Volvo 850 Suspension Options For NYC Roads

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 08 Aug 2014, 00:46

So i have the koni STR.T on the rears. They were $65 each off of tirerack.com and badly in need of replacement. A lil harsh they are in my opinion. At some point this stage 0 volvo will be amongst all other 850 beasts. I see koni FSD or bilstein HD as a favorite, whats your opinion ?

Post by **tryingbe** » 08 Aug 2014, 05:28

I had Bilstein HD, never liked the ride.

I now have k sports coil over, and I am much happier with them. I also no longer have the stupid rubber upper spring seat anymore.

Post by **850 LPT** » 08 Aug 2014, 06:25

For NYC roads I would recommend OEM everything. Oh, and high profile tires as well.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 08 Aug 2014, 07:10

If you don't like the Koni SRTs then you will hate the Bilstien HDs, they will beat you to death on good roads. I have always wanted to try Koni FSDs but a set of them usually costs more than I paid for the car they would be going on.

OEM Sachs/Boge aren't terrible at all and I also like the Bilstein Touring Class but none of them is going to make the car ride like a Buick.

...Lee

Post by **JRL** » 08 Aug 2014, 07:58

Hovercraft
Your choices are all very poor

Post by **oragex** » 08 Aug 2014, 08:19

NYC roads? Come see Montreal's roads

I've also heard about Koni to be on the stiff side.

These are a good option . Meyle is more known in Europe, considered as good as Kyb.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281400929925?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Other options are Kyb and Monroe.

babelfish · Post by **babelfish** » 08 Aug 2014, 08:29

As others have already said, Bilstein HD is exactly the wrong choice. You will NOT enjoy it. I used to have them on my BMW, and they were bad enough -- half the time, on only moderately rough roads, I thought my car was broken before I realized it was just my suspension. I never did adjust to that. And, by all accounts, they're much worse on our P80s.

OEM is fine, and it's what you want if ride quality is important to you. If you want better handling, go OEM for suspension and add sway bars. Even with my OEM suspension a bit worn in its age (pushing 150k miles now), my car with IPD track-spec sways handles nearly as well as my E36 did with Bilstein HD suspension.

Post by **E Showell** » 08 Aug 2014, 09:31

I've got Bilstein Tourings on my V70 and the roads out by me are pretty beat up. It is a pretty stiff ride, but very controlled, or so I have found.

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 08 Aug 2014, 10:48

Just got off the phone with tirerack and they recommend either the bilstein touring or KYB and or sachs/boge. So i now i have 3 to choose from. Comfort as of now is important especially when every corner i turn there is a section of the street either caving, missing or poorly repaired. Even on I95 there are sections of the asphalt taking shots at my 850 when attending class in New Rochelle NY. So which to choose mvs?

This is why ordering from all other online auto parts stores suck. Tirerack only offers a 30 day return from shipping date. Me tryna be cheap by not placing it thru fcpeuro just cost my $130 of garbage for my STR.T from tirerack. Thru fcpeuro your paying for product and lifetime warranty. Never again will i order from elsewhere

Post by **850 LPT** » 08 Aug 2014, 11:01

Baptiste1106 wrote: Comfort as of now is important especially when every corner i turn there is a section of the street either caving, missing or poorly repaired. Even on I95 there are sections of the asphalt taking shots at my 850 when attending class in New Rochelle NY

Hence my recommendation to go with OEM, maybe Bilstein Touring. I drive the same roads (I work in the White Plains area, so I feel your pain.
I had the Tourings in my old 850, and they are an acceptable alternative. Plus you get good quality that lasts.