Anti Sway Bar

Post by **mecheng** » 19 May 2016, 07:54

Is only the IPD anti sway bar kit available, or are there other makes?

My 98 S70 has too much roll in the corners for my liking. It has Billstein shocks so I know its not the shocks.

I noticed IPD sells both the front and rear but usually its the rear sway bar that controls the under steer. Correct?

Has anyone used the IPD kit? Did you use both front and rear?

Post by **scot850** » 19 May 2016, 11:38

I had the IPD front and rear on my 'R' and if you have been reading (as I know you do) the issues I have had with the groaning front suspension I have now had the front one removed and a 21.5mm V70 XC Volvo one installed in its place. Reduced some of the noise but not the whole issue. I may be coming around to the fact the IPD anti-sway bar at the front may not have been the culprit. I replaced the front bushes and also replaced those new bushes with Energy Suspension bushes that were greasable without removing the sub-frame every 6 months as they recommend. I may eventually have the front IPD bar powder coated and re-fitted in the future if I can eliminate the noisy front suspension and am confident that it was not partly to blame!

There are a couple of issues I have with the IPD bars. The bushes are fitted over what is possibly painted or maybe powder coated bars and the paint wears off quickly unless you regularly keep greasing the bushes. This allows rust to build up under the bushes leading to them not working as they should and eventually giving slop that can't be fixed by new bushes alone.

Rear anti-sway bar is a bit of a pain on AWD cars to remove as there is stuff in the way of the LH mount, but on FWD is easier I believe. Either way they are way easier than the front as it needs the sub-frame to be dropped to remove.

The AWD has a different rear anti-sway bar due to the different rear suspension.

There are many who have said they feel an immediate improvement in the reduction in role after fitting the IPD anti-sway bars. I am unable to say yes or no as I no longer drive like a crazy person so returning to standard is no biggie. I can say my 850 with standard suspension (re-built) with Bilstein TC shocks at the front gave me a whole lot more confidence around corners than my 'R' does. It also felt like it rolled less.

Volvo has 3 different diameters of anti-sway bar, 20, 21 and 21.5mm. Diameter alone does not tell the full story as the material can make a difference. If I recall the 'R' version was actually the 20mm! the XC is the 21.5mm.

Interestingly, most aftermarket suppliers only appear to sell one option of spring for the front, whereas Volvo has 4 variations. Maybe worth thinking of 'R' springs and sway bars? Mine has the 'Brown' marked springs (# 3546644) according to Vida.

I do still have the IPD bar at the rear which I had powder coated during the rear end re-built as it was totally rusted under the bushes. I also fitted new bushes and OE end-links. Car feels ok with this and having the mix is so far not giving me scary moments. I'll no more once the new all season tires are fitted next week.

I know Viva performance sells anti sway-bars but they are also IPD.

http://www.vivaperformance.com/anti-sway-bars-8/

IPD sells 2 versions, both with 25mm front bars and one with 22mm rear and 'Track spec' with a 25mm rear for FWD

Vivaperformance currently have them on sale for $30 US less than IPD!

Maybe there are options from Europe?

Basics for me are the anti sway-bars reduce the roll in conjunction with the spring rates, so you can add stiffer springs, but they in turn reduce the ride comfort, especially with larger diameter wheels with lower side-walls.

Not all cars were fitted with rear anti-sway bars, is yours?

Volvo also sold 'Police' rated springs, but not sure the part numbers or availability. Thought I may have seen come for sale on Junk.se web-site.

Neil.

Post by **mecheng** » 19 May 2016, 13:24

Thanks Neil, yes I don't feel its worth installing the front bar due to the difficulty, so I'd like to buy just a rear bar. I will measure mine tonight.

Will the XC bar (21.5mm) bolt up? What uses the 21mm?

Post by **scot850** » 19 May 2016, 14:13

Are you talking front or rear anti-sway bars?

The Volvo anti-sway bar diameters I gave you are for the front ONLY. The 21.5 is for an V70XC. I pulled mine from a 2000 and a spare from a 1999 XC70 also. No idea what the standard FWD rear is.

The rear are different between AWD and FWD. Some cars I understand (it may have been FWD 850's only) never were fitted with rear anti-sway bars from new, although the mounting point are there to retro-fit (I'm sure you knew this already but added it just in case).

I'm not so familiar with FWD rear anti-sway bars so maybe some one else who is can chime in to guide us?

I think there is only one (yellow marked) rear FWD sway bar listed (part # 9192631 for the kit or 9191461 for the bar only). There is a bar listed for the C70 (blue) but the rear suspension is different so I have no idea if they are interchangeable with V/S70's or in fact any stiffer.

Neil.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 May 2016, 18:32

I love the IPD sways on all of our cars... I don't know of another after market kit.

Post by **j-dawg** » 19 May 2016, 22:58

The IPD anti-roll bars go on sale a couple times a year at a pretty decent discount (like $50 or so). Those are the times at which I consider buying them, and then I smack myself and remember all the things that need to be fixed before I spend that kind of money to go faster.

Post by **hausmeister** » 20 May 2016, 07:55

I got the front and rear on my 850 T5R and can only recommend it - even though it was expensive. No problems with it so far.
I do not think just changing the rear or front will give a similar result as changing both.

msgtusmc · Post by **msgtusmc** » 19 Feb 2017, 01:55

Anyone use FCPeuro for swap front/rear on 1998-2004 C70? With new nylon bushings all around?

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Feb 2017, 10:45

If you buy a sway bar from FCP, it will be an OEM bar. Those bars have rubber bushings vulcanized onto the bar. You wouldn't and actually can't replace the bushings separately. Just get the bar, pop it in and go. Ha ha just pop it in, not so bad on the rear but a bear on the front.

skloon · Post by **skloon** » 19 Feb 2017, 12:04

I picked up a front IPD bar at picknpull for my 850 that has a rear factory bar- am I going to have issues with the difference between the front and back ?> oddly is a turbo but did not have a rear bar when I got it