1988 740 Rear Suspension

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Steve Shuttleworth - 04 Sep 2006 21:30 GMT

Fellow Volvo Fanatics

Does anyone know what I would need to do to fit my 740 estate with self
levelling suspension? Several years ago I had a 1989 740 which had it
fitted as standard but my current car doesn't. I use the car for towing
and, despite fitting rubber spring assisters, the rear suspension would be
better a little higher when loaded up.

I suppose the other alternative I could look at is fitting some sort of
adjustable gas assisted shock absorbers and pumping them up for towing. Any
thoughts would be much appreciated.

Steve

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James Sweet - 04 Sep 2006 23:27 GMT

> Fellow Volvo Fanatics
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Steve

Most people convert the other way around, I've seen tutorials out there
so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what you'd need.

Have you looked into aftermarket overload springs?

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Mike F - 05 Sep 2006 14:27 GMT

> Fellow Volvo Fanatics
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Steve

Cars with the Nivomat (self levelling) system use lighter springs that
cars with the conventional shocks, and the Nivomat shock absorbers
provide some of the springing function. However I've seen people just
add the Nivomat shocks to the normal spring system and be happy with the
results. So all you really need are the (expensive) Nivomat shocks, but
to do it "right" you should change the springs too. Personally, if I
was in your shoes, I'd get the shocks, then analyse whether the springs
also need to be replaced after testing.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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dingbat@codesmiths.com - 06 Sep 2006 00:38 GMT

> Does anyone know what I would need to do to fit my 740 estate with self
> levelling suspension?

Pay the money for Nivomats and fit them (£100-ish each side, last time
I looked). Quick and dead easy job, but like all Volvo jobs you will
need a 14mm socket.

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