Got home the other night and noticed my '94 940 wagon was sitting higher on the driver's side rear than on the passenger side rear. It had been feeling kind of bumpy on the last part of the drive.

Looked at it in the morning and the clearance over the driver's side rear wheel looks exaggerated, while on the opposite side, there is very little clearance over the rear wheel.

I went under it, and couldn't see anything obviously wrong--any idea? I'm guessing this type of symptom is caused by something basic...

Appreciate your input!

 

Do you have the solid rear axle or the IRS?
Sounds like a spring might have broke or got really weak.

 

1994 940's don't have IRS, in the US version anyway, so it must be a spring-don't see that much...

 

Also, it could be a wornout shock...

also OR

if you have two different tires in the rear, then that might make it look different...

 

How can I determine if it's a wornout shock?

 

I believe the 940 SE had the IRS.

IRS started in the 92/93 960 body style which the 940SE and 760 also shared.

 

The 940SE with the IRS was ONLY available in the US in 1991. The 760 was gone after 1990. I have never seen a another 940 or a 740 with IRS except for the 1991 SE which doesn't mean there isn't one. Anyone know for sure?

 

I just tried to look it up on Vadis as well and it was no help at all.

I will have to try to do a little more research on it.

Vadis was basically saying it was all a solid axle but I know there was IRS in there somewhere.

 

The old rule of thumb is push on the fender to get the car bouncing then let it go, if the car continues to bounce more than twice, the shocks are worn, but worn out shocks don't usually make the car sit higher on one side, busted shocks will.

Look at the struts tower caps under the hood, or a busted rear mount up in the back wheel well.

 

stick your head under the car and see if it is an independent rear suspension system. If it is look and see if there is any evidence of oil leakage. The nivomat systems use the shock to hold the car up instead of the spring.
Tech, I just went round and round with one of these doing a set of nivomats and an ignition lock cylinder. A real pain to look up parts for. Also, IRS started in the late 80's with the 780s. I put a set of nivomats on my 89 780 just over a year ago.

 

It'll be a live rear axle being a wagon. No room for the IRS with a wagon floorpan.
Anyway, it will be a spring or shock. If it's a spring, jack up the car with wheel off one side at a time and look at the spring, you'll see either a collapsed spring or a break somewhere.
If it is what I think it is (seized shock) bouncing the car on that side will result in very little, if any suspension movement.
Both are fairly easy and cheap fixes.

Regards, Andrew.

 

It sounds like an airbag may have a hole or crack in it causing the compressor to work overtime. If the compressor has not died yet it surely will if this is the problem. I would recommend going to strutmasters.com and taking a look at the conversion kits. This kit converts you from air to powder coated, American made steel coil springs that are guaranteed to last the life of the car. I posted the link below so you can take a look.

http://www.strutmasters.com/volvo-su...parts-s/35.htm