'86 240 station wagon
Yo Volvolos,

I need to buy new shocks. There is the question as to whether the front shocks are gas charged or not as they need to be replaced with same. And there were two tpyes of brake callipers available - Girling and something else. Anyone know these particulars? Thanks

 

boge/sachs made the stock shocks on those cars, they were low pressure gas, twin tube. bilstein tc are a reasonable replacement, also low pressure gas.

you have to inspect your front brakes to see which calibers you have. some years are quite the parts bin cars, and they used 2-3 different types rather randomly. my parts catalog says the front wheel brakes on an 86 240 could be ventilated or non-ventilated disks, both are girling. and both use the same pads (but different rotors). I highly recommend Brembo rotors, if available. Our 87 has solid disks, I believe (its not here to look at). the ventilated disks look like a double disk on the edge...

 

As I remember, my front brk disks are solid, but the rear are ventilated. Which doesn't make sense really as the front get way hotter. I wonder what difference it makes as to whether shocks are gas or not? Thanks!

 

Just read some posts on shocks and one system calls for the replacement of the springs as well. I'm not going to go that far but am thinking of putting spring expanders in the rear springs so as to be less likely to bottom out when 'fully' loaded. Any knowledge of pros and cons of spring expanders? Like, will they make the spring more brittle and breakable?

 

if its a wagon, I'd replace the rear springs with 'wagon overload springs', sold by places like ipdusa and fcpeuro. car model specific. these will give you a slightly harsher ride when you're running empty, but will handle heavy loads much better. those spacer blocks you put between the coils are just evil.

another option is an airbag kit, these are like rubber balloons that fit inside the rear coils, and are plumbed to shraeder air valves (like tire valves) that you install somewhere in the back of the car (like under the 3rd seat cover), use a compressor to pump them up to 20 or 30 psi when you're fully loaded to level the car back up, and drop them to 2-3 lbs when you're running empty. suggestion, use a separate shaeder valve for each side, otherwise they do funny stuff on turns.

 

Wow - airbags inside the coils! New one on me. I didn't think the spring expanders would get a very high reception - and they could just make the springs break under a heavy load and a bump. I thought there might be something like 'wagon overload springs' - so thanks!

 

https://www.airliftcompany.com/produ...air-lift-1000/

I forget which kit fits. I got one, but never did install it.