2000 S70 Suspension Softness

rollocarlos · Post by **rollocarlos** » 24 Aug 2014, 13:03

I just inherited a 2000 S70 after my mother passed away. It's a great car, fully loaded and only 51000 one owner miles. Runs great, looks great. The one issue is the super soft suspension. Not sure if it has always been this soft but it is now. Is there anything I can do that won't break the bank to firm it up? Not looking to dump a ton of money into it but would love to have a firmer ride with less "float" to the car.
Thanks

Post by **tryingbe** » 24 Aug 2014, 15:13

Sorry about your mother.

How much are you looking to spend? Usually, a set of strut will fix the "float" problem with the car.

Post by **JRL** » 24 Aug 2014, 15:29

Sorry about your Mon
At 50K it shouldn't be "soft"
What size tires, 15s or 16s, (and what air pressure are you running)?
It will feel a heck of a lot better with a nice set of 16" wheels and tires and of course even "stiffer" with 17s

rollocarlos · Post by **rollocarlos** » 24 Aug 2014, 15:44

I have no fixed budget. $300 a $400 would be good.
As for the tires, they are continentals on the factory alloy wheels. Only 7000 miles on the tires. They are in good shape. What's a ballpark on replacing the struts?

Post by **RussB** » 24 Aug 2014, 17:40

First thing you need to do is figure out what you have for suspension components in there now. Do you have rear shocks or Nivomat self-leveling shocks?

To get your Volvo to have a firmer ride will cost more than 3-4 hundred, maybe triple that if you have to pay to have the parts installed

rollocarlos · Post by **rollocarlos** » 24 Aug 2014, 18:08

Gotcha. Clearly questions that I don't have the answers to right now. I can get those answers tomorrow.
I was hoping to find a relativly inexpensive way to stiffen the front end. My other cars are a 2011 Infinity G35 and a 2006 BMW M Roadster. I realize a big sedan will never feel like the BMW but I was hoping to move it toward the feel of the Infiniti. Would a new set of struts on the front help?

Post by **RussB** » 24 Aug 2014, 18:22

Perhaps...I have Koni Sport struts which are adjustable. They will indeed firm the car up. A set of struts is just one part of the equation though. A 14 year old car will likely need many more components to make it all work right

rollocarlos · Post by **rollocarlos** » 24 Aug 2014, 19:31

Yeah... I was kind of afraid of that.... I have a great local mechanic so I may talk to him on the struts and see how much that effects it. Beyond that, I guess I'll have to play it by ear. Like most people, I was hoping for an easy fix to a complex problem. Can't remember when that ever happened....

Post by **JRL** » 24 Aug 2014, 20:37

A lot but you did not answer my question
"Contis on factory wheels" is not an answer

Did that answer what SIZE and WHICH tires?
(Not the brand of tire, the name of the tire on the sidewall and the AIR PRESSURE you're running)

Post by **precopster** » 25 Aug 2014, 04:25

15s which are 195/60 are quite squishy, even if they're Continentals.
16s which are 205/55s or 50s are getting better but only in a sport type of tire.

17s which are 205/45s are getting much better however few people realise that roll stiffness is the P80 chassis' weakness.

A good set of IPD sway bars with polyurethane bushes will vastly improve the handling and stop the body from leaning.

Does your car even HAVE a rear sway bar? Many base models weren't fitted with them. If not that's a great place to start as it will assist the whole balance of the car without compromising comfort.