Can shock absorbers be repaired?
Discussion
Kawasicki said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
In the meantime if I put heavy weights in the boot will it help with the bouncing?
No, it won´t improve the situation.Take a photo of the damper, with the label and part number if you can.
IAmTheWalrus said:
Jakg said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
Do any companies do repairs on originals? Thanks in advance.
I don't know about Volvo specifically, but there's a similar situation with adaptive suspension on the BMW Z4 E89.This company - https://nagengast.pl/en/regeneration-of-shock-abso... - can repair them.
They even have a repair service listed at £240 for an S80 for a pair of front shocks.
Fore Left said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
Jakg said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
Do any companies do repairs on originals? Thanks in advance.
I don't know about Volvo specifically, but there's a similar situation with adaptive suspension on the BMW Z4 E89.This company - https://nagengast.pl/en/regeneration-of-shock-abso... - can repair them.
They even have a repair service listed at £240 for an S80 for a pair of front shocks.
IAmTheWalrus said:
Kawasicki said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
In the meantime if I put heavy weights in the boot will it help with the bouncing?
No, it won´t improve the situation.Take a photo of the damper, with the label and part number if you can.
Kawasicki said:
I have not looked thoroughly no, I did see them at the weekend when I was at a mechanics who explained to me the ones on the car were not matching what I had purchased. From my memory, there were no paper stickers on them showing any details and actually some kind of black material covering them. I will take another look at the weekend, but in any case, what can I do with the part numbers? Second hand parts or aftermarket are still very expensive. Well, if you at least have a part number you can independently search for a part…
Depends what your budget is. A S80 is a fairly luxurious car, and you bought one with more complex suspension… so both new are used parts are going to cost you more.
The other option, already mentioned is to get the complete set of springs and dampers, etc. from a car without nivomat. The dampers for those seem to be about 90€ each and the springs probably won’t be crazy either.
You need to fix your car.
Depends what your budget is. A S80 is a fairly luxurious car, and you bought one with more complex suspension… so both new are used parts are going to cost you more.
The other option, already mentioned is to get the complete set of springs and dampers, etc. from a car without nivomat. The dampers for those seem to be about 90€ each and the springs probably won’t be crazy either.
You need to fix your car.
Kawasicki said:
Well, if you at least have a part number you can independently search for a part…
Depends what your budget is. A S80 is a fairly luxurious car, and you bought one with more complex suspension… so both new are used parts are going to cost you more.
The other option, already mentioned is to get the complete set of springs and dampers, etc. from a car without nivomat. The dampers for those seem to be about 90€ each and the springs probably won’t be crazy either.
You need to fix your car.
But I can't get springs from a car without nivomat they won't fit, this what I have posted, the mechanic says they won't fit. Depends what your budget is. A S80 is a fairly luxurious car, and you bought one with more complex suspension… so both new are used parts are going to cost you more.
The other option, already mentioned is to get the complete set of springs and dampers, etc. from a car without nivomat. The dampers for those seem to be about 90€ each and the springs probably won’t be crazy either.
You need to fix your car.
IAmTheWalrus said:
Kawasicki said:
Well, if you at least have a part number you can independently search for a part…
Depends what your budget is. A S80 is a fairly luxurious car, and you bought one with more complex suspension… so both new are used parts are going to cost you more.
The other option, already mentioned is to get the complete set of springs and dampers, etc. from a car without nivomat. The dampers for those seem to be about 90€ each and the springs probably won’t be crazy either.
You need to fix your car.
But I can't get springs from a car without nivomat they won't fit, this what I have posted, the mechanic says they won't fit. Depends what your budget is. A S80 is a fairly luxurious car, and you bought one with more complex suspension… so both new are used parts are going to cost you more.
The other option, already mentioned is to get the complete set of springs and dampers, etc. from a car without nivomat. The dampers for those seem to be about 90€ each and the springs probably won’t be crazy either.
You need to fix your car.
Kawasicki said:
Not on their own, no. You need to get all the parts that are different between the two suspension options.
In theory it shouldn't be any more difficult than the regular conversion many make to their airsprung 4x4's when they swap airbags for springs and suitable seats.Though this can be an issue with higher spec european cars, they often fit different suspension components which prove to be ridiculously expensive...ie front wishbones on W124 MB's, E200/280 you get a replaceable bottom ball joint circa £20 genuine part, on an E320 its part of the full wishbone a hefty item apart from the fast wearing ball joint that will set you back about £350 a side last time i looked, you don't want to know how much an airmatic strut will set you back for an S or CL class, those Volvo self levellers might be a rare bargain in comparison.
For Toyota parts, not sure what other makes, you can buy genuine OE from Amayama (middle east) at very fair prices indeed, even with postage and import costs the savings can be considerable, worth investigating if such a company exists abroad for Volvo parts, but you will need part numbers.
Kawasicki said:
Do they need any special programming to the cars ecu or are they standalone? I was told twice there would be a light come up if replaced with normal ones so just wondering. 
IAmTheWalrus said:
Kawasicki said:
Do they need any special programming to the cars ecu or are they standalone? I was told twice there would be a light come up if replaced with normal ones so just wondering. IAmTheWalrus said:
I wondered if you could get stronger springs to see if that was better but someone said no. I just remembered some cars have the shock within the spring but on my car that's not likley to have the appropriate attachments. Might some DIY be safe and legal?
Wheel bounce, floaty body control are both due to worn dampers. A stiffer spring or more weight will make it worse, generally.Now, if you mean that if he converts to conventional dampers that he will need stiffer springs, that is entirely possible.
Kawasicki said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
I wondered if you could get stronger springs to see if that was better but someone said no. I just remembered some cars have the shock within the spring but on my car that's not likley to have the appropriate attachments. Might some DIY be safe and legal?
Wheel bounce, floaty body control are both due to worn dampers. A stiffer spring or more weight will make it worse, generally.Now, if you mean that if he converts to conventional dampers that he will need stiffer springs, that is entirely possible.
However there were no results on ebay for worldwide search including description and title.
IAmTheWalrus said:
Kawasicki said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
I wondered if you could get stronger springs to see if that was better but someone said no. I just remembered some cars have the shock within the spring but on my car that's not likley to have the appropriate attachments. Might some DIY be safe and legal?
Wheel bounce, floaty body control are both due to worn dampers. A stiffer spring or more weight will make it worse, generally.Now, if you mean that if he converts to conventional dampers that he will need stiffer springs, that is entirely possible.
However there were no results on ebay for worldwide search including description and title.
https://archiwum.allegro.pl/oferta/volvo-s80-v70-s...
so the part number is probably correct.
https://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/index.php?cPa...
https://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/index.php?cPa...
Hmm.
The top link, Nivomat to standard conversion kits states clealy that on P3 chassis (preumably yours?) that Nivomat is not removable.
The second link shows new units listed, and i can see why you're trying to find an alternative, by the way they give a Volvo part number 31255534
You've probably already been on that site anyway.
I have a suggestion for you, there's a few series 2 S80's breaking on ebay, if you can find some used units it might be worth trying them out.
Then if it was me i'd contact the place one of the posters suggested above, was it Poland?, who already refurb such things and see if they'd be interested in trying the job either on yours or the ones you get used, if you can find used ones and they're even slightly better than yours then you have nothing to lose by sending yours to the workshops apart from the parcel cost, and just might be the one to benefit first from kick starting a refurb exchange service for your model.
Course they might have already tried on your particular self levellers and drawn a blank but i'd be casting wide and far if it were me in this position.
https://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/index.php?cPa...
Hmm.
The top link, Nivomat to standard conversion kits states clealy that on P3 chassis (preumably yours?) that Nivomat is not removable.
The second link shows new units listed, and i can see why you're trying to find an alternative, by the way they give a Volvo part number 31255534
You've probably already been on that site anyway.
I have a suggestion for you, there's a few series 2 S80's breaking on ebay, if you can find some used units it might be worth trying them out.
Then if it was me i'd contact the place one of the posters suggested above, was it Poland?, who already refurb such things and see if they'd be interested in trying the job either on yours or the ones you get used, if you can find used ones and they're even slightly better than yours then you have nothing to lose by sending yours to the workshops apart from the parcel cost, and just might be the one to benefit first from kick starting a refurb exchange service for your model.
Course they might have already tried on your particular self levellers and drawn a blank but i'd be casting wide and far if it were me in this position.
Edited by Smint on Wednesday 22 June 09:00
Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff