240 General: Does anyone else have this option fitted?

[PRC240]

I'm struggling! I have air-adjustable rear shock absorbers on my 1985 240 GL Estate as fitted from new, see photos. This is a Belgian market car bought by me new in 1985. They're pumped up at a valve under the bonnet where there is also a pressure gauge. They now leak and I really want to retain this option, but it looks like I may need to change to standard shocks with stronger springs unless there is any other advice out there. Thanks, Paul.

[Antz]

Buy a pair of Monroe Load Levellers. Its not OEM but its the closest you'll get.

Volvo later switched to Nivomats that replaced these and even those are hard to find now so you'll struggle to find parts to replace these.

[PRC240]

Thanks Antz. Would the attachments be the same together with the air pipe connections?

[Jungle_Jim]

If you can find any Monroe Load Levellers for a Volvo 240 good luck - I looked into this, and it would appear that they are no longer in production, and all that remains is a few stockists scattered across Europe who have some units left. Perhaps the US is an option I didn't investigate.

Could you get your existing Shocks rebuilt? Perhaps look into that.

I was trying to find a solution myself to this same issue for 240s - eg - doing something about the rear suspension so it doesn't sag as soon as there's stuff in the back. At this stage, it seems that Heavy Duty springs is one of the only options. (Standard shocks are can be used). Air shocks and Nivomats are now scarce.

I haven't put HD springs in yet, but it's on the cards.

Please do let us know what you come up with.

John

[PRC240]

Thank you John. My 240 is already being worked on in a garage so to expedite things I think I'll buy a set of standard shocks with HD springs for the time being, then will hawk the old units around to see if they can be rebuilt, surely someone can do it. I never realised I had a rare option, perhaps because this is not a UK car. Will keep you posted. Paul.

[Jungle_Jim]

Paul

Good luck sorting the air shocks, but I'd be interested to hear your opinion on HD springs - eg difference in ride, how does the back feel to drive, particularly when empty.

Some people say that the HD rear springs feel too harsh and jumpy, when empty; while others - including I think Volvo luminary Mike Brace - said (to paraphrase) that HD were more of a suitable spring rate for a 240, and handled better.

Out of interest which HD are you using? Lesjöfors?

John

[PRC240]

Hello John,

I have yet to buy the replacement shocks and HD springs and to this end have been in touch with Brookhouse Volvo who can supply them together with other parts I need. I don't know the manufacturer but will check. I suspect with the softer OEM springs that come with the pump-up shocks it may sag rather at the back with standard shocks.

I was in touch with Dai Brace in mid-Sept who thought he had a pair of the pump-up ones as fitted to my car and he was due to measure them. Since then he's not responded to messages so I think that avenue is closed. Perhaps he's away.

Paul

[BrianH]

I got my last Monroe's at:-

Supplyant c/o
Outlet F1 Greenhill Industrial Estate,
Birmingham Road
Kidderminster
DY10 2RN

Can't find telephone number on their invoice

E: sales@outletf1.com

Caution. They sent me part number LA332 which had the wrong top diameter bush locationed on the top end.
As I had stripped down I drilled them out and partially distroyed the rubber bushes.

Anyway talking to Barry Webb he replaced them.

The info on the returns invoice on the Monroe's was: Replacement for 207246. Customer returning 1 x pair LA332. I can only think they have 2 sizes for LA332

This was on 10/12/11

BrianH

[DW42]

Another way to restore ride height at the rear, "saggin wagin", is to keep your old springs and fit heavy load blocks. ClassicSwede does them in different heights -- I have the medium. I already have poly bushes bushes at the back, and didn't want the ride any firmer when I was looking to restore the ride height and be able to traverse the monsoon drain at the end of my drive without bottoming out.

[Clifford Pope]

Can someone explain the differences between ordinary, soft and HD springs?
It seems to me that springs have two characteristics - one is the unloaded ride height, the other the extent to which they compress further on loading.

Adding blocks would increase the ride height but wouldn't alter the springiness - they would still sag by the same amount with the same loading.

A tougher less springy spring would deflect less for the same load, but could have any initial ride height you wanted depending on the length of the spring.

In short, if you want to carry a given load but don't want the back to sag more than a certain amount, then you either need to start with a longer spring so that it has more room to sag, or you need a harder spring that doesn't compress so much anyway.

Is that how it works?