I will be upgrading the sway bars on my '93 240 wagon soon - putting on sway bars from a turbo - and plan to replace the rear shocks at the same time. I had pretty much decided I wanted to go with the Boge Pro Gas, based on archived postings here and other research.

However, I found a reference that advised that "The Pro Gas shocks should only be used in sets of four (4)" (http://www.rapidparts.com/Pages/vwc018x.html) This poses a problem in that last fall I had my mechanic replace the front struts, and I am pretty sure he put on standard OEM replacement gas shocks, which I understand to be equivalent to the Boge Automatic shocks. The strut inserts are completely hidden and I cannot see the cartridge name.

Will I have problems if I put the Pro Gas shocks on the back and not the front? How about the Boge or Sachs Turbo shocks? (same company - sidebar question: are the Sachs really better than the Boge branded as FCP Groton claims? And how DO you pronounce "Boge"?)

Any help and insight would be appreciated!

ps. - Just read Jessie's post about Bilsteins - I'm open minded on this - would the Bilstein's be better than the Pro Gas? This is actually my wife's car and I want her to be comfortable and feel safe!

Charles '91 740 sedan, '93 240 wagon, VOLVO 245 DL No. 105 Matchbox

I use the Boge turbo gas in the rear of my 245Ti (and KYB 4-way adjustables in front) - the car drives NICE!! (I found the rear KYB's WAY TOO stiff!!!!!!!!!!)

My only other advice from my experience: TIRES have the most impact! Stiff side walls rule for handling and allowing the shocks to work. I just went to 45 psi in my tires and now the car is even better!!!!!!!!!!
--
www.fidalgo.net/~brook4

I've never had the pleasure of driving a 240 w/Bilsteins or Konis, but I'm sure it must be "nice". Call me cheap, but I've had some good experiences with KYB products. I had KYB Gas-a-just rear shocks on my old `83 245. They were a bit on the harsh side, but nothing intolerable IMHO. I just installed KYB GR2s on my current `93 245 and I like them a lot.

Hi,
It sounds like you aren't really sure about what shock is what.

Boge Turbo gas. Low pressure sport shock about equivalent to stock turbo 240
shock.
Boge Automatic. Stock hydraulic (no gas) shock. Put on every 240 for the US
except for turbo and 242GT models.
Boge Pro gas. Low pressure gas variable damping shock. Rides softer on smooth
roads, stiffens up under rougher conditions.

Bilstein. The usual Bilstein is classed as a heavy duty shock. These are high
pressure shocks with firm damping. They are the stiffest shock mentioned. You
would want a sporty firm feel to your car if you are going to use these.

Do not mix different types of shocks unless you know excactly what you
are doing. I recommend you make an effort to know what the fronts are
especially if you are going to consider the Pro Gas or Bilstein. If you
can't find out what you have in front my suggestion would be to either use
stock automatic or the turbo gas. I'd be very careful mixing shocks. You
don't want a bad handling Volvo for the lady.

Dave 82 242ti

It's probably too late, but if you haven't invested in the sway bars yet I would spend the bucks for the IPD set. If the budget is tight, get the Sachs/Boge shocks instead of the Bilsteins. Unless you have sway bars from a Turbo wagon (not too common), the rear bar from the Turbo sedan is not much bigger than the NA wagon bar. I was moving my scrap pile this weekend and I had a rear bar from a sedan and a wagon there - I was reminded of the difference.

I'm back, after waiting a month to receive my ebay Turbo swaybars (there were problems), and now I'm really confused. Both front and rear swaybars measure 23mm. What car would have had these swaybars? In all of the posts I've read through, I have not seen this setup, or any 23mm rear bar at all. I bought them expecting 23/21, and due to a shipping error on the seller's part (he sent those to the wrong guy) this is what showed up! Could the rear be from a different car?

At any rate, I'm thinking I will go ahead and install them with the Boge Pro-gas shocks in the rear and see how it handles. Should I be prepared to find a 19mm rear bar from a non-turbo sedan?

I also plan to have my mechanic replace the tracking rod bushings, they look worn. The other bushings did not really look worn, but I'm not sure.

I have also asked my mechanic for a price on replacing tie-rod ends, and he insists that he will only use tie-rod ends that are "greasable". Does this make sense? (He wants $195 for the job, which is in line with the dealer, including alignment.) I have contemplated doing this myself, but don't know if I would have trouble getting it apart.

Charles '93 245, '91 740

You scored, the front bar is probably off a turbo and the 23mm rear bar was only found on the '79 GT, quite a rare find indeed, that is probably my favorite combination of factory Volvo bars. I've been running a 25mm ipd front and 23mm rear bar on my '88 and love it, 23/23mm on the 245 is very nice with a good solid neutral feel with just a hint of oversteer due to the stiffer rear springs in the wagon, there is a bit more body roll than the 25/23 combo.
Dave Shannon
Spring Valley, California (San Diego area)
'84-245 200K+
'84-245T 190K+
'85-244Ti 200K+
'88-240 180K+
'01 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 10K
www.volvo2.homestead.com (Opens new window)

I think you have it backwards. The wagons have the small rear swaybar, because Volvo was worried about the behavior of the rear end if you had it loaded with bricks or something. In fact early 245s had no sway bar at all in the rear end. The turbo sedans have the big sway bars, but not as big as the IPd ones (23 vs 25 mm I think)

Could very well be. I never held them up side by side until I was moving the scrap iron to mow the lawn, and didn't think about which came from where. Thanks for the correction.

Generaly RWD cars like to have firmer shocks in the front than in the rear, and 200s like a good quality shock up front and something good but not as harsh in the rear.
But really the Sachs should be ok in the rear, the upper models are firmer, but it should not create any major problems, roll stiffness may change a little though meaning the car may become a little more tail happy than before.

I personaly like the feeling of a firm to stiff front end and a softer setup at the rear, I find it makes for a better street car.
--
My 85 760Ti, and her name is Veronica...