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Re: 2002 9-3 performance upgrades
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Posted by Dean (more from Dean) on Sun, 9 Jan 2005 07:15:51 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: 2002 9-3 performance upgrades, DJS, Sat, 8 Jan 2005 21:00:37
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The heavy rear sway bar will yield the best bang for the buck of any mod and is cheap and easy to DIY install. So that is a good first mod.

Shorter springs on tired shocks is a bad combination as the shocks now have to absorb shock energy in a shorter stroke (before hitting the bump stops). And given that changing the springs is so very close to all of the same work to change the shocks, all the more reason to do both at the same time.

As long as we are considering shorter springs... One of the 'weaknesses' of this front suspesion design is the limited vertical travel. When you use lower springs, there is even less travel left in the strut before hitting the bump stops. You can but off the bump stops at the point where the lower bit narrows and then gets bigger again. That removes perhaps a bit over 1" of the bump stops and increases the travel that the shocks can control with dampening. Worked very well for me, a few others have done this, but many do not venture beyond wrench level mods and are not inclined to mod anything themselves.

You do not need to upgrade the brakes to go with the ECU mod, as you will not be driving faster, just having more fun getting to speed. If you plan on X-cross that is an other matter. Better bake pads are very affordable. If your rotors are worn out, then more serious brake upgrades can be considered as these are then only cost plus over work that you need to get done anyways. Some find the noise of slotted/dimpled/drilled rotors objectionable, others do not.

After the rear sway bar, I would do steering rack brace then bushings before shocks and springs or brakes. But if the shocks are worn out, then that changes. GenuineSaab.com has an poly bushing to connect the two control arms that is superior to anything else. MP performance has the best price on rack brace hardware. GenunineSaab.com has a 6 point subframe brace that has had some very good reports. I would do the control arms before the subframe brace as replacing rubbery bits will yield more control improvement than reducing the deflections of steel that does not move that much anyways.

Suspension mods can make a very big difference in handling that you will enjoy all of the time. Not cheap, but very effective. But note that all of the limits of handling start to shift to the tires and your skill levels. A tire upgrade may need consideration. And with 17" wheels, bent wheels become a risk. By cutting back the front bump stops you protect the wheels by increasing shock controlled vertical travel. If your roads suck, consider sticking with the stock springs. Having great suspension mods and shaking bent wheels is not a great result. And if you have conditions that lead to bent wheels, then there is no reason not to expect new or repaired wheels to also get bent. Higher tire pressures do provide some protection to the wheel rims.

All comments here apply to the NG900's as well. But most of the details here do not apply to the 2003+ 9-3, different beast that I am not familiar with.

Got a low restiction intake filter?

posted by 68.95.7...
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