I could buy just the rear bar, and the answer was no. It will cause the car to understeer, and be tail happy because the front turbo bar is thinner and the thicker rear IPD bar will put the car out of balance, which may be true.

I remember trying to get the rear sway bar off that same turbo, and gave up because there was something (can't remember what) that wouldn't allow me to get it off the car, and I didn't have a torch with me.

First, IPD will certainly sell you just the front or rear bar. They've done it before, tell them to mind their own business and sell you a bar.

Second, you don't need a rear bar. The 19mm rear bar on the car (probably, which year and body-style is your car?) is a good compliment to the 23mm turbo front bar you've got.

If you really want the car more squirelly in the rear, buy the IPD 22mm rear bar (they will sell it to you, talk to Cameron on T'Bricks). It will be similar to the 25mm/25mm setup that IPD sells for lowered cars, but a little less stiff.

Scorron,
Alright, I will try IPD again. But the guy I talked to said no dice. Maybe they are afraid of B.S. lawsuits or something now? I have a 1991 244 sedan. I put the front only Turbo bar on my old 245 wagon, and I couldn't tell any difference from the standard bar that was on a 1987 245. BUT, I only replaced the front, not the rear as stated. I do not have the turbo bar installed at this time. I will have to take it off the 245 wagon I gave to my stepson (long story, either give up my old 245, or assume a car payment)


Jeff

Well, first, I'd use a dial caliper to check that Turbo bar - it may not be any thicker than what you've got. There is a lot of sway bar lore out there that is false. For instance, '92 and '93 got 21mm front bars, not the 19mm often cited. Always measure junk yard sways.

Also, sway bars are not as dramatic a difference as many people swear. If I wanted to improve a stock 240, knowing what I now do, I would start with stiffer springs and shocks that can control them. Then, if I hadn't achieved the feel I wanted, I would try the sways.

You might try the double sway method mentioned below. It is actually fairly easy, there is a good tutorial on Turbobricks, and it is dirt cheap. IPD is definitely a little expensive on their sways. A little. That much good steel is not cheap. I figure if I made them myself in my forge, it would cost at least $80 and take several hours worth of work.

Finally, check Turbobricks for sway bars for sale. I only buy from long-term members who have a good reputation and good feedback, but you'll often see IPD sways for sale there for at least $100 less than new. Buyer beware!

I would love to stumble onto a Turbo at the Junkie but I struggled to find a Front seat from any 200 when I rebuilt my seats let alone find a Turbo.

I'm not a maniac on the road but it would be fun to have the car a bit tighter for the Off Ramps.

--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

Tony, you'll have to come over for a visit and I'll show you how to tighten up the front on your 244--for next to nothing. The gist of it--if one is good, two must be better.--Dave

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=9587&highlight=dual+sway

We will stumble into each other some day..
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

You have me curious....

Dave,
You need to post- or send me more info on your double-bar mod. I like what you're talking about here...!
jason
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89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees; 91 245 project

Jason--I'd have to suggest looking at scorron's post with a link to a turbobricks posting. That fellow did what I did--but neater. I haven't stacked rear bars on my '69 144S (the Volvo From Heck) but was planning on making that my next step. I time trial the car a few times a year and run sport lowering springs rather than the rock hard race springs, so going to multiple bars is a poor man's way of tying down the suspension. Because my budget only allows me hand me down/used parts I've had to use some good ol' backyard engineering. Twelve years ago my car started with two standard front bars stacked and a 240 bar adapted and 240 wagon springs in the rear and Gas-a-Just shocks. Then cut the coils and put on old Konis. Then added Volvo comp 25mm front bar-stacked with an original. Then added the used IPD sport springs (thanks to parts swap with Antique Swedish Steel). Now the car has a lower gear rear with limited slip and will need to have the rear tightened some more. As for photos--I'm hopeless with figuring out uploading/downloading stuff. -- Dave

I think a better bang for your buck would be to grab a set of the bigger sway-bars off a turbo car from your local salvage/junkyard. These made a noticeable improvement in my '88 245. I recommend installing them with polyurethane bushing for best effect.
peter

I second the turbo bar option. I picked up a turbo front bar for $25 bucks at the pick and pull. It measures 23mm the stock sway bar is 19mm big improvement and the poly bushing kit did make a noticeable difference. For the rear I found a 22mm ipd bar for $50 shipped on turbobricks.com The car handles much better now. I have also lowered the car but cutting the springs and just installed a B cam. The fun level has increased. So you can get bars pretty cheap and they don't wear out really. Do it.

my mechanics gave us his old turbo bars and then i drove his 242 with ipd bars on it. the ipd are considerably better, but i'm not sure it's worth the money. the difference is between a car that you could drive safely and comfortably and sometimes a bit spririted and something that is rock solid and could always be driven in a spirited manner.

i'll say though that i still covet the ipd's over the turbos but i would need to have some disposable income to justify it. i really should take a look at all the pick and pulls here, there must be 30 volvos to choose from, someone could have overlooked them.