Post 438910 by Rob_C70T5 on 2011-12-21 19:25:23
I've got a 2001 C70 T5 and the handling is very very vague, it seems to lack feel and tramlines badly when on motorways and fast A roads.
The car is completely standard, and I've had 3 sets of wheels on it so far, all genuine, with no change at all, so I know its not the wheels or tyres, I've had them checked and they're all fine, currently running on 18" BBS Tritons.
Does anyone have any idea how to improve the handling at all? I've read that a strut brace COULD help, but I wouldn't expect it to cure the problem at all, also I've heard slightly lowering and stiffening the springs might help (the cars only used for commuting now as I've bought the wife a family car so I can play with this one) so lowering isn't really a problem.
Also has anyone Poly bushed the front end of a V70 S70 or C70? and if so what are the effects it has?
Hopefully someone can help out coz I love the car, but the handling is driving me mad!!!
Cheers!!!!
Post 438915 by t5_monkey on 2011-12-21 19:38:58
Strut Brace Definitely will help quite a bit.
Sounds like worn bushes to me. Polybushing will revolutionize the handling - but give a harder ride.
dropping to 17" wheels will help with tramlining and give you better ride and dynamics.
Springs will help, dampers and upgraded rear roll bar will make a bigger difference though.
I've got all of the above on mine, and the handling is on a different planet compared to when it was stock.
Post 438917 by Rob_C70T5 on 2011-12-21 19:53:11
Thanks for that, don't suppose you have any idea of a good place to buy the bits or which is the best brand to buy, I've been into VAG and BMW and Vauxhall for a while, so still new to the Volvo scene really.
Post 438936 by t5_monkey on 2011-12-21 20:11:52
powerflex for bushes - Rufe can sort you out with new stock ones if you want to renew the suspension.
If you get dampers - Bilstein are the best IMHO.
IPD rear roll bar
Strut Brace - not sure just ask around on here!
Post 438951 by M-R-P on 2011-12-21 20:58:29
I recently renewed shocks, top mounts and polybushed (all front) and it made a massive difference. I used top spec oem shocks, and bilstein top mounts. I didn't want to go for performance upgrades as the.car is our only.car and I wanted it to be a good one. The Polybushes really sharpened the steering with a slight increase in road noise. Mr. Monkey.has gone full poly which can affect comfort quite a bit but like he said, he's gone for a performance setup and comfort is not top of his list. It all depends on how far you wanna go ;).
Post 438956 by t5_monkey on 2011-12-21 21:07:50
Fully Polybushing will be OK on 17" wheels, but probably very hard on 18's.
Getting the lower wishbones done will help a lot, and won't affect the ride too much.
Post 439024 by tim15888 on 2011-12-21 23:24:18
I just did mine the easy way and lowered it 40mm, surprisingly alot better at handeling roundabouts now. Alot of the time when you lower a car you fcuk the geomitry up and believe it or not actually make the handeling worse. I've lowered a couple of cars, and had/driven a lot that had already been lowered and only 3 of them handeled better lowered than not. The one that handeled best was a 306 D-Turbo that was my girlfriends, lowered that 60mm on gas struts and that stuck like **** to a blanket, at the same time I had another D-turdo that was already lowered 40mm when I got it and that was very understeery. Lowering my Volvoid deffo made it handle loads better but with 18" rims on has given it a very hard ride...
Post 439057 by Wobbly Dave on 2011-12-22 10:19:42
The handling on my C70 is excellent - so you are more than welcome to come and check it over or PM me.
Plus I need to check where my PTC valve pipework runs ;)