Nivomat self-levelling rear shock absorbers

[apersson850]

Nivomat is not required just because you have Xenon lights. Leveling of the lights is, that's correct, but Volvo's standard solution to that is just what I wrote, i.e. leveling of the lights, not of the car. Cars equipped with Xenon lights have ride height sensors on the rear and front right wheel suspensions. These sensors give signals to the light control system, which will move the lamps themselves up or down as required. This system is much faster than the Nivomat. It's actually so fast that it sometimes adjusts the lights during the time you apply the brakes and the front dips a bit because of that.

My car has this system, as it has Xenon lights from factory, but it also has Nivomat, to make it work better when towing etc. Nivomat is an add-on I ordered when I bought the car.
Nivomat is indeed driven by the movements of the suspension, so it doesn't regulate ride height when at standstill. Thus your car looks just as bad as any right after loading it, but already after 500 m most of that's gone. When you lift it, then put it down, all cars will look high untill they roll a few meters. But that's because the wheels move sideways somewhat when the suspension goes from normal to no load. When the car isn't moving, the requirement to move sideways somewhat to get back to normal height is prevented, so it will sit higher than normal until you roll somewhat.

[Tatsfield]

It wouldn't make sense to try to instantaneously level 2 t of steel car when you could level 200 g of plastic lamps! Levelling the lamps is the bane of retro HID fitting, which is why almost all retro fitted HID systems are strictly illegal.

[Cubbington]

Originally Posted by apersson850

Nivomat is not required just because you have Xenon lights. Leveling of the lights is, that's correct, but Volvo's standard solution to that is just what I wrote, i.e. leveling of the lights, not of the car. Cars equipped with Xenon lights have ride height sensors on the rear and front right wheel suspensions. These sensors give signals to the light control system, which will move the lamps themselves up or down as required. This system is much faster than the Nivomat. It's actually so fast that it sometimes adjusts the lights during the time you apply the brakes and the front dips a bit because of that.

My car has this system, as it has Xenon lights from factory, but it also has Nivomat, to make it work better when towing etc. Nivomat is an add-on I ordered when I bought the car.
Nivomat is indeed driven by the movements of the suspension, so it doesn't regulate ride height when at standstill. Thus your car looks just as bad as any right after loading it, but already after 500 m most of that's gone. When you lift it, then put it down, all cars will look high untill they roll a few meters. But that's because the wheels move sideways somewhat when the suspension goes from normal to no load. When the car isn't moving, the requirement to move sideways somewhat to get back to normal height is prevented, so it will sit higher than normal until you roll somewhat.

Thanks for the reply, and yep, fully understand that the car rises and levels itself when driving, but what I was trying to say that after parking up, the car’s still sitting lower than normal. The self-levelling system on the lights is compensating (Tatsfield, mine has factory fitted Xenons, not aftermarket HID, which is what my previous post may have led you to think), so I’ve not been dazzling anyone.

With regards to putting it back down after removing a wheel, it sits way higher than a normally sprung car would, so guess mine has Nivomats.

So hopefully with that cleared up, should I expect it to sit lower than normal with a heavy load and after a long drive? I unloaded it earlier, and it’s definitely sitting an inch or so higher, and back to normal.

Cheers,

Nick

[apersson850]

With leveling, it shouldn't be noticeably lower after a drive, even with a load (within the car's specifications). Mine isn't. But if there's a slight leak, it will sink over time, if loaded and immobile.

All cars sit high after lowering them, as the wheel has to shift sideways to allow the spring to contract. The leveling system may rise somewhat, but normally doesn't change much when it's not frequently pumping up and down.

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by Cubbington

Thanks chaps, but that's my concern; I'd driven about 10 miles to the tip on Saturday and the car was low, and I've driven 285 miles today, and it's low.

Does it 'sag' when you stop?

And yep, mine's got HID's and the level's looked fine with the self-levelling today, no flashes from other drivers.

Just feeling a little sensitive after the recent electrical problems (had a couple of other weird gremlins over the past couple of days too), and now finding new discs and pads needed, and gearbox starting to get a bit clunky...I reckon I'm in for some expense soon, and would rather not need new rear shocks too!

And please don't take that as a typical forum "This car's crap!" comment, it's just an older car that's ticked over 100k, so kinda expecting things to start cropping up, but I still love it!

Thanks,

Nick

100k just run in then loads of life left in your car . mine 214 k runs like a clockwork mouse .just keep driving

[Cubbington]

Originally Posted by Simmy

100k just run in then loads of life left in your car . mine 214 k runs like a clockwork mouse .just keep driving

Hah!

Yeah, I intend on keeping this wagon for a good few miles yet, just getting ready for some bills in the near future.

Did just under 900 miles this week, with an 8.5 hour journey back down south on Friday and was very grateful of the comfort of this beast!

Cheers,

Nick