V70R awd (P1) suspension

[T5n00b]

Pulling my hair out here trying to get info on this;
My suspension is saggy and old, the car handles like a pound of mince. So I'm looking to, over the next wee while, upgrade all the bits that make it go straight, and turn the way I want it to instead of trying to kill me.

The problem I'm running into is that I'm looking for something like konis and ebach combo, but trying to get "awd" in the applications bit on product descriptions is near impossible. -The car is a daily runner, motorway cruiser and a weekend Cairngorm eater, so Im looking for something that mops up bumps and doesn't roll at all, but doesn't break my spine.

Roll bars and bushes and things are all on the cards, I'm just finding it really difficult to find exact models that go on the awd, can people show me links to exact products? I'm about to flip out on this wild goose chase.

[Dangerous Dave]

ARBs, though it doesn't state for R models you will have to check.

http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=6129

Front suspension is the same as normal FWD cars, so any upgrade will fit. Rears are another matter though.

[T5n00b]

I saw these on ipdusa but steered away from them to due shipping from the US. Thanks.

[v70rade]

From my experience, I wouldn't bother with anything too glam! - I looked at KW coil-overs, uprated ARB's etc. for my R, but when it actually came down to it I looked at what mattered to me and, what was wrong with my car? - The crucks of the matter was that at 110k miles, everything was tired and worn out. I eventually decided upon the following for mine:-

Front - Bilstein B4 dampers with standard Volvo springs and new Volvo top mounts.

Rear - Standard Volvo replacement Nivomats and Springs (Make sure you get the right ones - VIN plate check with Volvo database) with new top mounts.

The front wishbones and ARB drop links had all been replaced with genuine Volvo parts at 95K miles anyway.

The car now has 135K on the clock and I haven't regretted any of the above decisions - Yet!!

The single most important thing with suspension on these cars is the geometry; don't go anywhere near a 'laser alignment for £20 place'! the AWD V70R has it's own geometry settings which differ from the standard phase 1 V70. You need to make sure that the geometry is set and adjusted by reputable people with full four wheel geometry equipment (make sure they use the right data for your car - Autodata is correct for the 97-2000 V70R AWD). This will cost you between 75 and 100 quid, but provided all of your suspension is in good nick will make the biggest difference of all to your cars handing.

Also worth bearing in mind is that these cars WILL go round corners very well in standard set-up - although they do love to eat NSF tyres!!

Whichever way you decide to go on suspension, there will never be any change from a grand! - but chose the right stuff and you'll be happy for years to come!! - I did fifty miles through the Welsh valleys last night, and the only limit I found was the one in the passenger seats tolerance to cornering speed!!