What's the best sport suspension setup?

[KR900]

I'm ready to upgrade the stock suspension from my 1992 900s 2.1i 3-door. All parts are original on this 14 year old suspension that has traveled 114,000 miles, and it feels like it.

I bought the car in January and autocrossed it this summer, and body motions are absolutely nuts. The rear springs and shocks work together to cause a lot of rear oscillation in slalom... the car is barely controllable in that case.

What suspension upgrades have some of you done to your 900s that really helped roadholding?

I considered looking for an SPG suspension kit, but have perhaps aftermarket parts may have better roadholding. I'd love some feedback from any of you who have upgraded your suspension for competetion. Thanks for your help-

[Si]

Here's a couple of threads that discuss different options/preferences.

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/se...earchid=501190

[1oldsaabman]

the best C900 setup is Brad's adjustable springs ($600) & koni adjustable shocks ($400). These springs are incredible!!! I gained 5-10 mph in the turns with these springs vs intrax

Or for a bit less money you could go with intrax or B&G springs ($250 ish) & then koni's. I have no experinece with B&G but I did run intrax for a while. They are great springs just on the soft side.

[KR900]

It's sounding like Koni shocks are the preferred ones to use to improve the 900's handling.

Can any of you provide feedback on Abbot Motorsport springs? My local independent Saab shop is the official US distributor for Abbot...

I should also clarify that budget is an important consideration for me. I'd like to spend "several hundred" dollars rather than "around a thousand" dollars...

Thanks for the good feedback-

[Alex]

The Abbott springs go very nicely with the Koni dampers resulting in a firm but controlled ride. Quality on the Abbott stuff can be a bit variable and the ride height can vary from set to set though.

[1oldsaabman]

if you are on a bidget then you do not want the best I saved for over a year to get the adj springs & it's worth it


I have only seen abbott springs once & they were way to low for my taste. I would of had serious tire rubbing issues at every corner if I had those.

I think they would probably be between intrax & the adj springs for handling

[KR900]

Originally Posted by 1oldsaabman

if you are on a bidget then you do not want the best

What I want and what I'm likely to buy are two separate things... I do want the best, but I'm gonna have to compromise, as my budget for my autocross 900 isn't unlimited, sadly.

Good to know that Abbot sprngs are so low. I need the car to accomodate the wheels/tires...

[1oldsaabman]

yea... unfortunantly we get killed with performance stuff on these cars, usually costs more then the car itself It's just such a small market that the low volume causes these prices. I unfortunantly save for 1-2yrs usually when I want something. My SPG is more of a track car (roadcoarse) which is why I went with the setup that I have.


I would think the abbotts are your best bet (no clue their cost) because I beleive they are more of a aggressive spring vs intrax being a street spring. They will be a HUGE improvement over what you have!!!

[Saab-Daniel]

1oldsaabman, where do you get koni adjustables at that price? I have only seen them at something like $650?
Also, aren't the dampers the same for all years of the c900? I mean, there isn't any difference between pre and past 1988, is there?
Daniel.

[walawala]

i'm using kilen 25mm lowering and konit adjustables...nice not too sporty and not to soft too...

Daniel,

I believe they are they same. I have swapped my brakes and axle from the front handbrake style to the rear handbrake style but still kept the same suspension setup.

des

[KR900]

Your explanation of cost makes sense... the parts being expensive because the target audience of c900 performance parts is so small.

I'll contact my garage who is the Abbot distributor later this week or next week to get pricing for their springs... I'll post the price up here when I've done that.

[gorper]

You realize that messing with springs will put you in STS or Street Prepared, yes?

Except for the stuff from Brad, aftermarket springs are not going to be stiff enough for what you're doing.

If you can weld, or know someone who can, I can show you how to duplicate the DIY set-up I built that allows you to run anyspring rate. Search here for "weight jacker" and if it looks like something you're interested in building, shoot me an email.

[KR900]

Originally Posted by gorper

You realize that messing with springs will put you in STS or Street Prepared, yes?

"OMG", you're killin' me here. That's just what I don't need... time to re-read the rule book a bit more closely...

[1oldsaabman]

Originally Posted by Saab-Daniel

1oldsaabman, where do you get koni adjustables at that price? I have only seen them at something like $650?
Also, aren't the dampers the same for all years of the c900? I mean, there isn't any difference between pre and past 1988, is there?
Daniel.

Here in the states they are unfer $400

unfortunantly in other parts of the world they do cost more

correct, all C900 use the same koni's

30-1088
26-1087

that's their part numbers.....

[Saab-Daniel]

Thanks a lot for your help, I've just sourced them at that price too!
So I'm looking at my bank-account now, wondering how I'm going to be able to get the dang thing
Daniel.

[IronJoe]

hey KR900...

hello to another pnw saaber. That's so cool that you went to a BEAC event, I've been wanting to join for quite a while now. I think it's very cool that you're into auto-x, pm me and we can chat

[walawala]

Originally Posted by Saab-Daniel

Thanks a lot for your help, I've just sourced them at that price too!
So I'm looking at my bank-account now, wondering how I'm going to be able to get the dang thing
Daniel.

not sure if you'll hate me or not but a friend helped me get my koni reds adjustables at $250 for a set of 4. that was ~3 yrs ago..

des

[Saabotaged]

Originally Posted by 1oldsaabman

the best C900 setup is Brad's adjustable springs

That's Brad over at KCSaab?

[Matthew]

Yes.

You could just buy the adjustable spring platforms, and source the springs elsewhere - cheaper. Could even get custom wound springs - they're cheap too.

[1oldsaabman]

Originally Posted by Mr_Pap

not sure if you'll hate me or not but a friend helped me get my koni reds adjustables at $250 for a set of 4. that was ~3 yrs ago..

des

When I sold them my cost was $332 for the set + shipping & I would sell them for $35

$250 is under jobber/wholesale cost

Then again, when I added the koni kit to my viggen & payed $460 for that kit which is over $100 less then jobber/wholesale.