By visual inspection, how can you tell whether you have a Nivomat suspension?

 

You would have to take the Numbers off the shocks and then have them checked at the Dealer.

Usuall the Nivomats are alot bigger than gas shocks.

 

Easier said than done.. but thanks. As you know, there is a factor of 10 difference in price. Wanted to know what I was getting into before I asked to have them replaced. And to guard against the somewhat remote possibility of being told they were Nivomats when they were not.

My guess is mine are not.. That is guess based on the way they perform in failure mode. Standard sense of lack of response to small bumps. I'm making an educated guess that the self-leveling version in failure would give additional problems, such as uneven performance, level problems etc.

I'll raise the rear end and take a good look, for numbers, size guesstimate. If all else fails, I'll take it to my local dealer. I gave them a simple job to check them out. They are a great bunch of people. Maybe because they have to be. Beautiful facility, very quiet, nothing going on. Either nobody is buying Volvos in Silicon Valley, or they are extremely reliable (yeh), or nobody goes to the dealer for repairs (in the rain). :lol:

I'm a Toyota person by experience (4Runner and 4wd SR5 LB PU at the moment). There are definite differences. Got bored with maintaining these vehicles... its too easy.

But I like a lot of the things about this Volvo. If I can get the details sorted out, we'll see what a self-proclaimed expert at maintaining a vehicle can do with a Volvo. I wish me luck.

 

I wish you luck as well.

If you get the part #'s off the shock and call Volvo they should be able to tell you if they are Nivomats or not.

 

Just to follow up on the original question... how to tell whether you have Nivomat's, from IPD's site:

Please check your car before ordering. Nivomats are close to 3” diameter with a rubber accordian-style boot on the lower half.