Dumped Volvo 142---something you just don't see.

A freshly cleaned wagon and the approaching storm...



I finally washed the 142 so that she would be presentable for a photo shoot, and I got a few decent angles this afternoon. The suspension is done in its entirety, front and rear, and I am very pleased with the stance---it is exactly what I wanted.

Here is the rundown of what was done:

New tires (Hancook performance all seasons).
New brake pads, front and rear. Everything in the system cleaned and bled.
1 brake hose replaced on the front, all others carefully inspected.
Emergency brake shoes repaired and adjusted.
Emergency brake cable replaced (ebay NOS from Israel!)
Differential cover and input seals replaced and filled with new fluid.
All new polyurethane bushings, front and rear.
New upper and lower ball joints in front wishbones.
New Bilstein shocks on all four corners.
New IPD sway bars, front and rear.
New Skandix non-progressive 1.5" lowering springs (25-30% stiffer than stock), front and rear: fronts cut 1.5", rears 1" coil compressors added. (As a side note, I wanted a stiff and very predictable ride, which is why I opted to not put in progressive springs---the behavior of progressives can be somewhat unpredictable at the limit).

And I guess that is about it.

Sure took a while though, since I did absolutely everything myself! Here are some pictures of the finished sled:



Despire what it looks like, the tires do not hit the fenders even when turning sharp over bumps; Steering geometry is mystifying...



You can barely even see the spring between the lower A arm and the frame pocket! The front end still has a little over two inches of travel at the tire though, which is enough for a decently comfortable and very usable ride on the highway.