Great job on choosing a Viggen - it's a great car that does everything well.
I wanted to relay my experience with upgrades to my '00 Viggen (long):
I chose to fix the softest parts of the front suspension first - the rubber bushings. The MP Performance steering rack brace stiffens up the steering and gives it better feel, and removes maybe 25% of the torque steer.
The urethane bushings from MP had a bigger effect, removing the next 30-40%.
I didn't experience any real difference with the single-bar subframe brace.
Next, I upgraded the wheels. My Viggen came with 16" wheels and Gislaved Nordfrost tires, as the previous owner's dealer "lost" the Viggen wheels while they were stored there over the winter. The 8x17" Saab BBS wheels with used Michelins (from a 9-5) made a huge difference in torque steer, making it no worse than what you are used to from your Integra.
Since it is winter again, I upgraded to new Dunlop Wintersport M3 on the 16" wheels, and the torque steer is no worse than with the 17" wheels.
Here's my conclusion on the tires: the Gislaveds have a very wide, flat tread patch, while the Michelins and Dunlops are both narrower, and have a slight crown to the tread area, increasing pressure in the center of the contact patch. Since the Gislaveds put more contact pressure on the sidewall areas of the tread, they were more sensitive to irregularities in the road, causing ridiculous torque steer.
Another modification I made to the car was the 22mm rear sway bar. I've taken the car around Mid-Ohio at a driver's school, and I could not get the car to rotate at all by lifting the throttle. I'd like to see the rear of the car be a little more active. I think the throttle plays into this as well, since the drive-by-wire closes the throttle slowly, rather than slamming it shut, reducing the weight transfer to the front wheels. Even in snow and heavy rain, the car refuses to oversteer in the least. So, 22mm is not too much rear sway bar for a Viggen, but it does improve traction coming out of turns.
BTW, the Viggen will do 1:58 around Mid-OH with old Michelin street tires, at least until the front sidewalls show cord!




posted by 12.37.116...

• I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Nate, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:23:31
  • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., NickR - UK, Tue, 4 Sep 2007 07:48:19
  • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Randy V., Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:57:01
  • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Randy V, Fri, 14 Jan 2005 14:01:22 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., GM, Fri, 14 Jan 2005 15:44:51
    • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Nate, Fri, 14 Jan 2005 14:30:52
      • 22mm rear bar is sweet., Rob Info, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 16:45:28
        • Re: 22mm rear bar is sweet., Nate, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 17:30:35
  • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., GM, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 18:14:24
  • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Dean, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 15:53:25
    • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Nate, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 17:15:44
  • Re: The Viggen Improvement Project., oldzmann, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 12:06:59
    • Thanks Oldzmann!, Nate, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 15:31:24
      • Re: Thanks Oldzmann!, oldzmann, Fri, 14 Jan 2005 09:37:08
  • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., MO, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:59:20
    • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Brion, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 12:10:03
    • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Nate, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 11:28:33
      • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., AlaskanViggen, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 12:47:05
        • What exact modifications would void the warranty?, Anthony, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 22:28:27
        • Re: I need your help! The Viggen Improvement Project., Nate, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 15:33:45

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