I do not see anywhere anything about spring rates. It seems to me that my new to me 940 turbo has stiffer springs than my 740's have had. The ride especially now that I've put in Bilsteins, is very firm and much more so than when they were in one of my 740 non-turbo cars. In that car the ride was on the firm side of good, now in the 940 it's too much.

Dear jerryc,

May this find you well. It is possible that a former owner installed heavy-duty springs.

For example. Volvo VADIS - the now-superseded Volvo dealer parts/maintenance database - shows two springs for 1993 940 Wagons and Sedans:
#6819404 has a coil 11.3mm in diameter,
#6819405 has a coil 12.1mm in diameter.
The thicker coil's cross-sectional area is about 15% larger than that of the thinner coil. I'd guess this is enough to be meaningful.

I gather, from posts by others expert in suspension, that Bilstein shocks and struts tend to be far firmer than are stock Volvo items.

In short, a combination of heavier-duty springs and Bilstein shock absorbers will produce a pretty stiff suspension.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Thanks Spook. I'd really like to know how some here are able to access that database, I have never found it.
You gather correctly, the Bilsteins are firmer than others, but were acceptable in my 740 so I took them out and put them in this car. So, the same exact shocks have been in two cars with really different results. Before, they were firm but good, now they're FIRM and not so good. On the highway is ok, on any sort of rough pavement the ride is choppy and unpleasant. I'll measure the springs and may switch 'em.

Dear Jerryc,

May this find You well. You're welcome!!

I bought the VADIS CDs on-line, shortly after Volvo replaced VADIS with an on-line system. The CDs came with installation instructions. VADIS requires the XP operating system. All went smoothly.

Some of the part numbers have changed. Even so, enough are still valid, that it is useful. Even more useful, the parts diagrams, which give insights into taking things apart.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

I measured my springs. The ones in the 940T are, front 14.0 mm. rear 11.6 mm.
The front from my 740 are 13.6 mm. I don't have the rears but will measure them soon.
I got some advice that the tires/wheels may make a difference. On the 940T I had 16" Hydras with 205/55x 16 Goodyears. These are heavier, and may have a stiffer sidewall. I put on some 15" alloys that are lighter than the Hydras, and 195/65 x 15 Yokohamas that I was told have a more flexible sidewall. This setup closely matches what I had on my 740 that I thought rode acceptably. This made quite a difference in ride quality, much better, but not as much as I want. Now I am not sure what to do, whether to get softer sidewall 16" tires for the Hydras, or buy the 15" wheels I borrowed for this test. I'd rather have the Hydras but the ride is an issue. Getting new shocks,... I don't want to pay that right now. Hmmm.
I may put in the thinner springs but the difference is so little that don't think it'll make enough of a difference.

Hi,

I have tried to work out the different types of front springs on 940/960(up to 1994).
It is difficult, since even in VADIS, they do not mention thickness nor rate for 940,
and there is a lot of references depending on chassis code first two digits.

It seems to me that 940/up-to-1994-960 had basically 3 types of strings,
but I made this up from various "data mining", and don't take it for granted :

- gasoline (turbo/non turbo) 940 = 13.7 x 385 mm (uncompressed)(ref 1329822/1329823 ?)
- Diesel 940 = 13.7 x 435 mm (ref 1329824/1329825 ?)
- 960 6 cyl or 4 cyl turbo or diesel : 13.6 mm x 497 mm (ref 6819661/6819662 ?)

There is also 2 references of lower/stiffer front springs, which are both 14 mm x 385 mm (??),
refs are :
- 9140532 (for 940 gas, other than below)
- 9140533 (for 940 gas with either : AC+turbo, or AC+auto or AC+turbo+auto)

It might be that you have this kind of spring (?), with these, the car's front sits quite low (top of wheel arch at about 64/65cm = 25.4in from the floor).
I put those on my 960 because old springs together with new gas shocks, the car was sitting to high to my taste ...
These 2 springs also need shorter bump stops (88mm instead of 95mmm standard for all other springs)

There is (was ?) also a Volvo 4 springs + 4 shocks lowered "road-holding" kit... and also aftermarket springs for lowering.

If you have the marking on the engine plate, You (I) can tell from VADIS which reference has been mounted on your vehicle : two first letter/digits of third line (chassis code).

Very interesting; my springs are definitely 14mm but the car does not sit low, and in fact with the Bilsteins sits kinda high in front.
I'll get the number and get back to you later, and Thanks! This is good to know, and I am leaning towards switching the springs.