Anti-Sway Bar Kit for '03 XC70?

kbrittain · Post by **kbrittain** » 20 Jan 2008, 08:17

Gang, overall I love my XC70....my only major beef with the car is the body roll in the turns and the sloppy handling. I understand that with the ride height of this car you have to give up some handling prowess, but it's excessive. I live in the mtns of N. Carolina and the local curvey roads beg for a sportier suspension....have any of you tried the anti-sway bar kit from ipd? Lemme know if they are worth the expense and if you have any other tips for firming up the ride without sacrificing highway comfort.

http://www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-V70XC70-200 ... 7-388-369/

Thanks!

Kirk

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Jan 2008, 09:27

Not XC's but we've installed them in both of our Volvo's....the best money we've spent on them to date. My advice- don't delay! Get them. You won't be sorry.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Jan 2008, 14:43

IPD bars are THE best suspension upgrade for ANY and ALL Volvos.
You will be very happy with them

kbrittain · Post by **kbrittain** » 20 Jan 2008, 14:50

Thank you gents....that helps me make my decision..

so, how much better do your cars feel in the turns? Bad handling to good handling? Or bad handling to fair handling?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Jan 2008, 14:54

Never felt either of my cars handled badly, so from "fair" (before the swaybar upgrades) to good, to very good (after) on our cars that sit lower than yours. I don't know if the XC will feel like excellent, but it WILL BE a substantial upgrade and you will feel a BIG difference compared to before. Mind you, this is in the turns...you won't feel much difference on the straight aways.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Jan 2008, 16:38

MadeInJapan wrote:Never felt either of my cars handled badly, so from "fair" (before the swaybar upgrades) to good, to very good (after) on our cars that sit lower than yours. I don't know if the XC will feel like excellent, but it WILL BE a substantial upgrade and you will feel a BIG difference compared to before. Mind you, this is in the turns...you won't feel much difference on the straight aways.

More or less correct.
You're taking a large wallowing pig and anything you do should help
Your "lean" in turns will be cut in about half and cornering response will be much better.
Will it handle like a well set up R, no way Jose, but you will be happy with the upgrade.
You also may want to think of a larger stickier tire but that is more determined by how you use the XC. If you're in snow a lot, you're sort of hampered but if you're still running those awful Scorpians, almost any other tire will be much better.
Right after I bought my (VERY EARLY, June 2000) 01XC, I complained how dangerous a tire these were. My dealer helped by partially paying for a set of Michelins. These were SO much better and made the XC less tail happy and more stable especially on higher speed cornering (over 50 mph)

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Jan 2008, 18:41

JRL shares some great insight. Btw, if you're changing out your swaybars, it would be a good idea to upgrade your endlinks at the same time. At least go with the IPD heavy duties, or you might even consider the QBM links that they also sell. The more torque there (tighter these things are pulling in your swaybars), the more effective your swaybars will be.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Jan 2008, 19:25

IPD HD endlinks are just fine, cheaper and quieter

kbrittain · Post by **kbrittain** » 21 Jan 2008, 05:56

Thanks boys...yeah, when I got the car in '05 I immediately put a 17" aluminum wheelset with some 235/55/17 Michelin rubber on it. What a HUGE difference in ride and stability that made! It's about time for a new set of rubber though...I got 60k miles ouf the first set of michelins. You're right...the scorpions are garbage...[/img]