Has anyone had Bilsteins installead in the front? If so, do you know if
the struts came with new "spanner nuts". I had someone take out my
springs/struts to replace the spring seats in my 1998 which has Bilsteins.
They guy told me it had the dreaded cross shaped spanner nuts still. I
thought those would have been replaced with the nuts that came with the
Bilsteins.

Anyhow, he said these are a B#)%($%$ to take off. I was there when the
suspension shop took off the spanner nuts. These non Volvo guys took an
impact hammer to the nut and got it off.

Grr, I should have left the Volvo sport suspension struts there. I thought
Bilsteins would be nice at the time. Bad decision.

How bad would putting OEM shocks in the front and keeping the rear
Bilsteins be? Is that just plain idiotic? I wouldn't mind a more plush
ride than what I have now.

mchiu0324 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com (M) wrote in
news:mchiu0324-0308062313100001 (AT) 192 (DOT) 168.2.2:
I put Bilstein shocks all around my 98 S70 and it firmed up the ride
considerably. This must have been before the x spanner nuts because the
shop that did the work didn't complain.

If you wish a softer ride then remove the B's and live with the front
suspension slamming against the limits every timne you encounter a little
bump in the road. Can't have it both ways.