| Author |  Topic  | |
beardydave
V4 Fan
152 Posts |  Posted - 10 May 2023 : 20:35:15  
| I'm working on Dusty's suspension prior to sending the shell to a bodyshop, and before I get it all powder coated I'm wondering if it's worth plate reinforcing the wishbones as-per SS&R versions?
The car is only a road car, I don't want it too harsh.
I've also found somewhere offering front anti-roll bars in a variety of thicknesses. Are these worth it?
All my experience up to now would say that a front heavy FWD car needs a REAR ARB, not a front. But i dont know 96s, and if the wisdom is to fit one, I'll get one and modify the wishbones to accept it before getting them painted.
And are there any other suspension mods that need doing before painting? Front and rear.
|
|
Dirtbiker
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1083 Posts | Posted - 11 May 2023 : 19:36:30
| I think the suspension arm reinforcement is mainly to protect from rock strikes but I could be wrong.
Cheers |  |
|
Iain G
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
161 Posts | Posted - 12 May 2023 : 20:45:25
| IMHO arb not really necessary for road car. Easy to fit one later if you don’t like the v4 body roll most of us enjoy. New springs make a big difference too. Most original springs very tired now.
Iain G | |
|
Derek
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2232 Posts | Posted - 13 May 2023 : 12:39:20
| | "Earlier" 96 had a front ARB, probably left over from the strokers but about 1972-3 (?), Saab deleted it and fitted heavier front springs. Please correct me if I'm wrong. | |
|
Woody
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2878 Posts | Posted - 13 May 2023 : 17:59:39
| Derek is correct. If it is a 72/+ car it may have the correct springs but snout anyway.
Check condition of wishbones and the bushes top and bottom which may need replacing.
Have not used poly bushes on a V4 yet. | |
|
beardydave
V4 Fan
152 Posts | Posted - 13 May 2023 : 20:30:27
| The suspension is getting a full strip down, de-rust, plate and powder coat, and rebuilt with new springs, ball joints, bearings and polybushes.
But before I send it off for plating and powder coat I wanted to know if it was worth plating up the wishbones as per SS&R kit, and making the modifications for fitting an ARB. | |
|
chris steeden
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
177 Posts | Posted - 14 May 2023 : 07:17:18
| | Just had a friend of mine who rallied many 96's back in the day and he advised me that under full severe yumping the lower wishbones can twist and distort. He said that his GP2 cars had the upper and lower arms plated. He was also saying that the turret bases should be plated. Don't really know what he is talking about but I'm sure people on here do. | |
|
Woody
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2878 Posts | Posted - 14 May 2023 : 10:54:18
| For rallying the cars had extra welding and a full wheelhouse kit which reinforced the turret base, upper mounts for wishbones, steering arm panel and inner wing above the turrets and the rear axle drag links. Wishbones were plated, not full length. The SS&R images are not fully clear but the bottom wishbone is plated underneath, the cross arm shaft has extra welding where it meets the wish bone sides and the shock absorber mount also has reinforcing welding. Special heat resisting bushes were used top and bottom, but under competition conditions the bushes moved in the brackets. This was solved by using Teflon washers at the outside of each bush which restricted movement.
Upper wishbone had extra welding at the cross shaft and plated on the upper side which then sat under the special reinforced spring mount needed for use with the special front spring. The mount had a bar welded at the outer side facing the ball joint which filled the space between the mount and the wishbone thus eliminating the risk of the mount collapsing on hard landings after jumps.
Had all this done on my original rally car in 1975 and had the same installed in to the Troll. Will upload images later.
For a standard car these modifications are not necessary and an anti-roll bar was deleted in 1972 as they encouraged lifting of a front wheel under hard cornering which meant loss of drive. Ok with a limited slip differential. Removal of the ARB reduced the risk so the wheels stayed on terra firma. | |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
4145 Posts | Posted - 14 May 2023 : 13:06:59
| The handling of my '70 96 with ARB was pretty terrible; replacing the springs with ones from a later car (MY74 iirc) whilst keeping the ARB has dramatically improved the ride. Other than drilling a few holes in the floor (if your car doesn't already have them), no mods are required as the ARB brackets are bolt-on.
I used a set of Lupo's ARB bushes, would love another set for my 95: http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/speedball/topic.asp?topic_id=3329&whichpage=2
www.saabv4.com | |
|
Woody
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2878 Posts | Posted - 14 May 2023 : 14:22:35
|    |
Edited by - Woody on 14 May 2023 14:28:49 | |
|
Dirtbiker
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1083 Posts | Posted - 16 May 2023 : 22:08:37
| | Melle - those ARB bushes were a good find! | |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
4145 Posts | |
Dirtbiker
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1083 Posts | Posted - 17 May 2023 : 19:42:18
| I misunderstood, I thought they were the same as a VW Lupo part!
I remember Lupo on here, based in Switzerland? Had a Jeep too? | |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
4145 Posts | Posted - 17 May 2023 : 20:00:31
| Yes, click the link above the photo of the bushes I posted.
www.saabv4.com | |
|
| | Topic | |
96 Suspension Upgrades
