2005 V70 ride height

Biagia · Post by **Biagia** » 13 Jul 2010, 21:05

I purchased this car in June and soon discovered how low the front end is when trying to enter an alley. Prior to this car I had a 1999 V70XC. Big change. Come winter this is going to be a real issue when trying to enter my alley. Is ther any way I can get some height on this vehicle?

Post by **matthew1** » 13 Jul 2010, 21:11

Different springs give your car different ride heights. Usually they lower it compared to stock ride height, but there are always exceptions to the rule. I don't know what does what to 2005 V70s, but you can wait for further answers here or email one of my sponsors at the top of the page.

Then there are spring spacers -- rubber or polyurethane bumpers that go between spring coils. Again, I'm no expert on those, but there's info out there.

I share your desire to raise the body a bit in winter. I think my V70 R with its fancy 4C suspension will take more/costly work than a standard Volvo suspension.

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 14 Jul 2010, 05:30

Hello, It's not just springs. Alas, the control arms must be longer to reach the ground and I assume the tie rod ends must reach out (and down) more to get to where they fasten. The struts would have to be longer as would the brake lines and parking brake cables. The moving parts in the rear suspension must be longer too. I would love to have the XC's ride height in my base 2002 V70 but I'd have to find an XC which had a tree fall across it's middle in order to afford it. Chainsaw anyone? Kira

Post by **JRL** » 14 Jul 2010, 13:24

These wagons are not THAT low, this must be one nasty driveway
Entering at an angle is no good?
If not and you need to solve this, your cheapest solution (really) is to sell it or trade it on an XC

Biagia · Post by **Biagia** » 15 Jul 2010, 06:52

Not sure what part of the country you live in but the alleys in Milwaukee WI often have a deep ascent. Entering at an angle is not always possible. This is my fourth Volvo. It is low.
Thanks

MelangeX3 · Post by **MelangeX3** » 20 Jul 2010, 02:33

I agree, my non-Turbo 2001 V70 scraped on everything in sight until I rebuilt the front end with HD strut mounts and put new springs on with Bilstein HD struts. Even with all this, I only gained 1" over original ride height measured at the top of the wheel well arch.

I just bought a 2006 XC70 and it is 4" higher at the lower front cross member and 3" higher at the wheel arch than my V70. Before I rebuilt the front end, I used to have to drive up on to a 2x10 wood pad to elevate the car enough to drive up on to the steel service ramps I used for the oil change. If not, the bumper shroud would push the steel ramps before the tires hit. Rubber dounut spacers wouldn't fit under the springs because of their design, and the steel spring lifters just rusted and bent after 1 year.

I really tried everything I could, even going up to a slightly larger tire. All the information out there seems to be either about lowering your car with springs, or increasing towing capacity for the rear springs. I was able to make mine manageable after about 5 years of experimentation. Your only real options are to trade up to a 2005 XC70 (TRUST ME - This IS Best) or call IPD and buy a Bilstein Shock package and tell them you want to swap in front springs from a T5 that are slightly heavier duty and therefore longer. It will be a mess with spring codes and measuring parts in their shop and guestimating, but it is possible, just not easy. Around $1000 for suspension upgrades and possible $500 for tires, or just upgrade to the XC70. I really wish I would have bought one sooner. The hills and rough roads around Pittsburgh are no treat and my V70 has always scraped on entering my driveway. The payment is harder on the wallet, but well worth it.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Jul 2010, 05:44

T5 springs are NOT longer.
Where did you get that idea?
T5 springs are LOWER if anything

MelangeX3 · Post by **MelangeX3** » 20 Jul 2010, 06:35

Sorry for any confusion, this was a last resort, fly by the seat of your pants re-engineering effort here.

When I checked on this option, I gave my code from the sticker in the engine bay and the parts dealer matched it to a certain spring. We then looked at others from the same model year that had different codes (Choice of 3 for my 2001) and were slightly longer or shorter. I took the longest springs that were proper diameter at the mount and seat and gained 1/2" in length over the specified replacement spring with the same gauge coil. I knew that my car was a base model V70 and assumed that any of the other springs had to come from a model with a turbo engine and more weight in the front end, thus the slightly larger springs. The XC70 springs were Much longer even yet and out of the question. The shortest springs available were a much heavier gauge and 1/2" shorter, also not good for my purpose. I am definitely no expert on 2005 suspensions, just trying to help him understand what I went through and how much easier my newer XC70 is vs the challenges I faced "fixing" the 2001 V70.

Biagia · Post by **Biagia** » 22 Jul 2010, 06:05

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the info.

Alas, since I just purchased this car last month I really can't switch it out. I opted for the non-XC because my 1999 V70 XC was a nigthmare. I had to replace angle gear, drive shaft, ABS traction something or other and lots of etc's... I swore no more XC's.

Oh well....