Vintage Newsletter: May-June 2009
Page 7: SUSPENSION: Anti-Sway Bars and Springs

If you place your order by phone, please provide the customer service representative with promotion code "MN" to apply any sale pricing that may be available through this promotion. This Promotion may include products that are not discounted below our normal competitive pricing structure.

Promotion effective from May 8, 2009 through July 3, 2009

TECH TIP: Thinking About Suspension Upgrades? Providing suspension upgrades for vintage Volvos is how ipd got started over 40 years ago. Upgrading the suspension on your Volvo can be one of the more confusing arenas. Though not considered great handling cars in the mainstream, Volvos did pretty well in the fifties and sixties.  What was good then can be even better now. Before making any improvements, it’s critical that you start with a solid foundation. Replace any worn suspension bushings and steering parts - and carefully inspect control arms, torque and trailing rods for excessive wear. If everything looks good, evaluate your state of mind.  What do you really want the car to do? If you find the body roll excessive (like we do), sway bars are an excellent first step. You’ll retain the ride quality you’re accustomed to on decently paved roads and the primary difference you’ll enjoy will be a flatter, more predictable cornering ability. Before you lower the car, consider: Do you need the stock ride height to get in and out of your driveway?  Do you take the car camping?  A lowered car isn’t much fun if it’s bottoming out often (and other damage can result).  If these aren’t factors for you, lowering the car brings the center of gravity closer the ground and you’ll be able to navigate corners with more control and greater aggression than before.  Plus, it looks cool.

ipd Anti-Sway Bars If you know ipd, you already know that we’ve pioneered anti-sway bar setups for Volvos for more than 40 years.  We make them for other vehicles too - and in some cases, the original manufacturer has copied our designs and integrated them into their own production line.  Think about that.  Our bars were proven so superior to the original equipment that they BECAME original equipment. Cars continue to evolve and handling characteristics that were once available only on high end exotics are now commonplace. If you’re like us (and you must be, or you wouldn’t be reading this), you prefer to drive a Vintage Volvo rather than a newer, less interesting car. The sway bars we started selling as performance improvements (which they are) are the same sway bars we’ve been selling as safety improvements (because they are).  They’ll give your old Volvo handling characteristics that 1) put it in a class well above most other ‘old cars,’ and 2) get it well on its way to handling with the same panache as much newer machinery while retaining its Vintage charm. You won’t believe the improvement and you’ll wish you’d bought a set sooner. If you don’t believe us, ask anyone who’s tried them! Satisfaction Guaranteed, period. They really are that good. Please Note: We no longer zinc plate our sway bars. All bars are now shipped out powder coated blue. Model Year Sway Bar Diameter 444, 544 up to 1965 25mm front, 19mm rear (1)(2) MN-6K5001 Reg. $368.00    Kit 122, 1800w/ 2.25” axle tubes 1962-66 28mm front, 19mm rear (1) MN-6K5002 Reg. $368.00    Kit 122, 1800 w/ 2.50” axle tubes 1967-69 28mm front, 19mm rear MN-6K5003 Reg. $368.00    Kit 122S wagon All 28mm front, 19mm rear (1) MN-6K5005 Reg. $368.00    Kit 1800E, ES 1970-73 28mm front, 19mm rear MN-6K5004 Reg. $368.00    Kit 140 series 1967-74 25mm front, 19mm rear MN-6K5006 Reg. $368.00    Kit *Drilling required for rear bar installation on all models. (1) Early cars may need holes drilled for front bar installation. (2) Limited supply - Call for more information.

Sport Coils for a Firm and Stable Ride You probably already know that most people who lower their cars are after the ‘slammed’ look. Our coils won’t do that. What they will do is offer a higher (stiffer) spring rate to keep the tires on the ground during enthusiastic driving, reduce body movement to keep handling characteristics firmer and more predictable; and lower the center of gravity so that your favorite curvy roads can be taken with gusto. Expect a 1”-1 1/2” drop from stock ride height - and keep in mind that your original springs have most likely sagged from age and use. Please Note: All of our sport coils ship in sets of 4 122 sedans, 1800 all MN-1014797 Reg. $295.00    Set of 4 140 1967-72 MN-1011974 Reg. $325.00    Set of 4 140 1974 MN-1013128 Reg. $279.00    Set of 4 164 1969-72 MN-1013130 Reg. $325.00    Set of 4

Overload Coils for Heavy Hauling After decades of use, the rear springs (even on Volvos) usually begin to sag. If you fill the rear with cargo, it gets even worse. It looks funny, makes the car drive funny and changes the geometry of the rear suspension, which in turn puts additional stress on the shocks and bushings. Overload springs offer a 20% stiffer spring rate over stock, returning your Volvo to its proper ride height and will increase carrying capacity overall. Prices are per pair. 145 sedan 1973-74* MN-6S2007 Reg. $110.00    Pair 145 wagon 1973-74* MN-6S2011 Reg. $154.76    Pair *Overload coils can be used in 1968-73 140 series models if you convert to the later-style rear spring mounts. Some 1973 and all 1974 models have the later style mounts. If the rear coils are bolted in place both top and bottom (both ends are pigtail) then you will need the following parts to install overload coils: Rear upper spring seat MN-1221882 Reg. $34.45    Each Rubber spring spacer MN-1221885 Reg. $20.15    Each If you have access to a Volvo wrecking yard in your area, these same parts were used on all 1975-1993 240 series Volvos. They are pretty easy to remove with the rear of the vehicle off the ground.

Promotion effective from May 8, 2009 through July 3, 2009