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Installed Saab Roadhandling kit this weekend Posted by Rod [Email] ![]() ![]() |
This was a present to myself with a bonus I got in August. It's been sitting in my garage waiting for a free weekend, which I finally got. I had been happy with my 95CSE's handling until my wife got a 98, which has the aero supension, and I saw what I was missing.
The fronts were a piece of cake - undo 5 bolts, drop the struts and replace. The rears were a different story. The infamous bolt holding the lower shock and sway bar was every bit as bad as I've read in the archives. I thought I would be able to beat it out by removing the rotors and hubs, but all I did was bend the ears on the axle. I tried cutting the bolts with a sawzall but I went through 4 blades without making much of an impression on the bolts. In the end I cut the shocks off which gave me enough space to get in there with an air cut off tool. It was slow but it worked. After that the replacement wasn't too bad (I got to use my harbor freight hydraulic press to insert the shock and sway bar bushings - went well with more tips picked up from the board!).
I haven't driven much yet but i've noticed a big difference already. The ride is much firmer, but not harsh. The cornering is significantly better. Being 11 years old with 142,000 miles on it, my CSE would probably have benefited from new shocks and springs anyway, but I think the extra $$$ for the roadhandling kit was money well spent (not much more than a month's payment on a new car, right?).
Anyway, I think it's a good investment for anybody who wants to improve the handling of their 9k. Hmmm..what next I wonder???
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