Bilstein B4 dampers fitted - The Difference!!

[ChrisCdotcodotuk]

I'm considering just doing the rear ARB on my V50D5. Not sure if I want the extra drop I just dont like the roll in corners.

Any thoughts? Worth doing or should I be doing it all at the same time?

[Yobbo]

Originally Posted by ChrisCdotcodotuk

I'm considering just doing the rear ARB on my V50D5. Not sure if I want the extra drop I just dont like the roll in corners.

Any thoughts? Worth doing or should I be doing it all at the same time?

RARB can go in anytime without any camber adjustments, certainly helps with the roll but it introduced a bit more harshness from the back end so I've dropped my rear tyre's to 32 PSI to compensate.
On 17" wheels BTW.

[ChrisCdotcodotuk]

Originally Posted by Yobbo

RARB can go in anytime without any camber adjustments, certainly helps with the roll but it introduced a bit more harshness from the back end so I've dropped my rear tyre's to 32 PSI to compensate.
On 17" wheels BTW.

Thanks Yobbo,

Now comes to the time to give Don @ Kalmar a shout or see what else is available for less money.

I keep seeing conversations of 22 vs 24mm OD bars and I'm not sure what I should be throwing money on.

[niggly]

Originally Posted by ChrisCdotcodotuk

Thanks Yobbo,

Now comes to the time to give Don @ Kalmar a shout or see what else is available for less money.

I keep seeing conversations of 22 vs 24mm OD bars and I'm not sure what I should be throwing money on.

Here is a chart, originally on Whiteline's website, no longer there, that you might find useful. You can see that a 24mm bar will be roughly twice as torsion resistant as a 22mm.

What size is your current OE rear bar? If your current bar is 19mm (which mine is) then 22mm will be 80% stiffer and a 24mm 155% stiffer. In some respects this doesn't help as it is probably impossible to know "what does 80% stiffer feel like?" However it does help to understand the increase difference between the various bar thicknesses.

Is the IPD bar (22mm) adjustable? I reckon that is quite important. Is it quite pricey at £265.00?
Whiteline do a 22mm and 24mm, both 3 way adjustable. For a C30 they are both £167.51.
There is an Elevate bar that is 25.4 (200%), bit of a beast. I think it £215.17. JW Racing do it.

[macklij]

The handling on my V50 T5 has deteriorated rapidly of late (79,000 miles). The front near side vibrates horribly at certain speeds when it catches just a small bump or hole in the road.

I am thinking I need to change at least the shocks - probably for Bilstein B4s (I prefer a 'comfort' ride but have been happy with the Dynamic suspension of the T5 from new).

My question is: what else should I replace besides the sock absorbers. Top mounts/bearings? Bushes - if so which?

Also, I cant find a 'kit of 4 B4 shocks - am I looking in the wrong place or must I buy individually?

Thanks in advance

[iainmd]

Partsforvolvosonline certainly used to sell the kit.

I'd replace all top mounts and bearings while at it if I were you.

[TLPower]

http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...cPath=2_25_154 should help.

I finally fitted mine the other week to the V70T5. The originals had done 95k, the ride had become really quite "floaty". Other than an antiroll bar link nut that needed cutting off it wasn't a bad job at all. The fronts took around 45 minutes per side, the rears 15 minutes once I'd jacked it up high enough.

A massive improvement, the floatyness is now banished, the ride is on the firm end of the spectrum but I had previously fitted a set of H&R springs. By no means hard, just planted. The car also benefits from polybushed wishbones, the car is far more direct and holds a line much easier.

I fitted Sachs Touring to my previous T5, the improvement was no where as dramatic as the Bilsteins, they're worth every penny.

[macklij]

Thanks both - appreciated.

The kit seems to be gone from Partsforvolvosonline

I actually need to check my T5 doesn't have Nivomats at the rear.

[iainmd]

If you don't see it on their website give them a call. You're relatively unlikely to have Nivomat self levelling unless you have a T5 AWD but check before you buy.

[macklij]

Originally Posted by iainmd

If you don't see it on their website give them a call. You're relatively unlikely to have Nivomat self levelling unless you have a T5 AWD but check before you buy.

Thanks. It's 2WD. I had a look yesterday but couldn't see any labels on the rear shocks because they have a plastic cover over them. However, i think Nivomat shocks are quite wide/thick whereas my shocks looked pretty ordinary. Given that the front are standard Dynamics I'll take a punt on them being ordinary.

Thanks again