9-7X Chassis Engineered to Meet Saab Driver’s Expectations

Posted on 21. Jun, 2005 by Ryan in 2000-2009, 9-7x

2005-06-21

9-7X Chassis Engineered to Meet Saab Driver’s Expectations

Saab customers expect a sporty, driver-focused experience behind the wheel. To ensure that the new 9-7X meets those expectations, the following enhancements were made to the chassis and suspension systems of GM’s award-winning midsize SUV architecture upon which the 9-7X is based:

* Ride height lowered by one inch
* Additional braces between the cross members and frame
* Firmer springs and shocks
* Stiffened and quicker steering
* Larger front anti-roll bars
* Larger brakes
* Specific Dunlop tires
* Limited-slip differential

Specifically, here is a list of characteristic Saab driving dynamics and the enhancements that were applied to the 9-7X to achieve the desired results:

Steering (for on-center feel, feedback and precision)

* Toe-in adjusted from 0.1 degrees to 0.2 degrees
* Caster increased an average of 0.5 degrees
* Revised steering valve characteristics including a larger torsion bar
* Steering gear mount stiffened from 6,000 N/mm to 9,000 N/mm
* Intermediate shaft isolator stiffened 33 percent
* New 18-inch Dunlop tires provide better stability and higher lateral stiffness
* Additional braces between cross member and frame at the front

Steering (for response and linearity)

* Steering gear ratio lowered to 18.5:1 from 20.3:1
* Steering gear mount stiffened from 6,000 N/mm to 9,000 N/mm
* New 18-inch Dunlop tires provide better stability and higher lateral stiffness
* Additional braces between cross member and frame at the front
* Front anti-roll bar diameter increased to 36 mm from 34 mm
* Revised shock absorber settings for improved body control (average 70 percent more damping at the front and 20 percent more damping at the rear in the V-8 and 40 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear in the L-6)
* Added front lower control arm bushing travel limiter

Handling (for stability)

* Toe-in adjusted from 0.1 degrees to 0.2 degrees
* Caster adjusted from 3.5 degrees to 4.0 degrees
* Steering gear mount stiffened from 6,000 N/mm to 9,000 N/mm
* New 18-inch Dunlop tires provide better stability and higher lateral stiffness
* Standard limited-slip differential

Handling (for linearity and predictability)

* Revised shock absorber settings for improved body control (average 70 percent more damping at the front and 20 percent more damping at the rear in the V-8 and 40 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear in the L-6)
* New 18-inch Dunlop tires provide better stability and higher lateral stiffness
* Front anti-roll bar diameter increased to 36 mm from 34 mm
* Rear suspension upper link bushing stiffened from 4,600 N/mm to 7,000 N/mm
* Rear suspension lower link bushings stiffened from 3,200 N/mm to 4,600 N/mm

Emergency handling

* Standard StabiliTrak
* New 18-inch Dunlop tires provide better stability and higher lateral stiffness
* Revised shock absorber settings for improved body control (average 70 percent more damping at the front and 20 percent more damping at the rear in the V-8 and 40 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear in the L-6)
* Standard air spring rear leveling
* Standard limited-slip differential
* Front anti-roll bar diameter increased to 36 mm from 34 mm
* Ride height lowered by 25 mm (approximately one inch)

Ride comfort (for body motion and control)

* Front and rear springs stiffened by 15 percent
* Revised shock absorber settings for improved body control (average 70 percent more damping at the front and 20 percent more damping at the rear in the V-8 and 40 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear in the L-6)
* Front anti-roll bar diameter increased to 36 mm from 34 mm
* Standard air spring rear leveling
* Ride height lowered by 25 mm (approximately one inch)
* Front suspension upper shock mount is stiffer by 33 percent

Brakes (improved brake performance, response time, pedal feel and travel)

* Front caliper material changed from aluminum to stiffer cast iron
* Piston diameter increased to 48 mm from 45 mm
* Brake booster diameter reduced to 240 mm from 260 mm
* Master cylinder diameter increased to 27 mm from 25.4 mm
* Brake pedal ratio reduced to 3.6:1 from 3.8:1