Swapping fixed axle to multilink on 940

[rockheadrumble]

Hiya all,

Iv been reading up and investigating possible suspension set ups for my 97 940 turbo estate. I read on one webpage that the 940 se saloons have multilink rear suspension/independant rear suspension (IRS). Is this true?

Im wondering about swapping my live/fixed axle for the independant type to obtain better handling. Im confident it would be possible.

Has anyone done this swap, im sure they must of.

How much work would be involved? Does the diff need to be replaced as i guess the new one would have drive shafts.

Also would this set up handle as much power? m hoping to get the car over 300bhp soon and i will be taking the car on the track/drift track/drag so it will take alot og abuse.

any help will be muchly appreciated.

thanks

joe

[deathrider311271]

i know its not a Volvo but i did this vonversion on my Capri, i used Sierra Cosworth rear suspension and axle components, its definatly do able but it does involve a lot of welding and fabricating of parts i also used brand new parts so cost quite a lot as well. Well worth it tho as it gave me rear disc brakes and better suspension options.

[940_Turbo]

Why not just buy a 960 or S or V90 if you really want the IRS?

It's possible to do it but the real issue then is how to upgrade the suspension. If you want to lower it you can't just stick in another spring as the IRS has a composite transverse leaf.

Granted there is a theoretical advantage, but I'm not at all convinced the live axle is bad enough in a real world situation to make it worth the hassle.

[Chesh740R]

You could buy a MK1 IRS from a late 760 or early 960.

Then there are upgrade coilover options available.

But i fear you would spend a fortune just bringing all the bushes in the IRS uptodate before you did anymore.

I toyed with the idea of upgrading my 740 to IRS but in the end decided to just improve the live axle.

[Steve940estate]

Are the floorpans the same or would you have to make mounts for everything ?
I had wondered if it might be possible to use 960 front suspension on an earlier car. Not sure there would be a huge improvement but Volvo did it for a reason. You would have to change the back lowere suspension mount to fit it at least.

[940_Turbo]

Are the floorpans the same or would you have to make mounts for everything ?
I had wondered if it might be possible to use 960 front suspension on an earlier car. Not sure there would be a huge improvement but Volvo did it for a reason. You would have to change the back lowere suspension mount to fit it at least.

The floor pans are essentially the same, but not identical. There are enough of the mounts to get everything aligned properly. The fuel tank is also different.

I looked at going the other way, live axle V90 because I couldn't be bothered to properly lower the IRS.

960 front suspension isn't a straight bolt on, The crossmember is the same but the track control arm mounting on the chassis rail is different.

[rockheadrumble]

Why not just buy a 960 or S or V90 if you really want the IRS?

It's possible to do it but the real issue then is how to upgrade the suspension. If you want to lower it you can't just stick in another spring as the IRS has a composite transverse leaf.

Granted there is a theoretical advantage, but I'm not at all convinced the live axle is bad enough in a real world situation to make it worth the hassle.

I dont want the IRS that much im going to buy a new car, plus a 960 or v90 might struggle on the drift track!

If it doesnt make a huge difference then i probably wont bother. Surely though the set up possibilties would be better, adj negative camber etc or is this possible with the live axle.? I would like a set of coilover idealy then i can adj them to suit my needs, towing, track etc.

Chesh what live axle upgrades have you undertaken?

Thanks for the replys.

joe

i

[940_Turbo]

I dont want the IRS that much im going to buy a new car, plus a 960 or v90 might struggle on the drift track!

The 960 is essentially identical to a 940. It's probably easier to drop another engine into a 960 shell than it is to graft 960 suspension onto a 940.

[rockheadrumble]

oh i hadn't realised the 960 was rear wheel drive. i take it the older ones were but the newer ones are front? if so up to what year were the rear wheel drive?

did the old 960's come witht the redblock turbo?

cheers

joe

[940_Turbo]

oh i hadn't realised the 960 was rear wheel drive. i take it the older ones were but the newer ones are front? if so up to what year were the rear wheel drive?

did the old 960's come witht the redblock turbo?

cheers

joe

All 960, V90 and S90 are RWD. They came with a NA 6 cylinder version of the same family of engine fitted to the FWD cars.

[popuptoaster]

Live axles are not inherently worse than IRS for handling, the bonus from an IRS is comfort and better packaging, in some cases a live axle will actually handle better as most cars make do with semi trailing arm IRS and that allows lots of camber changes under accelaration, braking and cornering.

Personally i would look at poly bushes for your existing axle as a starting point, another thing worth considering is if you alter the suspension mounting points then technically your getting yourself into BIVA territory if you have certain other mods on the car.

[57RKL]

Beam / Live axles are good for putting big power through the rear wheels. They always stay parallel to each other. Big yank muscle cars are still made with them today. Nissan dumped their IRS on the already fine handling FWD mark 1 primera for a beam axles on the mk2s and 3s. The Nissan touring car team was very happy about this and performance improved.

[rockheadrumble]

Oh right, thats good to know. Il just keep the live axle and upgrade bushes etc.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me, its much appreciated.

All the best

joe