Volvo 850 Suspension Options Topic is solved

[LJRossPhoto]

I've searched so many threads trying to find people that have had experience with different suspension setups. My 850 is currently on D2 Racing Coilovers, and the ride is so stiff I'm seriously considering going back to traditional shocks and struts. I love the handling and looks, but on certain roads, it seriously feels like it's shaking my car apart. I'm not sure which setup would suit me best though. I absolutely love a low car that takes corners like it's on rails, but at the same time it needs to be able to soak up some bumps when needed. I'm considering (in order) Koni Sport Yellows, Koni FSD, and Billstein HD's with the car sitting on IPD's lowering springs (I'll cut them if they sit too high because I like my current ride height). I've already put on IPD sway bars, strut brace, polyurethane subframe inserts, and 18x8 wheels with 215/40/18 Michelin Pilot Sports. What do you think would be the best suspension/spring combo to daily and take across the country on road trips? Any advice/experience would be greatly appreciated!

[rspi]

Ride looks nice. I really like Bilstein HD's.

[pkc303]

I'm running stock R springs with yellow Konis. Ride is good.

[polskamafia mjl]

Just came here to say

Nice ride!

[Tremelune]

I don't know much about what options are available for these cars (as I've only been an owner for a few days), but I've read a bit about the Koni's and Bilstein's.

It's worth noting that, if the harshness you're experiencing is due to hitting the bump stops, changing the dampers might not help as much as you'd like. I think you'd have to up the spring rate to mitigate that. Higher profile tires will help. Lowering your tire pressure will also help. Raising the ride height would, of course, help a lot here.

Did you change anything besides the struts/springs/dampers? I had a harsh car that I softened the springs and shocks on only to learn later that my harshness had a lot to do with overly stiff sways bars and the monoballs in my shock tower mounts. Before you start throwing money around, get the full layout of your entire suspension, from tires to bolts. The whole thing is a system, and every component plays a roll.

The Koni FSDs are designed to work with the OEM spring rate and ride height to provide increased motion control with increased smoothness over stock shocks. They simply have better internals than the dampers Volvo put on these cars 20 years ago. I've read good things, but I don't know how they would behave with stiffer springs on a lowered suspension.

Bilstein HDs are ancient technology, the internals of which haven't changed in decades from the linear curve they came with. The benefit is that they can be custom valved by Bilstein with a modern digressive curve for about $100/ea (plus shipping). This will net you less of a compromise between motion control and ride quality than was possible in the 90s (much like the Koni FSDs), and be tuned to your exact setup, roads, and driving style. Since you don't currently have Bilsteins on your car, you would need to purchase them and then have them revalved. I've never done this, but it's a common thing to do, and a shop like Elephant Racing might be able to help you figure out specs based on your spring rate, ride height, and corner weights.

[biohazrd76]

I have bilstein hd installed on factory r springs front and ipd overload in rear. Bilstein hd will increase ride height slightly even on a stock spring. My car although high, still rides glued to the road. Tires are the most important factor in handling. Above all. And never cut a spring. It changes the spring rate (look it up) and makes the spring into a piece of garbage. My advice, go stock ride height youll be so much happier with comfort. Check out my channel for more volvo fun, but heres a video on the spacers and ride height on bilsteins

[beigg]

Koni shocks struts and IPD springs or custom springs. Be sure to reduce the bump stop height. Needed to trim them at least for my wagon.