AWD V70R - Are there Nivomat strut substitutes?

mARKSIMUS · Post by **mARKSIMUS** » 27 May 2010, 13:10

Is there another Option to replacing the horribly expensive load leveling shocks. I was thinking of going to the bone yard and finding a cross country or swapping some fwd springs and shocks. Anybody knowledgable on this topic?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 27 May 2010, 23:19

Swapping from Nivomats to conventional shocks involves replacing the springs as well as the shocks. The upper shock mounts should also be changed.

I don't have a car with Nivomats but as l understand the procedure you will need to cap off or disconnect the air pump that adjusts the ride level but I really don't have the details on that part of it.

Be careful on the lower mounting nut for the shocks. If the stud breaks you are looking at a new delta arm so use lots of PB Blaster and then just use slow and steady pressure when removing the lower mounting nut.

...Lee

jadnhm · Post by **jadnhm** » 28 May 2010, 11:04

@Ozark Lee:

Does this advice still apply when talking about the AWD suspension? (as the OP was)

I don't know all the differences between the FWD and AWD rear suspensions, but I know there are many, and they are big. For instance, the AWDs don't have the same delta arm setup as the FWDs do they? (I bring this up because you also discussed it in your caution re: the lower bolts...)

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 28 May 2010, 12:18

You'll need new springs, because the Nivo's help hold the car up
and the Nivo springs only part of the support equation.
The Nivos are a self-contained, self-leveling unit. They pump themselves up.
There is no air or any other connection. They just look like a big shock.

nivomat.pdf: (1.69 MiB) Downloaded 1288 times

Since the AWD has an actual read end, the mounting is entirely
different from it's FWD cousins. It don't just swap over...

Hit SS and VS for more info on this bummer of a deal.

850tech · Post by **850tech** » 28 May 2010, 22:11

Had Nivo's on my 940, after looking up conversion kits etc. I decided to source known good used ones... it was tough, actually damn near impossible, but an hours drive and $100 bucks each was worth it in the end as they were still good 2 years later when I sold the car.

And yes, there is no air. The use the osilation from driving to pump to a preset height regardless of the load in the vehicle, and the spring rate on a nivo setup is far less the the convetional suspension. If you were to install conventional shocks the rear of the car would be no higher then it is with failed nivo's

jadnhm · Post by **jadnhm** » 28 Jul 2010, 13:42

I did see something about this the other day though it looks just as expensive as new nivomats. It could possibly be less expensive if they ever had to be replaced again?

http://www.kaplhenke.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=35

Post by **JRL** » 28 Jul 2010, 14:56

No conversion kit is made for the R
There are a couple of expensive options.
Go to http://www.V70R.com and ask there

(The above is one of those options, not cheap)

anmartin44 · Post by **anmartin44** » 28 Jul 2010, 17:15

i have a pair of them that are still good. i bought a set of R springs and got them with the deal. they don't fit on my car i later found out so you can get a real good deal on them if you want them.