15 replies to this topic

[FAST850R]

Hello,

I got Koni FSD sport shock kits, which came with Eibach springs as a set.
Is anything that I need to change when I do the job?
What parts can I reuse from the stock shocks?
How hard is replacing shocks? I have replaced Saab, Acura, and Subaru, but this is my first time for Volvo.
If you guys can give me any advices, that would be great.


I got those upper mount for free. They are made in Germany.
Are they good one?


Thank you.

[JVC]

I would do rear shock mounts also, I have had a problem blowing through used/old ones so for the $20 a piece I would put in new ones. I would also recommend upgrading to XC90 or IPD spring seats for the front instead of re-using old ones. Worth the extra money to not ever have to worry about them again.

[Keaton85]

XC90 springs seats
Bearing plates
bump stops
the round metal piece for the bump stops
bellows

word of caution with this combo, be careful going into corners and hitting any kind of bump.

[FAST850R]

Thank you for the replies, guys.
I will order those parts from FCP.

Anythings that I need to know before I replace them? Any tips or tricks?

[Keaton85]

Compress the front springs! Don't just take it apart. Also you shouldn't need to compress the new springs since they are smaller and can be installed with compressing.

You can also use the weight of the vehicle to decompress the stock springs. Only on the 94-00 since the 01+ models have different control arms.

[FAST850R]

please delete, on 08 February 2012 - 08:27 PM, said:

XC90 springs seats
Bearing plates
bump stops
the round metal piece for the bump stops
bellows

word of caution with this combo, be careful going into corners and hitting any kind of bump.

I am looking at FCP site, and what are the bearing plates that you talk about?
I can find the bump stop and washer, but I don't know which one is bearing plates.

Thank you.

please delete, on 08 February 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

Compress the front springs! Don't just take it apart. Also you shouldn't need to compress the new springs since they are smaller and can be installed with compressing.

You can also use the weight of the vehicle to decompress the stock springs. Only on the 94-00 since the 01+ models have different control arms.

Thank you for the tip.
I will rent spring compress tool from autozone.
Last time when I replace Saab front shocks, I couldn't unbolt the top nut so I had to take them to a shop to do it.
A mechanic used an air tool to unbolt it.
Is Volvo the same thing?

What year of XC90? 2003?
Thank you.

[FAST850R]

Hum.... I think I wil just order all the parts and not worry about disassemble the old front shocks.
If I have to buy

XC90 springs seats
Bearing plates
bump stops
the round metal piece for the bump stops

I will just pay a bit more and order everything, assemble them to the Koni. That way they will just bolt right in.

[Jardim]

please delete, on 08 February 2012 - 08:27 PM, said:

word of caution with this combo, be careful going into corners and hitting any kind of bump.

Why is that? Something to do with them being FSD's?

[FAST850R]

Yes, I have the same question.
I hear nothing but good thing abou the kit.

[SlapShot]

I installed this combo a few months ago. Coming from the worn out stock suspension I had, I'm a huge fan of the new setup. No problems around turns or bumps.

Make sure you soak the lower rear shock nuts with PB blaster for at least a few days before trying to take it off. TBH I soaked a lot of the various bolts/nuts with the stuff just to be safe. In a nut shell you're fairly hosed if you snap the stud off the rear trailing arm so be careful. Other people have had issues with the rear shock mount attachment points (welded nuts) snapping off so I soaked those as well pretty good.

As far as compressing the front springs, I did it to the Haynes manual spec (300mm iirc). I didn't need to compress the rear springs once I had the car jacked up, the wheels off and the shock off the lower stud I had enough space to maneuver the eibachs in. Make sure that they are centered in the spring seat otherwise the coils can bind on the lip.

Edited by SlapShot, 09 February 2012 - 05:04 AM.

[FAST850R]

SlapShot, on 09 February 2012 - 03:37 AM, said:

I installed this combo a few months ago. Coming from the worn out stock suspension I had, I'm a huge fan of the new setup. No problems around turns or bumps.

Make sure you soak the lower rear shock nuts with PB blaster for at least a few days before trying to take it off. TBH I soaked a lot of the various bolts/nuts with the stuff just to be safe. In a nut shell you're fairly hosed if you snap the stud off the rear trailing arm so be careful. Other people have had issues with the rear shock mount attachment points (welded nuts) snapping off so I soaked those as well pretty good.

As far as compressing the front springs, I did it to the Haynes manual spec (300mm iirc). I didn't need to compress the rear springs once I had the car jacked up, the wheels off and the shock off the lower stud I had enough space to maneuver the eibachs in. Make sure that they are centered in the spring seat otherwise the coils can bind on the lip.

Thank you so much for the advice.
I will make sure that I PBblast all the bolts and nuts.

[SeedyRom]

I would recommend replacing all the pieces. It's better to do it all at once than to have to go back again. I just placed an order at IPD because I'm going to do my front spring seats. Here is a screenshot of what I ordered:



I'm also going to be using a spring compressor.

[FAST850R]

SeedyRom, on 10 February 2012 - 04:18 AM, said:

I would recommend replacing all the pieces. It's better to do it all at once than to have to go back again. I just placed an order at IPD because I'm going to do my front spring seats. Here is a screenshot of what I ordered:



I'm also going to be using a spring compressor.

About the front upper strut mounts.....they are metal, do they really need to be replaced? They seem ok to be reused. No?

[SeedyRom]

FAST850R, on 10 February 2012 - 05:09 AM, said:

About the front upper strut mounts.....they are metal, do they really need to be replaced? They seem ok to be reused. No?

I believe it's metal with a rubber ring. I would recommend it. I can't say that any of these parts couldn't be reused. It really depends on when someone did it last. They do sell a generic version for about half the price. You could always do that instead. http://www.ipdusa.co...t-mount-bearing

[Keaton85]

They are bearing! I would replace them with a quality part. INA is stock and what most of them are made with.

They can be replaced though at any time without redoing the strut as the spring seat just slips into these. I have only seen them get a little sloppy but never fail. I would say they are a 130-150k mile part.

[Meek]

Stupid question:

Was this 'order' just for the front suspension? Or front and rear?

I ask because I am just going to do the front as my nivomats still have some life in them, but front shocks (struts) are done at 180k.

Oh any thoughts of a Bilstein Touring for the front (R spring) as a decent inexpensive choice for my R-sprung Nivomat rear?

Thanks.

FAST850R, on 10 February 2012 - 05:09 AM, said:

About the front upper strut mounts.....they are metal, do they really need to be replaced? They seem ok to be reused. No?