Rear dampers
 

I presume these are self levellers on the 960 with the IRS set up? Are these still available? Or are they usually reliable enough to be purchased as used units? Car is a '95 MkII saloon.What sort of price do such things go for?The car seems to sit low at the back[it has done since I bought it a year and a half ago but still passes MoT]and with passengers in the rear the mudflaps scrape on speed humps and the like.

First, if not done, check you have Nivomats if you assume you have self-levelers.

If they haven't been replaced at some point and are still Nivomats you can still get replacements from Volvo Classic via your 'friendly dealer' (about the only UK source (look on Skandix.de for more info) and prepare to open your piggy bank to the extent of £500+ including FRF's (see below) Forum discount (price check not done recently!).

To identify the correct replacement for your car contact FRF, Swansea (by phone only), who are up to speed in this matter. Volvo 'do' several kits (Sach) to suit various cars in the 700/900 range.

Normally you don't have to replace Nivos as a pair if one isn't weeping oil but at this age both are likely to be pretty 'shot' together with the rubber gaiters.

If you should be able to find (and it's a big if) a reasonable pair and can get them real cheap (as there is no G'tee) go for it, but you will find you are likely and, I would recommend you to fit new rubber gaiters. If the gaiters on a secondhand pair are breaking up I would tend to forget them, especially if they are weeping oil and you can force the piston to retract by hand.

I was very lucky that some years ago I was able to get hold of a pair of Nivos (Boge) for my 745 (live axle) in excellent condition for £20 but, as a matter of course I replaced the gaiters (no mean task in itself). It took some years to complete the job (!) but, I finally fitted them this past August. The dramatic improvement in the gradual deterioration in the behaviour of the back end and handling which had gone relatively unnoticed over the years made it all worthwhile.

Best of luck,

Bob :)

The majority of the mk2 cars came with IRS. The cheapest and a very good way to replace them is with this kit

https://www.classicswede.co.uk/Nivo_..._17415496.aspx

I rather suspected that prices of new replacements would but too high to be justifiable.So once I've made sure they are self levellers that should be on it I'll go to plan B and try to source some used ones for reasonable money.

New ones are in the region of £1000 for the pair.

Used ones are very few and far between, plus at this age they're probably just as knackered as the ones on your car.

Yes I realise I'm probably looking for a unicorn in a pile of rocking horse poo,but you never know your luck in a raffle.

Just a comment, but £1,000 seems heavy.

Looking on the Skandix website a pair of Nivos for a 960 etc comes in at about Euros 700.

The kit sold by Volvo Heritage is always cheaper than buying individual Nivos so I reckon based on previous prices, and without speaking to FRF, that the Volvo kit comes in somewhere between £500/600 with the FRF discount for Forum members.

Bob :)

My mate bought a pair for his 940 about 2 years ago and he said they cost that much.

There is also the availability problem for them now, i know those for the 7xx seem to be NLA at last check, not sure about the 9xx with the newer IRS/multi-link. I's rather have normal dampers and springs than things that officially don't work and pay in limb/organ propoprtions for the privilege.

Not far off. 720Euro plus shipping from Scandix