Hello,
I am considering this 1997 Volvo S90, which I haven't actually seen yet, but clearly from the pictures the rear end is sagging a bit. So I have read a bit about the nivomat suspension, and how potentially the car will raise to normal height if driven a few miles. Could that be the case here? And if not, what kind of problem would I potentially be looking at? I know very little about these cars, except that I love how they look! Hopefully I will own one soon enough.




Thanks!

 

first is to confirm whether the car has nivomats or not (easy to tell as the tubes are fatter than normal shocks or you can look at the suspension code in the build plate - U is Nivomat, X is standard shocks). They are expensive to replace ( $225-250 US each) but should provide some lift. I'd just factor the cost to replace the rear Nivomat shocks into your offer.

 

They are more than that, more like in the $450 range each, last time I looked... You can always go to standard shocks, IPD sells a kit to convert.

 

Regarding the IPD kit, I was enthusiastic to buy it cheaper than just replacement Nivomat shocks and had it installed on my 94 960. There are 3 different offerings of the kit with the same replacement springs and 3 different types of available shocks. See the picture below. I would suggest if someone does get the kit, go with the most heavy duty shocks they offer which you'll see below. They were out of stock on all but the Bilstein touring shocks which was the kit I bought. I have to say I was disappointed with a bit of sag in the rear noticeable within the first few months AND the spring/shock combination is too soft. It's a very spongy ride in the rear and with ANY weight at all and I'm talking like as little as 50 pounds in the trunk, it noticeably sags more.

Having said that, my independent mechanic had given his 960 to his sister with very low mile Nivomats on it. She neglected the car's maintenance and ruined the engine so he was selling parts off of it for her. I got a great deal on the Nivomats which he installed on my car for me, leaving the IPD springs on the car that were part of the Nivomat conversion. Now it sits level or maybe it's a fraction of an inch higher in the rear but I doubt it. And it rides GREAT! Huge difference! I can only say about the IPD kit with the Bilstein touring shocks that I was dissatisfied. But the kit with the Bilstein heavy duty shocks is probably a very good kit. It needed more support from the shocks/springs combination than the kit I bought provided. And maybe the kit with Sachs shocks is fine also, I don't know, it was also out of stock when I bought mine. I could only get the touring shocks, the one in the middle.

By the way my mechanic told me that if his 960 sat for a few days the rear end would sag some but it would almost immediately return to normal height after a couple of minutes of driving. And this is with almost new Nivomats on it.

My two cents worth.

 

https://www.swedishautoparts.com/S90...sion-rear.html