Lowering and improving the roadholding of a Volvo 940.
The Volvo 940 was designed by Volvo as a luxury family car that allows you to get from A to B very safely and comfortably. To this day, they still have this image. Meanwhile, the other characteristics of a Volvo 940 are also well-known. With a few upgrades, the comfortable family car can be transformed into a seriously sporty Volvo 940 with handling that is on par with modern cars.
The standard handling of a Volvo 940
Soft springs cause extreme body roll in corners
As mentioned, the Volvo 940 was designed as a comfortable cruiser. As a result, the car has very comfortable and therefore soft suspension, and the center of gravity is relatively high.
Soft springs in the Volvo 940 ensure that all small potholes, stones, and other unevenness in the road surface are absorbed. Ideal, you might say... For the sportier driver, this is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Due to the soft springs, the Volvo 940 also leans excessively when cornering, especially in short, fast bends or long sweeping turns onto the highway. Due to body roll, the car's center of gravity will first shift due to steering input, and only then will the car actually change direction. Body roll also puts much more pressure on the outer wheel in a turn, and the car loses grip more quickly.
The standard tire size is focused on comfort
Most 940s come with 205/55/16 or 195/65/16 tires. The first number indicates the width of a tire, the second number is the sidewall height of the tire as a percentage (so 55% of 205mm), and finally, the last number is the inch size.
A sidewall of 55 or 65% again provides a lot of driving comfort because the tire's sidewall itself also acts as an extra damper for unevenness in the road surface. The disadvantage of these types of tires is that the sidewall is quite flexible and cannot maintain its shape during sporty driving, which results in a loss of grip and/or indirect steering feel.
Improving the handling of a Volvo 940
Some factors that negatively affect the handling of a Volvo 940 in terms of sportiness have already been mentioned above. Below are various options to improve the handling of a Volvo 940.
Lowering a Volvo 940 with 40mm lowering springs
For Volvo 940 owners who want better handling than standard and sportier looks on a limited budget, the 40mm lowering springs from Cobra are very suitable.
Cobra's lowering springs give the Volvo 940 a lowering of approximately 40mm and are at the same time considerably stiffer than the original springs installed by Volvo. The lowering brings the Volvo 940's center of gravity lower, and due to the increased stiffness of the springs, the car leans much less in corners.
Advantages of less body roll:
- The Volvo 940 reacts faster to steering input.
- Because the car leans less, more pressure is put on the inner wheels/tires, increasing grip.
Frequently asked questions:
- How stiff are Cobra lowering springs; can I still drive comfortably daily with them?
These springs are comparable in stiffness to a modern BMW; stiff but comfortable. The handling is significantly improved, but the car still offers comfort.
- What about the MOT (APK in Dutch)?
40mm lowering springs are no problem for the MOT. The most important aspect for the MOT is that the springs must not be loose and must be properly mounted. Loose springs at maximum rebound only apply to more extreme lowering springs.
- Can I use the original dampers?
Yes. The original dampers can be used very well in combination with 40mm lowering springs.
Lowering a Volvo 940 with a BC-Racing coilover kit
The Volvo 940 BC-Racing coilover kit is a fully adjustable lowering set, allowing the car's handling to be meticulously tuned. This coilover kit is ideally suited for true sports drivers who occasionally do a track day or simply want to get the maximum handling performance out of their Volvo 940.
The Volvo 940 BC-Racing coilover kit allows the following aspects to be adjusted independently:
- Ride height
- Damper stiffness (both compression and rebound)
- Amount of camber at the front
- Spring preload
Because the ride height of the BC-Racing coilover kit is not determined by the spring length but by the height adjustment of the kit, the Volvo can be set very low and still utilize the full suspension travel.
Adjusting damping makes it possible to set up a stiffer chassis during track days than for daily commuting.
Is a BC-Racing coilover kit better than Cobra 40mm lowering springs?
This entirely depends on your desires and requirements for your Volvo 940. Do you want less body roll in corners, a slightly sportier look, but still comfortable daily driving? Then the Cobra 40mm lowering springs are most suitable.
If cornering performance cannot be hard enough, you want to be able to adjust everything, and you sometimes go for a day at the Nürburgring? Then the BC-Racing coilover kit is the best choice.
Frequently asked questions:
- How stiff is a Volvo 940 BC-Racing coilover kit; can I still drive comfortably daily with it?
This kit can be considered quite stiff. Many customers drive it daily, but you will definitely notice cobblestone roads.
- What about the MOT (APK in Dutch)?
If correctly installed, this kit should not cause any issues with the MOT. (Note: if you live in Belgium, this might be a rejection point)
Larger Rims and Flatter Tires
Previously you read that tires have a relatively large influence on road holding and grip. A lowered Volvo 940 with 40mm Cobra springs or a BC-Racing coilover kit will never be able to optimally utilize its potential with standard tires.
Which tire size do I need?
Tires are the 4 most important things on your Volvo 940 when it comes to good grip and road holding. There is still a lot to be gained after lowering.
For better road holding, it is important to choose a tire with a somewhat flatter sidewall. On more modern cars with a bit more power or those in the sporty segment, you will almost always find tires with a sidewall thickness of a maximum of 45%. Examples include: 245/40/18 and 225/45/17. A flatter sidewall gives the tire more stiffness, which will improve steering feel and grip.
The exact tire size depends on which rim you will use to mount the tire. For this, it's best to check forums to see which size people have the best experience with on your rim.
Don't skimp on tires!
Unfortunately, there are many cheap Chinese tires that perform very poorly in various tire tests. A longer braking distance of 20 meters is no exception.
If you are looking for new tires, always look up the most recent tire test in your tire size and make a decision from there about which one is most suitable. The difference between an A-brand and C-brand tire is often only 100 euros for a set of 4.