First time to this forum..

I have a 199 S80 w/ 130,000 on it now. I get a lot of sway and after impact vibration from pot holes and such. I have been told that I do not want to think about replacing with a OEM parts ($$$) from a dealer. What works well? after market brands? \

Appreciate any advice from the experts. Thanks

 

The factory struts are actually fine, and pass lower impact forces through to the rest of the car than sport shocks. Personally, I'd get some new OEM struts/shocks from FCP Groton (much cheaper than at dealer) - be sure to also get all the mounting hardware that wears out and creaks and clunks like spring seats, etc.

Then when that's all done, get some IPD sway bars. They sharpen cornering and improve high speed stability with less degradation in ride than stiff shocks or worse - lowering springs.

Sport shocks it's either Bilsteins or Konis. I had a set of Konis - they were big money and did handle sharp, but after they wore out, I got OEM shocks and struts for our rough New England roads.

 

driver is right on here, to expand a bit,
S80's are not really meant to be as sporty as the smaller Volvo's - you CAN tighten them up, but they are happier with a more sedate demeanor. Stick with the OEM. Dealers get alot of flak here and on most other automotive forums (fora? I'm never sure) but I use them frequently. Do I spend more than at Speedy Sam's Suburban Shock and Muffler Shoppe? Yep. BUT I get guy's who work on S80's all day, every day. They replace anything that needs it because they have the parts available, they know that if I took it there because I want it done right, they will use OEM parts, not crap made in some country I've never heard about that fits multiple vehicles.

(I also use an independant mech who specializes in Volvos. No cheaper but he does the work the same way as when he worked at the dealship.)

I'd like to believe that that is one reason my S70 runs as good as new with 190,000 + on the clock! My S80, with <50,000 rides like new too!

 

And this is advice that I will take. I'm not looking to trick out my s80. Just trying to get it riding smoother with out all of the sway. I know that my tires are to spec and just did the ball joints. I just get alot movement and after inpact vibration from the road. Usuall at higher speeds. I will pursue OEM struts here. I have a lot invested in the car and hope to have it for the long run.

 

Here is the FCP Groton page for the fronts. You'll see they also sell spring seats, shock mounts, bump stops and dust boots to complete the job right. I'd get all that stuff fresh too - I know first hand that spring seats break... and stick with the OEM seats/mounts rather than the random brand aftermarket parts. You really don't save a lot with those, and the damned labor costs so much that saving a few dollars with the off brand parts is pennywise, pound foolish in my opinion.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/category-ex...168/by_year/49