Unmountable Shocks Topic is solved

Elisha · Post by **Elisha** » 06 Jul 2016, 20:04

HI, everyone. I'm new to the forums but not to lurking here for information. I just spent a day at Les Schwab hoping to get a strut repaired and new shocks installed. The mechanic ordered the shocks he thought were appropriate for my car. He tells me after 4 hours later that he can't figure out how to mount them and that I may have to order an expensive European brand that are going to cost double the price of the ones he ordered.
My question, to anyone that may know, is why wouldn't the standard shocks fit onto my car? The only thing I can think of is that the car had been modified to fit a higher performing shock in a way that can't be reversed or in a way the mechanic doesn't understand. I'll appreciate any help and try to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge/ability.

Thanks,
Eli

Post by **matthew1** » 06 Jul 2016, 20:21

Hi Elisha

If you have specifics on

Elisha wrote:the shocks he thought were appropriate for my car

and

Elisha wrote:an expensive European brand that are going to cost double the price of the ones he ordered

... we can get to the bottom of very quickly. Brand and model of shocks, if you have it. For instance, "Boge/Sachs" for brand, "105828" for model number, like on this eEuroparts page.

Aaaaand that page triggered a thought: these are for the rear, yes? If so, it's probably the old "Nivomat gotcha". Nivomats are self-levelling shocks, and are fancy and expensive. They do more, so they cost more. They actually adjust their height based on how much load is in the back of the car. Volvo used these on wagons.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 06 Jul 2016, 22:17

If he was referring to the front struts, maybe your mechanic was having a hard time with the star bolt on the top? When I replaced my front struts, I took the original struts to a shop where I watched "two" mechanics try a bunch of tools trying to remove that star nut on top and they couldn't get it to come apart... I opted for Gabriel Readymounts to make my life easier...

Elisha · Post by **Elisha** » 06 Jul 2016, 22:47

matthew1 wrote:Hi Elisha

If you have specifics on

Elisha wrote:the shocks he thought were appropriate for my car
and

Elisha wrote:an expensive European brand that are going to cost double the price of the ones he ordered
... we can get to the bottom of very quickly. Brand and model of shocks, if you have it. For instance, "Boge/Sachs" for brand, "105828" for model number, like on this eEuroparts page.

Aaaaand that page triggered a thought: these are for the rear, yes? If so, it's probably the old "Nivomat gotcha". Nivomats are self-levelling shocks, and are fancy and expensive. They do more, so they cost more. They actually adjust their height based on how much load is in the back of the car. Volvo used these on wagons.

I asked the mechanic to let me know which shocks he was trying to put on and which ones he thought I needed to get. By the time I finally got my keys back, he told me that he "got the seats back in but couldn't get the seat belts". I had my sons with me and child seats for both of them. I kinda freaked out thinking for some reason he detached the seat belts, removed the rear seats, and I couldn't drive my kids home. What he meant was that he couldn't strap the child seats in for liability reasons. After that I forgot to get the shock information. I'll call and find out that information tomorrow.
He was having problems installing the rear shocks, so I think you are right about the Nivomat shocks. If the car was designed for those does that mean I would only be able to install those?
Thanks for the response and I'll fill in the blanks tomorrow.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 06 Jul 2016, 22:57

Yeah, the Nivomats come with rear springs that are a different length from the models with regular shocks.

Price difference is substantial. (This is for OEM Volvo branded stuff.)
http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/84204/S ... t-9173852/ $225 vs
http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/82075/S ... r-9173851/ $70

It's possible to convert them, but you'd have to switch the springs too. Good luck getting your car back.

It's probably cheaper to convert, no?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 07 Jul 2016, 01:08

You have AWD, so you've got Nivomats and their special springs.
Not your average shock. It's a pretty slick and very robust system.

Step 1 - Is there an actual problem with the rear shocks
or did some just tell you there was? They may be fine.
Generally, if they aren't leaking, they're probably OK.
That's not an absolute, but worth considering.

And being in a Volvo mecca like Portland, you should
have no trouble finding a good Volvo indy mechanic
that fully understands your cool Swedish ride!
Chain shops usually aren't too fluent in P80...

Elisha · Post by **Elisha** » 09 Jul 2016, 16:23

I just talked to the mechanic that worked on my car the other day and he said the shocks he was trying to match for my rear suspension was made by Sachs.I know Sachs makes the Nivomat shocks. The mechanic says the rear shocks I currently have run about 200 dollars a piece. He is going to do some research on Monday then get back to me with what he finds then. I do like the idea of having the Nivomat shocks even though I just recently learned about them.
I may have to just have the front suspension done if it's too expensive but I think I'm ready to have the rear suspension replaced. It's hard to tell with a broken strut. Unfortunately I'm not versed in Volvo repairs even though my dad worked on his Volvo pretty often.
Portland is a mecca for Volvo cars. My new neighbor has a Volvo station wagon and says he has a private mechanic friend that does great work and is knowledgeable about the workings of Volvos. I might end up checking him out since he does repairs for cheap and is capable of doing any job on a Volvo; even converting my automatic to a manual.

Post by **oragex** » 09 Jul 2016, 16:35

I think Nivomats are made by Monroe.

I believe the front struts are different part # on FWD and AWD. I put front AWD struts on my FWD and the front end sits quite higher now. Might well be the same for the rear shock absorbers. Having the car sit high on front and low in the rear it terrible handling wise.

If you put Sachs with regular springs to replace the Nivomats, I'd advise to only get the Super Touring with blue sticker Sachs, these are original equipment replacement. There are also Sachs with white sticker, much lower (read unsatisfactory) quality.
The point is, there are many aftermarket available parts, but for some reason, for european cars most of these parts are simply made to very low specifications causing them to fail even after only 6 months or 1 year.
For the front suspension, I'd advise again for Super Touring blue sticker, (discard Boge or any white sticker Sachs), with only Sachs spring seats, and either Lemforder or Ina strut mount (these are rather expensive). Also, only choice for control arms is again full Lemforder brand.

Post by **scot850** » 09 Jul 2016, 17:02

Don't believe the Nivomats are made by Monroe. Perhaps you are confusing with the 4-C shocks as used all around on say our 06 XC70. That crap is built by Monroe. Nivomats I believe are made by SACHS as per the label on them:

: Nivomat label

I have an AWD 'R' which sits at the same height as a FWD at the front. The V70XC sits higher and uses longer springs but I'm not sure 100% on that. The V70XC do use taller tires, and the rear hubs are definitely different even to an AWD P80. I'd have to more research to identify what other differences there are.

Neil.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 09 Jul 2016, 18:07

Everything you ever wanted to know about Nivos - In general, any way...
http://www.zf.com/corporate/en_de/produ ... omat.shtml

And I strongly back the concept of a second or third opinion,
keeping in mind - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.