Can shock absorbers be repaired?
Discussion
Smint said:
Self levelling shockers are seriously expensive and sometimes only available OE no correct aftermarket replacements, been there got T shirt, luckily back in the day you could wander round scrap yards and i found almost brand new Volvo and Renault self levellers which were bought for peanuts.
The problem is that self levellers come from the factory with less substantial springs than the same car would without self levellers due to the springing assistance the self levellers offer and if you just replace the shockers alone the car will sag at the back, the usual cure is to buy a set of the correct springs to go with new standard shocks that you'll fit at the same time.
Might be a question best asked on a make specific forum where people will have been where you are already and can tell you what to and what not to buy, its getting the right springs, too stiff and the ride suffers, too soft and you get a sagging arse.
Thank you for your informative response, indeed the mechanic I took my car to thought this was over his head and self levelling shocks were not even on his system to order. I wondered about the springs myself as the car seemed way too bouncy even with dodgy shocks.The problem is that self levellers come from the factory with less substantial springs than the same car would without self levellers due to the springing assistance the self levellers offer and if you just replace the shockers alone the car will sag at the back, the usual cure is to buy a set of the correct springs to go with new standard shocks that you'll fit at the same time.
Might be a question best asked on a make specific forum where people will have been where you are already and can tell you what to and what not to buy, its getting the right springs, too stiff and the ride suffers, too soft and you get a sagging arse.
Edited by Smint on Sunday 19th June 08:25
The car is Volvo S80 2010. Can we then replace the shocks with normal ones then? I checked many sites before buying standard shocks to see if it fit the car and it was all confirmed. The dealer however wants £150 just to check if they can turn off the shocks without it showing a dashboard light.
I did post about my issue on a Volvo specific forum however after 1,100 views nobody responded.
Smint said:
Fat lot of help on the Volvo forum.
Are there any Volvo indy specialists near you who would be more inclined to know what's what, there is (or was) one at Wellingborough who was well regarded by my late BiL who had work done to his XC90 or whatever the big 4x4 was called, knowledgeable enough to know the ins and outs of geartronic fixing at a fraction the dealer wanted, Avalon Cars spring to mind, certainly worth a phone call.
If the shocks are confirmed as a direct fit it would seem to me that standard stronger springs to go with those shocks would be easily available too (possibly as a full kit), you could always slip a set of standard shocks on and see what the resultant ride height and handling is like, maybe the self levellers on the saloon don't have the same level of assistance that an estate car would warrant, springs can always be added later if you find sagging an issue.
Might not need the self levellers deleting from the ECU, i know on Prados you can remove the TEMS electronically adjustable shocks and replace with standards that don't cost you a kidney without triggering any warning lights and on Subarus the same, and can see no reason why this should be any different on the Volvo, even if it does need deleting from the ECU any good Volvo indy should be able to do that for you without the pee taking £150 just to plug it in at the dealer.
Thanks for the response I emailed avalon? I never have anything or anyone else in the car would sagging still be an issue? I live in the countryside with lots of bumpy and winding lanes though I no longer drive like I did with the bmw 320 ci sport, should the volvo be alright without more springs? Are there any Volvo indy specialists near you who would be more inclined to know what's what, there is (or was) one at Wellingborough who was well regarded by my late BiL who had work done to his XC90 or whatever the big 4x4 was called, knowledgeable enough to know the ins and outs of geartronic fixing at a fraction the dealer wanted, Avalon Cars spring to mind, certainly worth a phone call.
If the shocks are confirmed as a direct fit it would seem to me that standard stronger springs to go with those shocks would be easily available too (possibly as a full kit), you could always slip a set of standard shocks on and see what the resultant ride height and handling is like, maybe the self levellers on the saloon don't have the same level of assistance that an estate car would warrant, springs can always be added later if you find sagging an issue.
Might not need the self levellers deleting from the ECU, i know on Prados you can remove the TEMS electronically adjustable shocks and replace with standards that don't cost you a kidney without triggering any warning lights and on Subarus the same, and can see no reason why this should be any different on the Volvo, even if it does need deleting from the ECU any good Volvo indy should be able to do that for you without the pee taking £150 just to plug it in at the dealer.
Edited by IAmTheWalrus on Sunday 19th June 13:59
Curiously my request on whocanfixmycar.com got me 6 quotes already ranging from £233 to £412, so its strange these standard garages are happy to quote a change, including the garage was in yesterday lol.. It didn't occur to me or the garage guy yesterday at formula1 autocentre to consider standard shocks.
OK so local indy says it sounds too tricky for parts and referred me to his parts supplier to see if they have adaptor as appropriate for using normal ones in my car. He says mounts have to be changed. I'm now awaiting a response from the parts company.
Do any companies do repairs on originals? Thanks in advance.
Do any companies do repairs on originals? Thanks in advance.
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.
This is so effing annoying, I didn't even want the car it was bought in a hurry.
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.
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.
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.
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. 
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:
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. 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.
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