How to Lower a Volvo V70 With Nivomat Rear Suspension

The rear end of P80-gen Volvo V70 AWD, R, and 850 AWD models has posed significant hurdles to those looking for a lower, more street-oriented stance. On front-wheel-drive models, taking the rear down a bit is as simple as buying a set of lowering springs and installing them. A few bolts - done. It's really easy. Us all-wheel-drive enthusiasts have been largely left out in the cold by the aftermarket except for a few expensive options. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and scouring the internet to get a solution that is effective and reliable.

Nivomats function by "pumping up"

Nivomat shock absorbers dictate the height of the rear of an AWD Volvo wagon. Not the springs. With the rear shock absorbers removed, the springs alone will not support the full weight of the rear of the vehicle, so it will sag and likely ride bottomed-out on the bumpstops. The springs only support some of the vehicle's weight, not all.

ZF Sachs has created a great animation that shows how Nivomat shock absorbers function by "pumping up" when an additional load is detected in the rear of the vehicle in the form of a sagging rear end.

With this newfound knowledge, it stands to reason that installing a slightly shorter spring will make the Nivomats think that there is increased load in the cargo area, and compensate after driving for just a few minutes. Your car will not be lowered, and the Nivomats will be working harder to support the additional weight that the lowering springs aren't. Change in ride height? Nil.

Drop Bolts

This may sound a little crude, but the art of installing "drop bolts" has been used with great success for years. Now that we know how Nivomats function, it's actually very easy "fooling" your Volvo into being lowered. It's as easy as modifying the hardware you use to mount the Nivomats to the lower control arm. In most cases, no other modification is necessary.

1. There is a steel bracket with two threaded posts on each rear control arm, this is where the Nivomats usually bolt down. You'll want to toss these and keep them safe for the future, you know, if you ever raise the car back up. (These brackets also guide the e-brake cables, however they are generally not needed)
2. Get some hardware - Grade 8 bolts only! Match the thread pitch of the bolt to the original nuts that fastened the shocks to the lower control arm. A 3" bolt (pictured) should be fine for most lowering applications.
3. Grab some nuts that are too big to thread on the bolts you purchased in step 2 - they should slide up and down the shank, these will be used as spacers. I got 3/4" of drop by using two large nuts. (Shown in yellow)
4. Thread the bolt up through the shock, add the two nuts, push it up into the lower control arm, and snug it all down. The Nivomat should be spaced below the lower control arm now, effectively "fooling" it into thinking the car should sit a bit lower.

For a larger and reliable 1" drop, cut exactly two coils off of each rear spring, and use 1" worth of spacing to lower the Nivomat in its lower control arm mounting point. There does come a point where less spring is needed to achieve a greater drop, and 1" is about it. However, it's always safe to play with the spacers before you irreversibly modify the rear springs.

Euro Nivomats

Europe gets all the good stuff. In particular, the V70R was offered with a factory sport chassis which has a lower ride height than its US-bound counterpart. This was achieved through use of the elusive "Euro 025 Nivo" as we like to call it. It won't be a cheap upgrade, but it utilizes stock springs and bolts without the use of any additional hardware or backyard engineering.

Users of the 8626025 Nivomat report not only a lower ride height, but firmer dampening and more controlled body movements over road undulations and crests.

Forget it, I don't even want Nivomats anymore

You're in luck. Being an S70 AWD owner, I have had the honor of owning one of the rare AWD Volvos that does not have Nivomat suspension installed from the factory. The S70 utilizes two special springs that are designed to support the full load of the vehicle without help from Nivomat shocks. You'll find two normal looking shock absorbers (yet still AWD specific, you can't install FWD rear shocks) in the back - none of that load-leveling crap. Why is this useful?

P/N: 9492049

S70 AWD rear springs (P/N: 9203935) can be retrofitted to any 97-00 AWD Volvo wagon in conjunction with a pair of S70 AWD shocks. The ride height will remain 100% stock in the rear, and you'll never have to fork out over $500 for new Nivomats again. Take note that the ride will be much softer, and even a brand new set of S70 AWD shocks will feel a bit bouncy compared to the Nivomats, but if your wallet is #1 priority, this may be the way to go.

Shop Volvo Suspension at FCP Euro

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Written by :

Alex Fiehl