Heavy Duty rear springs and/or front lowering springs

[matbat]

Hi there,

I'm after a set of the heavy duty rear springs for a 1991 Estate.
Prefer new or nearly new.

Also, less urgent though equally wanted are a pair of front lowering springs.

Kind regards,
Mat

[Mike1967]

Any reason you need these ..... I can vouch for the comfort side of them , they produce a VERY hard ride .

Have you tried Eurocarparts .. or GSF ?

[matbat]

Hey Stiggy,

good question,

firstly I will be carrying heavy loads on occasion
and secondly I want to stiffen up the rear end for improved handling.

I'm not too concerned about a firm ride if it's not jarring. (I used to have a lotus 7 so the volvo is like riding on candyfloss by comparison!)

[Mike1967]

Originally Posted by matbat

Hey Stiggy,

good question,

firstly I will be carrying heavy loads on occasion
and secondly I want to stiffen up the rear end for improved handling.

I'm not too concerned about a firm ride if it's not jarring. (I used to have a lotus 7 so the volvo is like riding on candyfloss by comparison!)

Oh right ok .... well if its heavy loads sure HD springs would be good . On a 240 I used to own the owner had HD springs on the rear basically as when the two lpg tanks where full that is a lot of weight . Anyway cut a long story short ..... hd springs where taken off and new standard springs where fitted . And to be honest with the new standard springs , the car didnt really sit that low on the rear at all .... its as they say , with age springs loose their strength .

[redboy]

I agree wth Stiggy- the only reason for HD springs on an estate is loads. I put some on mine when I got my LPG fitted- mainly becuase the handling was very wallowy with soft springs. BUT you really can tell the difference between a full and empty tank. It feels like there's no travel at all with an empty load- bounces all over the place.

I think there may be some ?cargo springs? or something- that have a variable coil pattern and are a good compromise.

For what its worth, mine were about £40 for the pair from eurocarparts.

cheers,
Brian

[matbat]

Many thanks for all your replies.

I've looked at Eurocarparts though they seem to list them at £42 each (Why do they always quote springs individually yet insist you replace them in pairs....?)

GSF seem a little less pricey.

I will take a look out for the "cargo" springs.

It might be worth adding that after I get the engine "fettled" I'll also be doing the odd trip round the Nurburgring so would like the car to be balanced in the handling department. Maybe standard springs on the rear are the better way to go with lowering springs on the front...

Oooh the choices!

[Rich 264]

I would imagine that at the design stage volvo considered that the car would be used for carrying heavy loads and would have factored this in when designing standard springs?

Fitting new standard springs in place of old knackered ones makes a huge difference, as does fitting new dampers in place of old knackered ones. I think they call it "stage 0" tuning, getting the car back to what it was meant to be when built.

I can understand fitting HD springs if you're a builder with a boot full of cement and pulling a trailer all day, but otherwise it just sounds a bit dangerous. I drive commercial vehicles most days of all different sizes and obviously these are fitted with HD springs etc and unladen they are simply horrible. At the very least if fitting HD springs then I would have thought the dampers will need uprating to control the extra power of the spring and stop it bouncing everywhere.

That said I am happy to be corrected!

I think the consensus on RWD cars for handling is stiff and low at the front for control, and keep it soft and pliable at the back for traction, Lotus Cortina style?

[matbat]

That sounds reasonable to me,

So It sounds like standard springs are what I need and shall get.
Thanks for the help guys! :-)

[john h]

Originally Posted by Rich 264

I would imagine that at the design stage volvo considered that the car would be used for carrying heavy loads and would have factored this in when designing standard springs?

Fitting new standard springs in place of old knackered ones makes a huge difference, as does fitting new dampers in place of old knackered ones. I think they call it "stage 0" tuning, getting the car back to what it was meant to be when built.

I can understand fitting HD springs if you're a builder with a boot full of cement and pulling a trailer all day, but otherwise it just sounds a bit dangerous. I drive commercial vehicles most days of all different sizes and obviously these are fitted with HD springs etc and unladen they are simply horrible. At the very least if fitting HD springs then I would have thought the dampers will need uprating to control the extra power of the spring and stop it bouncing everywhere.

That said I am happy to be corrected!

I think the consensus on RWD cars for handling is stiff and low at the front for control, and keep it soft and pliable at the back for traction, Lotus Cortina style?

Correct. Well, correct for a live-axle rwd car anyway.

The 240 has inherently good handling. I would suggest 240 GLT estate springs and uprated shock absorbers all round as a very good basic set-up.

Next stage uprated ARBs.

Good info here:
http://people.physics.anu.edu.au/~am...andling_V2.htm

Don't overlook the significant handling effects of wheels, tyres, driver's seat and engine mountings.

John

[brodgar]

check volvoque.com


they produce load blocks - which are mounted at the bottom of
of the spring.

I have them installed (EASY DO IT YOURSELF)

They serve a good purpose especially for coping with lpg tanks.