Here's the ID plate from my 07 V8 sport. Below my plate is how to decipher your plate and suspension components. (The lower plate is just an example from the web. My plate is the one listed first).

How to decipher:

13 = Model Year
14 = Factory Code (represents the factory where the car was built)
15 = Chassis Number
16 = Market Code (USA, Canada, etc.)
17 = Interior Code
18 = Exterior Paint Code
19 = Special Vehicle Number (Taxi, Police, etc.)
20 = Front Suspension Spring Code
21 = Front Suspension Strut Code
22 = Front Anti-Sway Bar Code
23 = Rear Suspension Spring Code
24 = Rear Suspension Shock Code
25 = Rear Anti-Sway Bar Code
26 = Front Suspension Bump Stop Code
27 = Rear Suspension Bump Stop Code

Hope that helps.
Tim

 

Thanks a lot, Tim, now I understand much better !!!
Can you please let me know where this plate is located in your XC90 ? I tried to find it but couldn't - probably the fact it's the middle of the night does not help

So if I get it right, in order to fit the "Sport" suspensions in my car, I would need:
- Front suspension spring "marked 33" (30648140)
- Front suspension strut "marked AE" (30776718)
- Front Anti-Sway Bar "marked Z" (30635778)
- Rear Suspension Spring "marked 54" (30666641)
- Rear Suspension Shock "marked 48" (30635776) [these are nivomats I believe]
- Rear Anti-Sway Bar "marked D" (30635780)
- Front Suspension Bump Stop "marked 5"
- Rear Suspension Bump Stop "marked 2"

I assume this set of part makes any XC90 to be "tuned" like the Sport version from a suspension point of view, unless some other parts of the chassis that cannot be replaced are also specifically tuned for a better handling.

Cheers,
Yann

 

Yes. You certainly could replace everything with the sport suspension. You will lose the rear Nivomats, but if you don't tow or use your third row seat often, they're not doing you much good anyway.

 

Not really, I believe the first model years of sport (07/08) and r-design (09) models for sure came with a sport suspension package that included nivomats. I can tell by fact because I replaced the springs and nivomats when I put the H&R kit in our sport V8. ( I then sold all those items here at swedespeed)

The sport springs have the same ride height than regular v8, however Volvo specified in its xc90 brochure at that time the following for the Sport / R-design XC90: "Unique, sport-tuned chasis, sports-calibrated steering and sophisticated stability control. The Volvo XC90 Sport /R-Design has a specially tuned chasis that separates this vehicle from the crowd. The front suspension uses McPherson struts with anti-dive and anti-lift functionality. The multi link independent rear suspension is attached to a steel sub-frame. The front and rear suspensions both have firmer shocks and stiffer stabalizers bars for added stability and quicker steering response".

FWIW to the OP's question, in your shoes I would go the aftermarket route if you really want a firmer /lower ride. If you want to keep the OEM ride height, just throw a stiffer bars and bilstein shocks.

 

Thank you all for the replies, I will try to figure out what's the best option.

 

sub'd

 

NWM : I have all the info if you want it...