I've had some inquries as to my experiences with the above that I just recently performed on my 1987 245. The following is what I did;

1) Replaced ALL bushings front and rear (except for rear trailing arms - still trying to rent/borrow special tool).

2) Replaced stock front/rear swaybars with 23mm bars front/rear.

3) Installed new strut bushings

4) Installed Boge Turbo Gas cartridges

5) Installed IPD strut reinforcement plates

6) Installed IPD upper strut tower bars

7) Installed IPD lower chassis reinforcement bars

8) Replaced ball joints (TRW)

9) Replaced tie rod ends (TRW outer and inner)

Things I learned;

1) Make sure you have ALL of the correct parts! GAPA and Thepartsbin both sent me wrong parts! L/R ball joints are DIFFERENT! Front rear control arm R/L bushings are DIFFRENT! Verify before you tear your Brick apart.

2) Don't buy the cheap crap off of eBay (i.e. suspension kits for $70). You get what you pay for. Buy quality - when you do this you'll understand cause you won't want to do it again for a while.

3) You're going to need the 20 ton hydraulic press, no "if ands or buts about it".

4) You're going to have to be creative/inventive if you do not have all of the Volvo special tools. I used sockets of various diameters for bearing presses and once you have done this you can use the old bushings for this after removing the internal rubber and sleeves.

5) Make sure you have a good and correct type of spring compressor.

6) USE PROPER AND SAFE MAINTENANCE PROCEEDURES. JACK STANDS ARE CHEAP COMPARED TO THE MEDICAL BILLS YOUR FAMILY COULD INCUR!!! I didn't have any problems in this area cause I'm old and gray and and cautious and I especially don't like pain.

Just some Sunday morning ramblings from a graybeard.....

RP