Suspension Kit from FCP Groton

stoutlogic · Post by **stoutlogic** » 12 Jun 2006, 15:08

Any thoughts on this kit. I figured if I'm going to replace the front stuts maybe I should do all 4 corners. Plus it includes the spring seats, stut mounts and sway bar ends. Seems like a good deal for $460.

I guess the only thing I'll need to order is new dust boots and perhaps new bump stops.

Am I missing anything else?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 12 Jun 2006, 18:10

Price it out. If you are wanting something for a turbo car I would get at least the IPD heavy duty endlinks. www.ipdusa.com
I bought all other components from www.shox.com and got a great deal on Bilstein Touring (TC's) which are cheaper than stock but give a bit less harsh of a ride.

What are the struts/shox from fcp? If Boge or Sach's they are going to be stock. If they are Bilstein then very harsh. If Koni's also harsh but will bring your car down as much as an inch.

Btw, the picture looks complete.

stoutlogic · Post by **stoutlogic** » 13 Jun 2006, 07:37

MadeInJapan wrote:Price it out. If you are wanting something for a turbo car I would get at least the IPD heavy duty endlinks. www.ipdusa.com
I bought all other components from www.shox.com and got a great deal on Bilstein Touring (TC's) which are cheaper than stock but give a bit less harsh of a ride.

What are the struts/shox from fcp? If Boge or Sach's they are going to be stock. If they are Bilstein then very harsh. If Koni's also harsh but will bring your car down as much as an inch.

Btw, the picture looks complete.

Yes its a turbo car, 98 V70 T5. Do you really feel you notice the difference from the IPD sway bar end link from stock? Its only 12mm versus 10mm. I use this car as a glorified grocery getter.

Yes the shocks in the kit are OEM, Sacks /Boge. I do like the idea of a less harsh ride. I have my motorcycle for speed, I like for this car to carry me in comfort.

Do the Bilsteins Touring come with the dust boots and bump stops or do I need to purchase them seperate?

utvol1984 · Post by **utvol1984** » 13 Jun 2006, 08:00

You are wise to address all potential problems/issues with your front suspension at once, you don't want to have to tear it down twice. I think the kit from FCP is a very good value. I've bought all my parts from them and have no complaints whatsoever. My 93 850GLT is non-turbo so I went with OEM Sachs struts. I had a LOT of bad clunking and rattling and my the two biggest culprits were the spring seats and sway bar bushings. So I replaced struts, spring seats, bump stops (mine were down to dust!), tie rod ends, lower control arm bushings, sway bar links and hubs.

Having said that you might not need hubs - the bearings on my car were howling so I knew it was time for bearings and on these cars that means changing the hubs. That FCP kit also comes with strut mounts (the part you see from under the hood). I didn't need those so I ordered the parts separately. If you're having noise problems check your sway bar carefully. When you have the sway bar links disconnected, grab the sway bar and try to move it. If it gives at all you need to replace your sway bar bushings. Any wear at all in those bushings gives you a good "klunk" every time you hit a bump.

As MadeinJapan points out, there are other reputable sources of parts so you probably can't go wrong if you order from someone mentioned on this board. Just stick with name brands like Sachs or Bilstein and reputable suppliers like FCP Groton (in my experience anyway) and you'll be fine. Good luck!

Kris

Post by **robert213** » 13 Jun 2006, 09:43

More ideas...

http://www.quickbrickmotorsports.com/products.html

:: Quickbrick Motorsports X-Treme Performance Control Arm Bushings

stoutlogic · Post by **stoutlogic** » 13 Jun 2006, 09:52

Thanks Kris,

Your thoughts are the same as mine. If I have to jack up the car and remove the wheels I might as well take care of everything at once. No need to try and save a few bucks, only comes back to bite you in the end.

My car is making a thumping noise upon hitting potholes and uneven road surfaces. Feels like its more on the decompression rather then the compression of the strut. Haven't checked the sway bar end links yet.

I want to make sure I order all the parts so I don't get caught with my pants down in the middle of the job.

Looks like I'll be ordering:

struts
strunt mounts
spring seats
bump stops
dust boots
sway bar ends

and I guess I'll check the sway bar mounts before I order.

-Bryan

stoutlogic · Post by **stoutlogic** » 13 Jun 2006, 13:10

[quote="robert213"]More ideas...

http://www.quickbrickmotorsports.com/products.html

:: Quickbrick Motorsports X-Treme Performance Control Arm Bushings

Post by **JRL** » 13 Jun 2006, 14:53

MadeInJapan wrote: If Koni's also harsh but will bring your car down as much as an inch.

.

Dave,

Konis are NOT harsh at all, in fact they are THE best shock I've tried so far.
They also do NOT lower anything, Bilsteins RAISE the car 1/2"

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 13 Jun 2006, 18:32

Jim,
Depends on which Koni's you get from what I understand...still harsher than TC's, right? You are right about the TC's raising the front a bit. Thought it would settle out but it didn't. Do you think the H&R (was that the name) springs would bring the fronts down with the TC's, or would I have to change out to Koni's for this?

drzeaus42 · Post by **drzeaus42** » 23 Jun 2006, 11:51

I 'm satisfied with the Bielstein struts/shocks on my 99 V70 GLT. However the strut mount bearings I got from the supplier you mentioned caused a chirping noise after installation and I determined that they were not the exact replacement as the volvo bearings. The angle of the bearing to the plate was different and caused chirping sounds. Also the spring mounts failed within a 3 month period. The metal bushing separated from the rubber and caused the familiar knocking sound when they failed. They refunded my costs (less return shipping). Let me know how you made out.

I got really good at replacing struts as I had to diassemble and reassemble them 3 separate times. First to replace the struts, second to replace the strut mount bearings and third to replace the spring mounts I got from the supplier you mentioned. I would use IPD in Oregon for all my future Volvo Parts.