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Friends on the board:
About 19-20 months ago, I posted a message(s) about my purchase of replacement rear shocks for my 1999 SE V6. One of the original OEs had become soft and the imbalance caused an annoying sideways skitter of the rear end over small sharp bumps... especially when bummp was only at one wheel not both sides.
Based on this BB comments, I imported Bilstein HD rear shocks to Winnipeg and installed them in late fall. I was thrilled at first but when it got very cold in Dec and the frost bumps and heaves appeared in the roads, I found the ride a bit less than comfortable. My route to work was particularily bad and I'm not a morning person; so this probably bugged me more than it should have. I LOVED the Bilsteins in every other respect.
I then bought a fresh set of OE shocks and put them on and wrote to the BB that this was the way to go in cold climates with crappy roads like here. That was then. The Bilsteins got put away in the garage.
Fast forward to now... about a month ago, I became aware of the old sideways skippy feeling from the rear end over sharp small bumps. Since then I've pulled the OE shocks and, sure enough, with manual stroking of the shocks, I could feel one noticably weaker than the other. Damn, those didn't last very well!
I popped the Bilsteins back on and... I was stunned how fantastic the car felt! A transformation frankly. I am now prepared to be a bit more forgiving in the frigid winter with these babies. The ride and stability are wonderful in the warmth of summer and I simply won't go back. Based on the poor life of the OE rear shocks, and my "re-experience" with the Bilstein HDs, I must retract my earlier comments and give the Bilsteins my heartiest endorsement.
BTW, I also have fitted the Aero sway-bar upgrade from site sponsor genuinesaab.com and Powerflex urethane front control arm and rear trailing arm bushings, new Zimmerman front rotors from another sponsor, eEuroparts, and Aekebono Euro ultra-premium ceramic pads from the Tire Rack, the car is absolutely wonderful to drive now. I've also just had the 96,000 km (60,000 mile) service done incl. the timing belt tensioner and pulleys, but that's another post later!
Good Saabing Folks!
posted by 142.161.2...
, Wed, 31 Aug 2005 12:21:14
, Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:24:49
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