[960,95+] Rear suspnsion transfer Saloon 2 Estate, possible?

[malin]

Hi, my second post on the forum (after Hello one),

960 estate, 1996, I have problems with rear suspension.
Has sagged down, its a bit softy, a few bushes need to be replaced and diff is leaking.
After reading a few topics on the forum about rear sagging down I know that it could be either nivo shock absorbers or a leaf spring.

Shock absorbers are fine I had them checked. They are 58% - where 75% is new and 30% is the limit.
And car fells ok on the road, so it must be a leaf spring I suspect.
After a drive it stands up a little bit but not a lot, it`s still to low.

As I have other problems with the suspension I was thinking about transfering a whole one from another car.

960/v90 estate - no problems,(Heavy duty leaf spring in all models)

As it was said in another topic Saloons have two types of suspension: leaf spring Light duty + Nivo, and Leaf spring Heavy duty + standard shock absorbers.

Now the question is the suspensions from the saloon with Heavy duty spring transferable to estate?
assuming that I use my Nivo shocks...

I hope that it should be a straight forward fit apart from maybe a shocks mounting could be little different?

Cheers

[niloc]

A similar question - I have a facelift saloon with 6 month old nivos, and a facelift estate that needs new nivos. The saloon is coming off the road for good this week, and I want to transfer the nivos, brakes and wheels to the estate. Will the nivos fit?
I know they have 2 different part numbers for the saloon and estate - is there just a difference in the expected loading?

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

With the late 960/90 which have Nivo's fitted you will find that the leaf spring is a weak one.
This would be the IRS II I think??

There are 2 possible leaf springs. One thick (strong) and one thin (weak).
The thick one should only be used in conjunction with standard shocks (non self-levelling).
If you have the thick one fitted, along with Nivo's, you'd know it as the car would be riding an inch and a half higher! It really is quite noticable.

As the leaf spring is made from fibreglass or similar, the chances of it "wearing out" are slim, and thus the Nivo's are likely to be worn out.
If you reach ride height but the car settles quickly, then the shocks/Nivo's are worn out... They are not holding their ride height.
Another option is that when fitted (either spring or shocks) the ride height was not set correctly at the garage fitting them...

It is also worth noting that the Nivo's have a life of about 100K miles or 10 years - that from Sachs-Boge themselves..

Des. . .

[malin]

I will dig this matter a lilte bit more, can I? I'm confused and would like to get to the bottom of this, sorry...

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

With the late 960/90 which have Nivo's fitted you will find that the leaf spring is a weak one.

1. Is it the same for the Saloons and Estates ?

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

There are 2 possible leaf springs. One thick (strong) and one thin (weak).
The thick one should only be used in conjunction with standard shocks (non self-levelling).

Hmm somewhere on this forum I found this:

Originally Posted by Peter Milnes

If the situation is standard dampers with heavy duty spring then it will not matter if Nivomats are fitted or standard dampers. They will both work well with whatever spring is fitted. Invariably estate models (V90 and 965 post '95) will have a heavy duty spring fitted with Nivomats whereas S90 models and 964 post '95 will have standard dampers with heavy duty spring or the option of Nivomats with light duty spring. It would be the saloons that would have the option rather than the estates.

2. who is right? and what kind of leaf spring was fitted as a standard to 960 estates?

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

If you have the thick one fitted, along with Nivo's, you'd know it as the car would be riding an inch and a half higher! It really is quite noticable.

3. Is that what happened to yours?

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

As the leaf spring is made from fibreglass or similar, the chances of it "wearing out" are slim, and thus the Nivo's are likely to be worn out.

I think all materials wear, haven't they? even if they are made by Volvo in Sweden
I'm almost absolutely sure that Nivo's are fine- don't leak - I had them checked - 60% life left - and cars drives fine - grips ok and doesn't bounce or anything. Changed 1.5 years ago, they have done 35k, car has done 150k and some heavy loads... Could they still be ok as a shock absorbers(doing a job in shock absorbing) but just not keep the level?

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

If you reach ride height but the car settles quickly, then the shocks/Nivo's are worn out... They are not holding their ride height.
Another option is that when fitted (either spring or shocks) the ride height was not set correctly at the garage fitting them...

4. And this is where the problem could be...? (It was previous owner who fitted them). Can it be redone?

Too many questions, I know. Life is not easy...

Anyway getting back little closer to the topic, sort of:

5. What is the load limit on 3.0 960 95+ Saloons? can anyone check please?

3.0 1996 Estate is:

2100kg - max load,
3900kg - max load with a trailer,
1. 0980kg - max load on front axis,
2. 1160kg - max load on rear axis.

Uff... must be the longest post on the forum..

[CTCNetwork]

Originally Posted by malin

I will dig this matter a lilte bit more, can I? I'm confused and would like to get to the bottom of this, sorry...

No problem...

Originally Posted by malin

1. Is it the same for the Saloons and Estates ?

Yes, as far as I know. If you have standard shocks, the vehicle will have the thick spring. If you opt for self levelling you'll get Nivo's and the thin spring.

Originally Posted by malin

Hmm somewhere on this forum I found this:

Nope, I have a V90 and it was fitted with the thin spring. With Nivo's fitted and the ride height set correctly the car is even. With the thick spring I was near 2 inches higher at the back. Honest!

Originally Posted by malin

2. who is right? and what kind of leaf spring was fitted as a standard to 960 estates?

The estates, I believe would come with self levelling as standard unless the customer requested otherwise..

Originally Posted by malin

3. Is that what happened to yours?

Yes, as described above. As I ws bringing a heavy load back from Germany I decided (and thought) that the thicker spring would not affect the ride heith but would add to a firmer rear end!! Not so, just higher...

Originally Posted by malin

I think all materials wear, haven't they? even if they are made by Volvo in Sweden
I'm almost absolutely sure that Nivo's are fine- don't leak - I had them checked - 60% life left - and cars drives fine - grips ok and doesn't bounce or anything. Changed 1.5 years ago, they have done 35k, car has done 150k and some heavy loads... Could they still be ok as a shock absorbers(doing a job in shock absorbing) but just not keep the level?

Drive around for a few miles - 5 or so, until your ride height is level and then park up. Measure ground to bottom of the bumper or sub frame (some fixed point) on each side.
Go back in an hour and check the height. Repeat hourly.
If you drop your height after a few hours the Nivo's are nearly worn out.
If the Nivo's have been on the car for 10 years or 100K+ miles they are at the end of their life. You may have a couple of years in them but they are on the way out...

Originally Posted by malin

4. And this is where the problem could be...? (It was previous owner who fitted them). Can it be redone?

You need to find out which spring you have really. Means measuring the thickness of it at the mid point...

Originally Posted by malin

Too many questions, I know. Life is not easy...

Anyway getting back little closer to the topic, sort of:

5. What is the load limit on 3.0 960 95+ Saloons? can anyone check please?

3.0 1996 Estate is:

2100kg - max load,
3900kg - max load with a trailer,
1. 0980kg - max load on front axis,
2. 1160kg - max load on rear axis.

Uff... must be the longest post on the forum..

I would have thought max tow was 1800kg as thats the max towbar weight.

I do have a thick spring - swapped it for the original thin one after the Sweden trip.
They are not cheap!!!

Des. . .

[niloc]

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

Drive around for a few miles - 5 or so, until your ride height is level and then park up. Measure ground to bottom of the bumper or sub frame (some fixed point) on each side

Better to measure top of wheel (not tyre) to wheel arch. This takes account of tyre differences.

[malin]

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

Drive around for a few miles - 5 or so, until your ride height is level and then park up. Measure ground to bottom of the bumper or sub frame (some fixed point) on each side.
Go back in an hour and check the height. Repeat hourly.
If you drop your height after a few hours the Nivo's are nearly worn out.



You need to find out which spring you have really. Means measuring the thickness of it at the mid point...

I will do. Over the weekend I'll dive under the bum.

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

I would have thought max tow was 1800kg as thats the max towbar weight.

Yes, max tow is 1800 kg + 2100kg car = 3900kg.

How is it on the Saloons?

niloc Would you be able to check what loadings you have on your plate on the Saloon? Please...

[cumbrianmale]

Originally Posted by malin

Hi, my second post on the forum (after Hello one),

960 estate, 1996, I have problems with rear suspension.
Has sagged down, its a bit softy, a few bushes need to be replaced and diff is leaking.
After reading a few topics on the forum about rear sagging down I know that it could be either nivo shock absorbers or a leaf spring.

Shock absorbers are fine I had them checked. They are 58% - where 75% is new and 30% is the limit.
And car fells ok on the road, so it must be a leaf spring I suspect.
After a drive it stands up a little bit but not a lot, it`s still to low.

As I have other problems with the suspension I was thinking about transfering a whole one from another car.

960/v90 estate - no problems,(Heavy duty leaf spring in all models)

As it was said in another topic Saloons have two types of suspension: leaf spring Light duty + Nivo, and Leaf spring Heavy duty + standard shock absorbers.

Now the question is the suspensions from the saloon with Heavy duty spring transferable to estate?
assuming that I use my Nivo shocks...

I hope that it should be a straight forward fit apart from maybe a shocks mounting could be little different?

Cheers

I have a 1996 960 Estate rear suspension, make me an offer.

[malin]

Originally Posted by cumbrianmale

I have a 1996 960 Estate rear suspension, make me an offer.

No thanks. I dont want just suspension, I need a whole car as I need other parts as well.
2.5 liter has a different differential ratio I think.

But thanks anyway.

[cumbrianmale]

What parts are you after?