My '93 940 base is in need of new shocks and struts, but I'm not sure which brand to buy.
This car is my wifes, she doesn't care about performance, just as long as it rides good.
I want to get something good that will help with the handling so that hopefully she has better control (right now it has a real bad rear sway).
I've looked at getting the Boge Pro-gas heavy duty shocks, as I guess they are OEM shocks, but I'm wondering if I would be off just as good with some KYB gas-adjust which are over $15 a shock cheaper.
I don't want to spend a lot, but I want something good.

Any recommendations?

my old 3 series bmw also had no noesdive with original spings, i guess it's the wish-bone suspension, that was a car meant for driving.
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83 242 DL , 92-965, 94-965

my KYB Gas-A-Just shocks in the rear are VERY stiff. the car handles superbly BUT the ride isn't that comfortable... luckily, i have only sat in rear seat of my car twice before since doing that... i feel bad for some of my passengers.

i think the struts i have in front are also KYB. very stiff as well.
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Invar,

The only KYB struts that are spec'd for the Volvo 740's are the GR-2 not the Gas-a-justs. Just FYI. I have them on my front end along with the Gas a just in the back (& progressive rear springs). While this set up is stiff, I still get a bit of brake dive on the front end under hard braking. (Is this a function of the stock front springs or the shocks? hmmm.)

Tim

1989 - 744GL 297,000km
1992 - 944GLE 258,000km

Tim, I'm not sure what the front struts are as my cousin purchased them for me a few years back when I wasn't all that interested in what went into my car. I'm positive the rears are Gas-A-Just though. For all I know, the front struts might not even be KYB. I'm going on what my cousin said when I asked recently, and I haven't had the chance to pull it out to check.

As for brake dive, yep, I get very noticeable brake dive on hard braking despite the stiffness of the car. I believe it is the coil springs that are responsible for that.
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Actually I don't think KYB makes a Gas-A-Just strut insert for any model. I spoke with a KYB rep one time and that's what he told me. I used a complete KYB Gas-A-Just setup on an old Mercedes 450SEL (shocks all around) and loved the ride and handling. I used the GR2's on my BMW 7 series and hated the soft ride. I use BOGE Turbo Gas all around on my 86 Volvo 745 with Intrax springs and IPD bars and it's an acceptable ride although a bit firm in the back (probably because of the lowering springs). I just installed a complete Bilstein setup on my 94 945 and it's firm but acceptable (to me). The Bilstein swap was also done at the same time as the new front springs to help with the nose dive problem on braking. It doesn't nose dive now! It really feels more like a firmer BMW ride now. (I work at a BMW dealership.) I have to admit I was seriously thinking about taking the Bilsteins off after a few days but the ride has gotten better after we've put a few miles on the setup. I'd say go with the BOGE Turbo Gas if you don't make any other changes. They're well priced and hard to beat.

Paul

My mother has a 94 BMW 525i, and let me tell you, that thing rides ridiculously smooth and comfortably, and yet when I stomp down hard on the brake, there is hardly any brake dive. My goal is to get my brick that way.
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Go for a new set of front springs, you'll be amazed at the improvement in brake dive and handling.
I replaced my struts (945T) with Boge Turbo Gas hoping to minimize brake dive -- it did almost nothing. So then I replaced the springs, and WOW, what a difference.

Jeff Pierce
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'92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '93 945 Turbo (a kickass family car), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece)

Chances are that most of the brake dive difference between the Volvo and BMW is due to suspension geometry with the weight transfer upon braking, and not spring or shocks alone.

Stiffer springs and shocks can help, but not eliminate it.

I own a 740 with KYB on all 4 corners. I like them but they are a bit stiff on the back end. However, it looks like you are going for the bone jarring ride anyways based on your selection of PRO GAS Boge shocks.

From what I heard on the board, the Boge Pro gas are extremely harsh and are not the actual shocks put on the car at the factory. I believe that the Boge "TURBO" GAS or Boge Automatics is what was on your car originally. A lot of people on the board like the Turbos but not the Pro gas...Unless you wish to drive the car hard and/or race it.

Just my 2 pennies,

Tim

Hmm... They do right hard huh?
I'm not looking for a hard ride, just a firm one. It's my wife's car after all. She likes it soft, but I want it firm enough to handle decent.
The only reason I was looking at the Boge Pro Gas was because it was supposedly OEM. Maybe I need to shop around some more.

I'll still take any recomendations on brand/model of shocks cause now I have no idea what I want, since it appears that KYBs start leaking quickly.

I have had my shocks on for about 30,000km or about 18,750 miles (if the math is correct). Touch wood but they are not leaking yet. I am not a fan of redoing work but if you have problems, I do believe that KYB offers a life time warrentee on their stuff. Not the best solution if you have to pay for labor though - just to test a theory.

Tim

I have never used KYB shocks on my Volvo, but I HAVE had them on other vehicles I have owned.

On a Mercedes SL I bought (the prior owner had just installed new KYBs), they were so soft that the car would bottom on every dip in teh road.

On a BMW 535is, the former owner had also installed KYBs, but in this application they were way too stiff, even for a sporting car.

Only on a '69 Corvette I owned were KYBs a good match. Comfortable ride, yet firm enough to control the suspension.

On the other hand, I have had many cars with Boge shocks, and they all seemed perfectly suited for the particular application, and a perfect match between ride and handling.

Personally, based only on my experience, I would choose Boge without hesitation.

Bob

I have not had good luck with the KYB shocks and struts. It seems after a short while, 15,000 to 20,000 they seem to leak fluid. Thats my 2 cents worth.

I just replaced my front struts with the BOGE gas on the 960 and it's a good strut.I started with the KYB since I was going to do it myself but i took it to my mech to loosen the lock nut because i couldn't get it off.it got pretty involved since i mangled the nut trying to get it off myself and i didn't have the kyb's with me so i had him use the boge's that he stocked and returned the kyb's. I'm pleased with with the ride. I was able to do the other side myself but had to use a monkey wrench and a long cheater bar to loosen the nut.I had even been spraying the nuts e few days before I started withPB Blaster.
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83 242 DL , 92-965, 94-965