9-7x: Lifted vs. non-lifted

[Mooseman]

When I bought the Saab, it came with a 2.5" suspension lift. The rear bags had already been changed to springs. The rear shocks were stock and unaltered so they were extended to their limit even with the weight of the truck. It was an old kit, everything was rusty and the front mount bushings were shot. Looks like a MarkMC from the looks of the rear springs cups. The front mounts don't look like anything he or anybody else is selling.

When it was lifted, I didn't care for it much and found the ride to be harsh. My wife had a hard time getting in and it just looked goofy because this is not a 4x4. It's a Saab.

Anyway, here's a before shot before being un-lifted:



And after:




In all honesty, what these trucks deserve is to be lowered because it still looks too high to me. It's almost level, just an inch higher at the rear of the rocker panel vs. the front. I got it aligned right after and the toe was out, of course.

PS: Anybody that uses a Pitman arm puller on the stud should use a bolt in the Allen hole. One stud got deformed, mushrooming the threads and destroying the nut when I tried to put it on. The other one got deformed too but not as bad and I was able to fix the threads with a file. The other I had to grind down and file after finding a replacement nut.

 

[dmanns67]

Don't think I have ever seen a Saab lifted. Too much gap in the wheel well when lifted. Definitely looks better lowered, but I think you're right it could be lowered more.

The second pic that you posted, is that the stock height for the Saab?

 

[Mounce]

Are those tires a little under stock size?

They look kinda small (short) even in the after pic.

 

[Mooseman]

It's basically all stock, including wheels and tires (255 55R18) unless the wrong springs were used but I can't imagine a spring any stronger than those for a V8 in front. Rears are a mystery since they are not stock but if the front are correct, then the rear looks fine.

 

[Mooseman]

Here a stock picture I found. Mine still does look a bit higher than that.

 

[felicie]

It looks a couple of inches to high, how about a 1 2 drop form stock high?

 

[gmcman]

Looks better lowered but I agree it still looks lifted slightly.

 

[Mooseman]

Yeah, who knows what the previous owner did to it. I'll leave it for now. Could be a mod later on.

 

[RedRocketZ28]

I agree the Saab's look better lowered. I'd like to lower my Rainier a bit as well and get a new wheel/tire combo, but that will have to wait.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

It's basically all stock, including wheels and tires (255 55R18) unless the wrong springs were used but I can't imagine a spring any stronger than those for a V8 in front. Rears are a mystery since they are not stock but if the front are correct, then the rear looks fine.

There are stronger than v8 springs and they may have been swapped in. I could see you finding some SS take-offs or something to get a nice clean slightly lower stance. Wonder if Tony could help you find some since he sells all the lowering stuff and you would probably as well with SS stocker stuff.

 

[Mooseman]

Don't know who "Tony" is but if he's based in the US, it wouldn't make economic sense for me to buy and ship to Canada. With our Canadian peso not doing so well lately, I'd just buy locally or on Amazon Canada for new stuff.

Checked the parts numbers on RockAuto and seems that only the ACDelco Professional has the parts specific to the SS and 9-7x since both use the same suspension parts. Anyway, until I replace my rusty hood and have the body fixed up, I'm not going to modify the suspension further.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Tony is the guy that sells all the lowering kits and arms and such. NorcalSS. Does the repo wheels as well.

I was thinking he may know someone swapping his suspension in and you could buy theirs...might even be in Canada.

 

[Blckshdw]

As best I can tell, the SS comes with air bags in the rear stock. I've been keeping tabs on the classifieds section of SSOwners to see if anyone who had maybe swapped stock height springs in to replace their bags, decided to go lower, and wanted to unload their stock height springs. That way I could use them for a small bit of lowering and level my truck for a bargain. Crickets man, crickets...

 

[Mooseman]

Even rarer up here

 

[24v 4.2]

Before I lowered my tb I was looking at some moog airbag replacement springs listed for the SS.

I never confirmed the height, but in theory if they are stock SS height for the rear, they should level a regular tb.

Edit: Here they are on amazon, if someone wants to take the plunge for $50 and let everyone know.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/compatibility-chart/B003YMHDC4/ref=au_pf_dp_chart

 

[Blckshdw]

Edit: Here they are on amazon, if someone wants to take the plunge for $50 and let everyone know.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/compatibility-chart/B003YMHDC4/ref=au_pf_dp_chart

I know that was meant for me.

Mod bug is considering it...

 

[Mooseman]

Well, I can get those through Amazon.ca. Can anybody confirm the Moog part number for the front? Moog 81116 seems to be correct but I can't get them from Amazon.ca.

 

[24v 4.2]

I know that was meant for me.

Mod bug is considering it...

I would never incite a mod bug....

 

[Mooseman]

Using body lines and the center hub caps as reference points between my pic and the stock photo, they look to be the same or close to it. I might just leave well enough alone, at least until the mod bug bites

 

[Tiggerr]

Well, I can get those through Amazon.ca. Can anybody confirm the Moog part number for the front? Moog 81116 seems to be correct but I can't get them from Amazon.ca.

Rock auto shows 81116 for the Saab 6cyl. Strangely enough they show the 81110 for the Saab V8.
Which is the same spring (81110) for my 6cyl Rainier. 2wd though. They show 81112 for the AWD 6 cyl Rainier.
Thought that was odd.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I think on Ortb most of the Moog crossover spring rates can be found

 

[therealsethallen]

Old post. But I'm doing a TB spring conversion on my 9-7x, just to get an inch or so more clearance. Lots of dirt roads where I live, and I do enjoy a good backroads drive every now and again, plus a little more clearance won't hurt.

 

[farmer2030]

Hey @ all

I want to raise my 9-7x front. the rear is already higher thanks to the air suspension. what do you think of this set?

http://r.ebay.com/3yOMPm

Sorry for my bad english. Is google

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

NO......NO NO

Those are dangerous due to extending the strut length

 

[farmer2030]

Ok thank ou very much for the warning.
I did not know that. what would you recommend?

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

check out theliftmeister.com

 

[Mooseman]

If all you want to do is equalize front and rear, why not just lower the rear to match the front? Easy by adjusting the rear air ride sensors.

 

[Instrumental]

I put Monroe 271341 quickstruts from RockAuto on my Saab a month or so ago. I was cautiously optimistic that they would keep the Saab ride height as that model is ONLY listed for Saab, none of the other GMTs. Sadly, I now have a stock height SaabBlazer. I had hoped it would settle down after a bit, but now go. I kept my old springs to maybe swap out at some point, but I'm not feeling quite that motivated lately.

It does look a little funny at this height, but I don't notice a significant difference in the ride. The stock equipment had 135,000 miles on it, so really needed to go. With pothole insanity in Michigan right now, maybe the extra height is a good thing...

 

[farmer2030]

@Mooseman I would like more ground clearance. but how can you adjust the rear sensors?

@Instrumental thanks for the tip. I will look at it

 

[farmer2030]

Oh thank you. only for what am I deciding now?

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

You just turn the sensors.

You will want to upsize the tires for ground clearance and if you go over 30.5 diameter you will want offset wheels or spacer/adapters.

 

[farmer2030]

I do not really want to go off-road. only a little higher up front

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

You can simply swap springs then

 

[farmer2030]

Ok perfect. Thank you

 

[farmer2030]

if I take the Monroe 271341, how much higher will it be?

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Depends what springs you have stock. Should be a tag on them

 

[farmer2030]

If I understand correctly, it is the series shock absorber / springs

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Huh? There were several stock spring rates used. The saab typically was lower than others, but without the before and after data to compare, it is a guess.

 

[farmer2030]

Sorry
OK. I try to find the exact data. thanks a lot

 

[Instrumental]

I don't have a specific number on the height increase with the Monroes, but to my eye it looks just like the Trailblazer and Envoy. Maybe a smidgen lower, but certainly not the low slung Saab look.