Having a bit of trouble with my "vovo".... boyfriend looked underneath car, saw rusted out places in catalytic converter combo pipe, advised by mech that new part is $1100, ordered used part with warranty instead from Erie Vovo in NY for $375. Hope it's the right thing, as all I know is how loud my car is upon acceleration. Anyhow, I don't trust my local dealer (they charged me $57 for a glorified car wash a few months ago when I asked them to examine the car and tell me what work needed to be done. I was told my shocks were in need of replacement due to slight rear end sagging and right side 1/4 inch lower. Got the new shocks (nivomats) but car still lower on right side. Bad spring? I don't know. Anyhow, sorry to drag on and on, could really use a bit of friendly experience with this thing and I'll provide the cold beverages or whatever payment is appropriate.

I'm late in responding, but am suffering the same fate in the Metro area, My Cat is broken, not rusted (check yours again) and the P.O. welded a big hunk of iron to it (glob patch) which also broke open. I have not found a "reasonable" price for the Catalytic yet, so I am living with the noise.

a good shop is right down the street from me:

ACS/Riverside Import Service

1919 Riverside Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55454

612-333-7374

Larry is the owner, Greg is a very efficient/friendly tech. It's on a bus route for the U of M.

Let me know if the Erie Volvo part works. Sorry about the nivomats,

Good Luck

Dave and all,

The new cat/exhaust header pipe combo for $375 from Erie Vovo worked wonderfully!!! Got the car back yesterday with new plugs, new filters, synthetic oil change, a/c recharge and fell in love with it all over again!

Take care!

Jessica

Hi Jessica,

If your looking for a shop in Minneapolis to work on your Volvo I have had good luck with Gorshe Brothers. It's a small shop just north of the U of M Dinkytown area. Both with my 240 and an old Geo Metro I inherited. They fix it right the first time and don't try to screw you over on the cost.

They used to be listed on the brickboard but if they aren't then I'm sure they would be listed in the yellow pages.

Mark Erickson

83 240

St. Paul, MN

Hi Jessica!

Like our former president Bubba.... I feel your pain! You have no idea, just how much..... and furthermore... even if I told you.... you wouldn't believe me.... so lets just get to work.

Ok, what, exactly happened? The most common failure of the Cat Pipe is at the inner seam where the inner and outer pipes are joined. It ends up like a Thermos bottle with one pipe inside the other one.

*IF* it separated internally, a proficient welder, with a TIG gun can repair it in most cases, thus negating the need to pay for another one. Now, because you live in the tundra, who knows just how much rot it has seen, but I believe it is worth your time to have it evaluated by a welder who does exhaust work.

As for those stinking Nivomats....... If you paid more than $200 a piece, you paid too much, but enough of that. Take a tape measure and quantify for us please, exactly how much the rear end is sagging, one side to the other.

Well, I'll do my best to explain... he says it was rusted at the inlet, the outlet and all along the seam. Does that make sense? Now, the nivomats, paid $500 total for new front and the special rear ones. Last week after a flat tire, I asked them to look at the sagging, exactly 1/4 inch lower on the rear passenger side of things. What are your thoughts on the local shops? That carwash thing really irritates me because I don't understand why they didn't see the exhaust thing. For the time being, I've been taking it to a guy who is very honest, affordable and seems to do a reasonable job, just doesn't happen to be an expert. For example, he did the rear mail seal repair and I've not had any more issues with it. Thanks so much for your advice...

Hi guys,

Couldn't help my self from adding my thoughts to the pot so to speak. $500 seems too cheap to replace both front and rear??? Sounds like they maybe didn't really replace them??? You didn't say which you have, car (964) or wagon, (965). Suspensions are drastically different between the two before '95 when the multi-link II system went into both.

It is normal, so I've read in the manuals for Nivomats to sag after the car has set for a while. (I've actually never owned any and my '96 965 doesn't have them.) To make the measurements the car should be driven for a mile or so and them parked on a flat surface and measured right away. Measure from the ground up to the high point of the fender well. I'll check my manual tonight for the numbers. If they pass these limits they usually wear a long time and usually fail by leaking.

Oh, I failed to mention the $500 was just for the parts. $221 to install them. The measurement was taken as you mentioned.

Plus, if true and if new.... he would have made like, less than zero profit on the parts. He would have to have given them to you at buck cost.

Not to be a pig.... But are you like, Drop Dead Gorgeous or something? Not even sure if *I* could swing that on all four corners.

Well, hmmmm, I purchased the parts from www.shox.com in CA, so my drop dead gorgeousness had no influence on the price! :) I guess maybe I should have asked my mechanic for the old shocks so that I would know for sure the work actually was done. Oh well, it's in the shop today for the header pipe... wish me luck.

The flat tire was the missing component. the car will sit low on the "unloaded" shock until normal driving enertia raises them again. most likely this is the problem, Not knowing the 964 very well I nearly went balistic on a NTB manager one afternoon, when the car looked "broken" after a 4 tire replacement....ahhh silly me.

$500 does not seem totally out of wack. When I was researching some nivomats on ebay, I discovered that at least two dealers (shox.com being one of them) had a pair for around $400. Ihave no idea what the front strut inserts are but I don't think they are anything special, so about $50/side again doesn't sound so bad.....

It looks as if the Minnesota weather got the best of your Cat. Sadly, I must concur, it is time to swap it out.

Now the $500 bux for all four struts/shocks is alarmingly low. The first question to come to mind is, "Are they new or used"? Presuming they are new, then yes, my first suspicion would be the coil over spring. If it is only 1/4" I'd almost be inclined to stuff a block in the top couple of coils... but to do it right, matched set of new coils.

If you have amechanic who you trust, that to me anyway is far more important than knowledge of a particular car. Knowledge can be taught. Ethics are more difficult. Stay with him if he is willing to learn. BTW a rear main on that car is NOT a walk in the park. I think you will be ok with this guy. Send him to the BB if he is interested.

As for a referral in your area, I can't help you. I am in Los Angeles and do all my own work. However, look around the board for "Dave Stewart" or "Cynthia Amendt". They are both in your neighborhood and could probably offer you some advice on the local scene.

As always, feel free to contact me for anythingI might be able to do for you, long distance.

Sorry I do not know about anybody in Minneapolis beyond Borton (whence come most of my parts), but the Dear Leader of 960s, the Shining Sun of B6304, and the Great Helmsman of Harness with countless bon mot of wisdom and discerning sayings is General Patton of LA. He is The Man. Just look at this board regularly for his manifestoes.