240GLT Rear Shock Absorbers?

Alec Dawe · Jul 7th, 2006, 13:12

Just having a look round the rear suspension of my '88 240GLT, only to find that one of the little spring clips for the pad retaining pins was missing (no dealer didn't have any either, never mind, ordered some, and made up a temporary one out of a bit of spring steel wire I happened to have lying about).
BUT, I noticed that the rear shock absorbers are not 'just' telescopic, but have a small gauge spring wound round them.
This spring seats on a mount at the bottom of the shock absorber, and disappears up under a black rubber shroud about 6" long, at the top. Are these standard for the GLT? Or an aftermarket fit or factory option. I have had a look, but can't find a makers name or label on them.
Any information would be welcome.

CTCNetwork · Jul 7th, 2006, 13:44

Hi,

I had a set of those on a 360 GLT.
I believe they are tensioners to toughen up the rear suspension.
Mainly there to add support for when you are towing.

Has the added benefit/disadvantage (depending on your point of view) of making the ride of the car a bit "harder" (not as spongy) as regular.

Des. . .

classicracing · Jul 7th, 2006, 22:08

240 GLT had ordinary rear shocks except for 90 model year which had nyvomats ( self levelllers)
The ones you have are accessory replacememnts
The standard rear shocks work well , the nivomats give you a liitlle bit of understeer, you want the back end to sit down and let the front come up and ride around the corners so good quality non self levelling will give the best handling
Best GLT rear mod is the rear anti roll bar
Richard

classicswede · Jul 8th, 2006, 20:45

Fitting a set of our SPAX adjustables to the rear of my brothers car made a realy big difference - also makes the towing springs work better.

I think I have an old set of those rear dampers in the shed!! Maybe more than 1 set even.

Clifford Pope · Jul 11th, 2006, 13:15

My 1989 GL has an extra pair of small springs set inside the main ones. They are separate from the shock absorbers, which are just the standard ones. They can have very little compression in themselves compared with the main outer springs, but presumably serve the same function as double valve springs - to smooth out resonance?

Jul 7th, 2006, 13:12	#1
Alec Dawe Former Support Team Last Online: Jan 26th, 2024 11:26 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nr Norwich	240GLT Rear Shock Absorbers? Just having a look round the rear suspension of my '88 240GLT, only to find that one of the little spring clips for the pad retaining pins was missing (no dealer didn't have any either, never mind, ordered some, and made up a temporary one out of a bit of spring steel wire I happened to have lying about). BUT, I noticed that the rear shock absorbers are not 'just' telescopic, but have a small gauge spring wound round them. This spring seats on a mount at the bottom of the shock absorber, and disappears up under a black rubber shroud about 6" long, at the top. Are these standard for the GLT? Or an aftermarket fit or factory option. I have had a look, but can't find a makers name or label on them. Any information would be welcome. __________________ Alec. (My other car is a WD 2-10-0)

Jul 7th, 2006, 13:44	#2
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	Hi, I had a set of those on a 360 GLT. I believe they are tensioners to toughen up the rear suspension. Mainly there to add support for when you are towing. Has the added benefit/disadvantage (depending on your point of view) of making the ride of the car a bit "harder" (not as spongy) as regular. Des. . . __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to."

Jul 8th, 2006, 20:45	#4
classicswede Trader Volvo in my veins Last Online: Yesterday 23:53 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anglesey	Fitting a set of our SPAX adjustables to the rear of my brothers car made a realy big difference - also makes the towing springs work better. I think I have an old set of those rear dampers in the shed!! Maybe more than 1 set even. __________________ http://www.classicswede.org www.classicswede.co.uk

Jul 7th, 2006, 22:08	#3
classicracing Senior Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2010 09:55 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Taunton, Somerset	240 GLT had ordinary rear shocks except for 90 model year which had nyvomats ( self levelllers) The ones you have are accessory replacememnts The standard rear shocks work well , the nivomats give you a liitlle bit of understeer, you want the back end to sit down and let the front come up and ride around the corners so good quality non self levelling will give the best handling Best GLT rear mod is the rear anti roll bar Richard

Jul 11th, 2006, 13:15	#5
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Yesterday 12:45 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	My 1989 GL has an extra pair of small springs set inside the main ones. They are separate from the shock absorbers, which are just the standard ones. They can have very little compression in themselves compared with the main outer springs, but presumably serve the same function as double valve springs - to smooth out resonance?

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