1996 850R Broken rear sway bar. Remove or repair?

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 15 Oct 2014, 12:51

It turns out the funny noise I have been hearing on sharp bumps is my rear sway bar. The left side mounting is broken clean off. It appears to have been welded previously. The surprising thing is, the car does not handle like a warm custard despite the rear sway bar having no function. Is there anything wrong with just tossing it? A replacement in this part of the world may be tough to source. It actually handles very well indeed though brand new shocks, struts and mounts all round definitely helps. Opinions?

Post by **JRL** » 15 Oct 2014, 13:13

Not until you do a fast corner
You should have a lot more understeer (plowing)

Post by **erikv11** » 15 Oct 2014, 18:50

Many 850's, like about half of them, left the factory without a rear sway bar. I've driven a few cars before and then after a rear sway install and you can certainly tell the difference but it is not earth shattering. The car will be just fine without it, but if you were to replace it the difference would probably be satisfying.

In your shoes I would keep an eye out for an 850/x70 at the junkyard, you can pick up a rear bar that way. You may not get an R sway bar (they are the thicker of several diameters Volvo used) but that would be splitting hairs, as you have observed. In the meantime, continue to enjoy the car.

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 16 Oct 2014, 03:49

JRL wrote:Not until you do a fast corner
You should have a lot more understeer (plowing)

I live on a mountain and my route to work is a reasonably entertaining stretch of road. I am an enthusiastic driver and I can categorically state that the car does not understeer badly, a little more than my Alfa Romeo 155 did but those things are on another planet in the handling department.
I will look out for a junkyard replacement but these cars are very uncommon where I live.

Post by **Ben850** » 16 Oct 2014, 17:45

Marcobrick wrote:
JRL wrote:Not until you do a fast corner
You should have a lot more understeer (plowing)
I live on a mountain and my route to work is a reasonably entertaining stretch of road. I am an enthusiastic driver and I can categorically state that the car does not understeer badly, a little more than my Alfa Romeo 155 did but those things are on another planet in the handling department.
I will look out for a junkyard replacement but these cars are very uncommon where I live.

It looks like it is uphill both ways by the looks of your signature photo. Nice though.

I do not believe my '93 actually has a rear torsion bar. I also think I have felt the understeer dive while hitting some of the nice contours here in my area.
I am fortunate to have found a seemingly new rear suspension from a '98 s70 which will also help with a five lug hub conversion in a single fell swoop.
I have not installed it yet. Next spring.

Of course it is spring for you. Have fun.

: There is fresh paint on the torsion bar under a little mud. I was lucky at $$67.50 or so USD.

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 17 Oct 2014, 03:00

My signature photo is a bit out of date!

This is my back yard now.

Post by **Ben850** » 17 Oct 2014, 03:24

Beautiful. I must take a drive down there.
Wait...

This bridge is connecting the Peninsulas of Michigan USA. I do this one a few times a year.

Might be expensive to freight my little fleet to N.Z.
I have actually never been south of the equator.
Hmm.
Thanks. I mean that for real. Added to the proverbial bucket list.

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 23 Oct 2014, 18:56

I removed the broken sway bar for now. It drives just fine so I can bide my time until I can find a new (used) one.