1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
This has been discussed before, but not often. No known products.
The shock towers contain shocks and springs. So there are no lateral loads, just vertical. So when cornering, there will be no defection that in turn effects the rear axle geometry. Rear axle defection has two components. One is the twisting of the semi-live axle it self. That can be dealt with very cost effectively with an SAS rear sway bar for $125+shipping. The other component is the compliance of the two rubber bushings that carry the axle. There are no know urethane replacements that I am aware of. But such would probably reduce the deflection of the axle to the point where the steering would feel very dead. The springs do control how much the body rolls relative to the axle, and that has a great effect on the front steering and changes the effective differential camber, but thats another complex story and beyond my abiltiy to properly describe.
So bracing the rear shock towers would have very little benefit, if any, for steering etc. Perhaps you were interested in simply stiffening the whole rear body to reduce body twist. A simple bar across the towers would do nothing at all to stiffen the rear of the body. You would need to have an X frame built. As there are shocks only, there are no fasteners to up at the strut tops. So you would be welding in or drilling and bolting in four points, and one in the middle might be good too. If you drill, you will need very tighe clearances to the bolts, and backing plates etc. I can see that these would creak if there was any degree of freedom in the fasteners. All of this would destroy the functioanlity of the fold down seats. But perhaps the anchors that the seats lock into at the top can be used as the upper strutural attachment points. But I can see little point to such a stifening frame. The steerring benefits are so
well effected by springs, shocks, bushings and steering rack stuff, that a rear frame brace woudl seem totally silly unless you has all of the other stuff done already. And the benefit after that woudl seem quite minor and probably woudl only have merit in autocross or rally driving.
If you want to experience some chassis deflection, take a soft top out for a spin!
I would try pushing the hatch down whiel unlocking and see of that helps while unlockoing, then lift. Then try lifting while unlocking etc.
posted by 65.68.101...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |