Matt01 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Hello Pot this is Kettle... The stock Nivo springs and TME Nivo springs are both 12mm, 10 coils on the stock, 8 on the TME Nivos. The Ohlin springs are 13.5mm and 10 coils (Thanks Will for getting me that measurement years ago ). All of them are linear springs. The TME Ohlins springs that are no longer made are progressively wound and were 13.5mm too, I no longer can find pictures of them to know how many coil turns they have, or over all height of the springs, but I'd assume they are equal to there TME Nivo height to get car to sit lower. Ohilns springs are not for Nivos, they are for Ohlin/Volvo shocks. And a 600 spring rate is WAY too much! Hussien is going to be using a 350-400 spring rate for his Kaplhenke coil overs. Also stock Nivo spring rate is much less then 300 since they don't do the heavy lifting, I don't recall if anyone has ever figured out what the rate is for them. ya, what it meant was that yes, ohlins has there own shocks, but they would work much better with nivos than with shocks, Yeah 600 is too much. I think I calculated the stock R nivo springs to be around 225 or so. But your measurements posted would put them near 250. In any case I think that's about the right ballpark. I've tried springs up to about 450# and boy was that a stiff ride. I always suspected it was the shocks I couldn't get right. If Hussein is getting 350-400 springs then that proves it because I already tried those rates mated with off the shelf koni yellows. The difference is the custom valving that Ben had Koni make for him. I wonder if Ben would be willing to sell just the shocks. I still have the springs I used. that's good to know, if rear shocks for nivos are around 225, then personally id double that for regualar shocks, 450, thats ME though i dont want any bounce. These cars are well balanced, almost 50-50 if i recall, so you should be able to put the same spring rate in the front as in the back. whats IPD's springs spring rate? Shocks - Koni yellows. I had a local welder make some adapters on the lower mount for about $20. Ugly but functional and strong. ya, i tried to make brackets for my rear Koni's but my cheapo design didnt work, i might try and figure out a shop that might like to make them for me for a small price.. 20$ is worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jardim Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Shocks - Koni yellows. I had a local welder make some adapters on the lower mount for about $20. Ugly but functional and strong. Please elaborate...is it something that could take a beating without the adaptors crapping on me? Thinking about getting a AWD for a daily and this would be a nice mod to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Shocks - Koni yellows. I had a local welder make some adapters on the lower mount for about $20. Ugly but functional and strong. How did you have the Konis set? I've read that Koni Sports are underdamped for 350-400lbs springs on 240 Volvos. And were you using 450lb springs in stock length or lowered length? And what was your front strut/coil set-up? I probably won't swap my Nivo any time soon for shocks only because I use my wagon to haul heavy loads on a regular basis. I might upgrade my springs only because the TME Nivo springs are a bit soft for my taste, but I love the lowered ride height. I think a 275-300lb spring might work well with the Nivos without being to harsh or jarring ride. I used to run IPD overload springs and Bilstein HDs on my 245 and those spring rates are 290lbs. And what formula did you use to figure out the rate? I tried figuring it out for the TME Nivo and the Ohlins springs, but math was not my strongest of subjects as a youth... :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan A Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 My memory sucks and this was about 3 years ago. LOL. The Konis were set at fullest firm setting (I started with softer settings). I talked to someone at Koni and he thought the shock would be able to handle it but it felt almost like I was riding on springs only. I remember my brother commenting on the same too. I had them lowered in the back and I think the fronts were still stock at the time. I kept progressing to stiffer springs until I was over 400#. Every time I'd go over a speed bump in a parking lot, it felt like the springs compressed as it went over the bump, but then sprung up almost undampered shooting the car up, then slammed back down on the bump stops. Hope that description makes sense. Stiffer springs with shorter travel kinda helped, but I think it was really a problem of the shocks because even at over 400# it would still get slammed down. I guess my current TMEs and Nivos sort of do that on really big speed bumps, but nothing like the others I was experimenting with. As far as calculations, spring steel has a certain constant and it sounds like the material used is pretty much standard across different makers of coil springs. There are lots of spring rate calculators on the interwebz where you just input spring thickness, I.D. of the wound coil (3") and how many coils, in order to calculate spring rate for linear springs. Eibach makes 3" coilover springs in various rates and lengths, which is what I used to experiment with. The diameter makes for perfect fit, but I had to cut coils to the exact ride height I wanted. 225# I mentioned was going from my poor memory and I may be off. I still have my stock R springs. Maybe this weekend I'll measure them up again. As far as the adapter, it was really a rough prototype. It was basically some steel bar (maybe 3/8) that was cut, welded and drilled. He said it would be plenty strong (the welds are stronger than the steel itself), but I didn't have any weather protection on the steel, as they were meant just as temporary mock ups. I still have them somewhere in the parts bin. I still have most of this in my parts bins. I'm not sure what springs I still have, but I know I've got the big ones still. I'll try to take pics this weekend if I get a chance. The 400#+ springs I had are really thick compared to stock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt01 Posted January 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 My memory sucks and this was about 3 years ago. LOL. The Konis were set at fullest firm setting (I started with softer settings). I talked to someone at Koni and he thought the shock would be able to handle it but it felt almost like I was riding on springs only. I remember my brother commenting on the same too. I had them lowered in the back and I think the fronts were still stock at the time. I kept progressing to stiffer springs until I was over 400#. Every time I'd go over a speed bump in a parking lot, it felt like the springs compressed as it went over the bump, but then sprung up almost undampered shooting the car up, then slammed back down on the bump stops. Hope that description makes sense. Stiffer springs with shorter travel kinda helped, but I think it was really a problem of the shocks because even at over 400# it would still get slammed down. I guess my current TMEs and Nivos sort of do that on really big speed bumps, but nothing like the others I was experimenting with. As far as calculations, spring steel has a certain constant and it sounds like the material used is pretty much standard across different makers of coil springs. There are lots of spring rate calculators on the interwebz where you just input spring thickness, I.D. of the wound coil (3") and how many coils, in order to calculate spring rate for linear springs. Eibach makes 3" coilover springs in various rates and lengths, which is what I used to experiment with. The diameter makes for perfect fit, but I had to cut coils to the exact ride height I wanted. 225# I mentioned was going from my poor memory and I may be off. I still have my stock R springs. Maybe this weekend I'll measure them up again. As far as the adapter, it was really a rough prototype. It was basically some steel bar (maybe 3/8) that was cut, welded and drilled. He said it would be plenty strong (the welds are stronger than the steel itself), but I didn't have any weather protection on the steel, as they were meant just as temporary mock ups. I still have them somewhere in the parts bin. I still have most of this in my parts bins. I'm not sure what springs I still have, but I know I've got the big ones still. I'll try to take pics this weekend if I get a chance. The 400#+ springs I had are really thick compared to stock! If you have those eibach 400 springs and are willing to sell, let me know!! 400' are in the ballpark what im looking for. http://www.kaplhenke.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=32 look through that page, the adapters are there, he made a rough version of those, yes, they can take any beating. --When i had my konis on, i didnt notice any difference, but because i was still using nivo springs.. I used Koni's off of a 850 FWD. Fits nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan A Posted January 15, 2012 Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 If you have those eibach 400 springs and are willing to sell, let me know!! 400' are in the ballpark what im looking for. PM me with an offer on them. They cost me about $240. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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