H&R lowering springs for nivomats?

[Volvo6]

Just wondering if anyone has used these and could comment on their effectiveness...

It seems to be an often repeated assertion that it is not possible to lower a standard (ie not AWD or R) V70/850 that has nivomats but here are a set that claim to lower by 35mm...

larkspeed.com

PartsforVolvos

[Axionknight]

Never used them but sets have indeed been available for a while, they are howeve different to none self levelling cars and they aren't interchangable.

[JamesV70R]

The nivos will still pump themselves up to the proper height, so it wouldn't (shouldn't?) look any different because of that.

[Volvo6]

they are howeve different to none self levelling cars and they aren't interchangable.

Indeed I have nivomats on a FWD V70, and I'd quite like to keep the feature since it gives better handling when loaded up. I'm curious as to how the H&R springs achieve the lowering though and how the self leveling set (other than softer rear springs I guess) is different from the set for non-leveling cars. I'd just assumed that the nivomats would try and pump the car back up to its original height.

[Norwegian]

Two options there: Either shorter sports package nivomats with springs to match (OEM part number 9140238, hard to find - £300 a piece here http://www.skruvat.se/Stotdampare-Nivomat-P41934.aspx), or a lowering adapter that I have seen discussed on some Swedish Volvo forum that apparently will lower your car 25 mm with your existing nivomats. I have no further info on those.

It should be feasible to fabricate a distance ring to elevate the upper spring mounts with the desired lowering amount, but that's probably not what you are looking for.


I just went the other way: I kept the front springs on my factory lowered 850, and replaced the rear nivomats and springs with standard height ones that I salvaged off a wreck. It now looks more balanced front/rear, not saggy as before. Handling is still ok, and better over speed bumps etc.

[Volvo6]

Either shorter sports package nivomats with springs to match (OEM part number 9140238, hard to find - £300 a piece here http://www.skruvat.se/Stotdampare-Nivomat-P41934.aspx)

Interesting. Which cars would have got those originally? Was a lowered chassis an option on standard FWD S/V70s in the UK?

[Volvo6]

Was a lowered chassis an option on standard FWD S/V70s in the UK?

Answered my own question, had a look in the brochure and turns out that 'sports chassis' was an option which made car 2cm lower than standard. Are the above linked nivomats for that then? I assume so?

[Norwegian]

Originally Posted by Volvo6

Answered my own question, had a look in the brochure and turns out that 'sports chassis' was an option which made car 2cm lower than standard. Are the above linked nivomats for that then? I assume so?

Yes, they are. Same site also offer standard nivomats for the 850.