lowering a 2.5 awd

**tattoo101** · Tuesday 14th December 2010, 23:31

will coilovers from a t5 fit a awd car? if not whats the best way to lower it? i have a set of gaz coilovers on a parts car i have and some people say they will fit and some say no. i dont want to start stripping my car as its my daily just to find out they dont fit

andy

**Dangerous Dave** · Tuesday 14th December 2010, 23:55

The front suspension is the same as on any 850, but the rear suspension is completely different and will require a special kit.

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:02

You could use the rear springs off the lower V70R AWD

**Chopster** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:03

Originally Posted by bomb192uk

The front suspension is the same as on any 850, but the rear suspension is completely different and will require a special kit.

An adapter kit for a standard set of shocks? or special shocks?

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:11

Originally Posted by Chopster

An adapter kit for a standard set of shocks? or special shocks?

Sorry, meant special spring kit as usually they come as a set of four for front and back.

There was only one type of rear shock absorber (self levelling) used on all the 1st gen AWDs, no matter what the ride height was.

**tattoo101** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:13

how much lower are the v70r novos

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:17

Originally Posted by tattoo101

how much lower are the v70r novos

Not really sure, but probably something like 30mm or 40mm. Someone will know the right height on here.

**Chopster** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:18

Originally Posted by bomb192uk

Sorry, meant special spring kit as usually they come as a set of four for front and back.

There was only one type of rear shock absorber (self levelling) used on all the 1st gen AWDs, no matter what the ride height was.

Is the shock setup totally different? (I've got a set of GAZ coilovers too from a non AWD and was wondering if they can be adapted)

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:31

Yep, totally different (but not the front shocks, just the rear), they are short, and have a t-bar type bottom joint/mount.

The whole rear end is different, as there is a diff in the way and driveshafts, the exhaust is routed differently and the fuel tank kind of sits over the rear suspension unit.

Obviously the front shocks would swap over, but the back would remain the weak link in the upgrade process.

I think I remember that Kalmar union used to do a lowering kit for the AWDs, but they have updated their website and don't seem to do it anymore.

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:37

See also here
http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19521

**Chopster** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:38

I'm going to have to do a few revisions it seems

Cheers
Ian

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:47

Originally Posted by Chopster

I'm going to have to do a few revisions it seems

Cheers
Ian

A good upgrade is the anti roll bar kit from IPD
http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=6129

**Chopster** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 00:50

Nice one for that... I was just looking at the exploded view you'd posted up on the other thread and thought 'there's the ARB kit down the pan too'

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 01:19

Also found this old link whilst searching through some stuff. Its a catalogue for all the accessories for the 850/x70 including some suspension items. Problem is that it is several languages so takes a while to find english, and it is 20mb to download

http://vccs.volvocars.se/accessoriesLegacy/pdf/X70.pdf

**Chopster** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 09:28

Just had a mooch through that lot (all 964 pages!) it's amazing some of the stuff u can get for these things... (and I'm a bit dumbfounded at why they'd put nivomats on the C70?) there is a few shocker illustrations in there and I 'want' the OLINS adjustable dampening suspension setup

Thanks

**tattoo101** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 13:12

so do you think it will be ok if i put the gaz shocks on the front and v70 novos on the rear?

**Dangerous Dave** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 23:33

The V70R AWD novos are the same as the 850 AWD (from what Mental wealth doctor put in the other thread linked above). So really all you need is the front shocks.

The ARB kit is probably the next thing to go for to reduce the roll. MWD has a kit on his 850 AWD, might be worth asking him what its like.

**tattoo101** · Wednesday 15th December 2010, 23:56

ive got the shock just need to look for the v70r novos now (well after xmas lol)

**siamblue** · Thursday 16th December 2010, 09:37

I have a set of V70R AWD rear suspension, still attatched to the car, it rides the same height as my V70R,

Gary

**LeeT5** · Thursday 16th December 2010, 11:05

Originally Posted by tattoo101

how much lower are the v70r novos

It's not the Nivomats that give you the ride height, it's the springs.

If you fit springs from a V70R AWD (P1) then your car will look like this (my old V70R AWD):

...and will will still handle like this
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ecember091.mp4
Hope that helps convince you.