8 replies to this topic

[Geevs]

Tried using the search but came up empty. How do I tell if I have stock or sports suspension on my 96 855T? Also, how do I tell if my wagon is the sportswagon version? Thanks.

[jross]

Sport suspension should have come with sways, IIRC.

[AloneInTheWoods]

If while you are driving you notice all your muscles are tights and your teeth are clinched, waiting for the next crack in the road, you have the sports suspension. :)

[Geevs]

If while you are driving you notice all your muscles are tights and your teeth are clinched, waiting for the next crack in the road, you have the sports suspension.

Yeah, that's my feeling right now esp since I put Bilstein TCs in the rear and the ride is not what I was expecting for an "OEM replacement". Jross, thanks for the reply. Does the sports suspension only upgrade the sway bars? What about stiffer than stock springs? How does the sports suspension upgrade differ from the R suspension? Thanks.

[jross]

Honestly, I'm not sure what else the "sports" package entailed. I thought it was just the sway bars, but I could be wrong. I do know that the sways were larger in the sports package (they were the same as the R IIRC), and included both front and rear sways (I don't think wagons usually had sways in the rear, unless they were an R or had the sports package). That's about the extent of my knowledge... sorry!

[850GLT333]

If while you are driving you notice all your muscles are tights and your teeth are clinched, waiting for the next crack in the road, you have the sports suspension.

Yeah, that's my feeling right now esp since I put Bilstein TCs in the rear and the ride is not what I was expecting for an "OEM replacement". Jross, thanks for the reply. Does the sports suspension only upgrade the sway bars? What about stiffer than stock springs? How does the sports suspension upgrade differ from the R suspension? Thanks.

yeah im pretty sure that the sports suspension is the same as the R.

[Gregg]

From the Volvo Owners' Info pages (for '96 models):

"Sports Package Rear deck spoiler, Sports suspension (21 mm front stabilizer bar, 20 mm rear stabilizer bar, Extra firm shock absorbers), Front fog lights (OPTION)"

Stock is 20mm front and 19.5mm rear stabilizer bars.

Specs for 850R Suspension:
"MacPherson strut with asymmetrically mounted coil springs, forged aluminum lower link arms, hydraulic shock absorbers, 21 mm stabilizer bar.
Delta-Link semi-independent rear suspension with coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, 20 mm stabilizer bar"


Of course we can't trust everything on the owners' pages...I checked out the '97 850R specs and it says that it came with only the 20mm front and 19.5mm rear stabilizer bars...I believe both '96 and '97 850Rs had the upgraded suspensions.

[Geevs]

Gregg, many thanks for the info - just what I was looking for as my car is a 96. I have the 95 brochure and it says:

"Sports Suspension Package: 21 mm front stabilizer bar (sedan/wagon), 20 mm rear stabilizer bar (sedan), 20.8mm (sportswagon), extra firm shock absorbers"

Didn't say anything about 'R' suspension. But it does seem like the "sports suspension package" is the same as the R as 850GTL333 pointed out.

Given the above, I guess there is nothing different with the springs on the stock vs. sports/R suspension???

[Gregg]

1996 850 Review

Found this online too. It does appear that the "sport suspension" option is the same as the setup on the 850R models. Hopefully this clears up any confusion out there.