Bilstein Touring strut spring seat too high?

[v-45magna]

An epilogue (long overdue).

I finally replaced these in summer of 2017 with stock Volvo branded Sachs and new Lesjofors (OEM) front springs (green equivalent). I got proper ride height and handling back. The rear ride height is also eventually affected when you use the Bilsteins. It feels right and good again to be rid of these defective Bilsteins.

I can't believe they are still selling these. They have NOT been fixed. I'm sure they could be great struts if they weren't made with faulty specs.
Never again.

[erikv11]

That rear shock doesn't change ride height, that's not possible with this coil spring setup unless you go to an adjustable air shock or something similar. The coil springs dictate ride height, there is no perch on the rear shock.

The fronts have definitely been fixed, last year I put them on my 95 R and while I didn't measure them, they didn't change the ride height any in the front. I would definitely notice the 1/2 inch change - I did when I installed Bilstein struts back in 2002, for example.

[wizechatmgr]

Could this be a Nivomat vs "regular" suspension issue? Maybe a different strut for a different spring color?

[v-45magna]

Springs absolutely do set ride height, you are correct. If you put on longer or shorter springs, spring with higher or lower rates (stronger and weaker). It is absolute and physical.

Take a moment and think about this. With a stronger or weaker spring, longer or shorter, when the strut upper mount secured, the strut is the same measured free length. With this strut and that lower perch being 1/2" higher (I measured the difference to the original), the spring is compressed an extra 1/2". Assuming the spring is the same one in both examples (it was the original), the spring rate goes WAY up, so the front end sits higher. Not a half an inch, but higher, and much stiffer. The rear springs on these already have a propensity to sag so this isn't helping that issue at all. That is the correlation between front and rear. The rear is way simpler as it is not bound in it length by anything but the simple weight of the vehicle with bias to the rear of it.

It's much easier to miss than you think.