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Bob,
I've done a bunch of upgrades to my '97 SETC. On the suspension end, I started with Abbott springs, then 215/45/17 Bridgestone S02 Pole Position tires on Borbet Type T 17x8's, then the Abbott steering rack mount/brace and finally this weekend, Abbott poly TCA bushings. I live in the Boston, MA area, where the roads tend to be less than ideal. Here are my impressions:
SPRINGS: Absolutely recommend. You give up some suspension compliance over very rough roads, but well worth the trade off for the reduction in body roll in cornering, and more importantly (and surprisingly) better acceleration. The Abbott rears are stiffer, so there is dramatically less squat when accelerating, effectively eliminating wheelspin. Even with the Abbott trionic, and freebreathing intake and exhaust.
WHEELS & TIRES: Absolutely recommended. I can't say enough about the S02's. Without a doubt, the best performance tire I've ever driven, wet or dry. Frightening amount of grip in corners, resulting in amazing cornering ability. So much so, that you could probably get away with 205/55/16's rather than going +1 to the 215/45/17's. I'm happy I went with the 17's though. Steering response is probably a little better, and the car looks right, with the wheel wells nice and full :)
RACK MOUNT: Undecided. I've always been looking to improve steering response, and this was one step. I'm sill not convinced it really does enough to help. I sure that it does, but I'm not sure that the $$/value tradeoff if favorable.
TCA BUSHINGS: Absolutely recommeded if you add power. These really do work. They eliminate the car's tendency to wander under full power (what most folks mistakenly call torque steer). The better tires helped, but these really do the job. I've only driven the car hard once, since I finished the installation on Saturday, but I was amazed. Well worth it! I can't wait to drive to the office this AM :)
Follow the link, and call or email Ed Abbott (ed@abbottracing.com). Tell him I recommended you contact him. I chatted him up and picked his brain over dinner at the Saab convention this summer. Great guy, knows his stuff, and tells it like it is. Abbott's stuff isn't the cheapest, but IMO, it is the best.
Dan Tucker
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