1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
I just spent the better part of the day installing a set of Bilstein shocks in the rear, and bringing the ride height up to the official 620/610 height measurements with custom made spacers. To do so took 30mm spacers all around. I find this surprising; even on a car with ~130k this seems like a lot of sag from stock. Here are some observations on the job:
Doing the rear spacers is a piece of cake, if you have a lathe to turn up spacers. They're something like 2.5" diameter.
The front spacers are harder to make, just because they're a lot bigger. 5" dia, with a 3" hole through the middle translates to a lot of metal chips if you're starting w/6" stock. I chose to put the spacer between the rubber boot and the galvanized metal thingy that goes underneath the strut bearing; it fits very well there. Putting it all together was the same as putting a normal strut assy together. I also replaced the front bump stops, which were totally destroyed.
The white plastic retaining rings on the front bump stops serve to make the stop stiffer and much more resistant to wear. If little white plastic pieces fall out of your struts you should get new bump stops. I should have done this when my car was under CPO, but the dealer said that they server no purpose when I brought the broken bits in. He was wrong.
At over an inch higher (now same height as stock Aero) the car just feels right. Steering feels more stable (probably due to less negative camber) and the car feels smooth, but solid on very bumpy roads. I tested the suspension on a couple of bumps that have always bottomed it out and it didn't come close. Theoretically there should be more body roll with the higher ride height, but I cant feel it.
The stock rear shocks felt fine, but very soft compared to the Bilsteins. All the rear hardware was perfectly reusable; The front stock struts felt perfectly fine; I'm glad I elected to not replace them. Overall I feel like this is going to work well for the next 100k miles.
Sam
posted by 98.118.58...
, Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:36:05
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
