Shortened struts for low 240's

I know that there are alot of people that want to have a pretty low ride height and not be bottoming out. I realize this still doesnt fix roll center problems or bump steer issues(I havent had any bumpsteer problems for some reason).so after rolling around for quite a while lowered pretty low and on blown out struts I figured it was time for something new. I bought some monroe gas charged struts that were around $49 bucks each. I might upgrade to a better insert later but at least I know it works now. the valving seems to be fairly close to the original strut cartriges as well.

I found that a strut insert from a 1997 saab 900 series was 2 1/4 inches shorter shock body wise and 1 inch shorter rod wise.
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so i had some strut housings cut down 2 1/4 inches and welded em back together.
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here are some measurements for yous to look at. the strut rod end that goes through the upper strut mount( which is the same size AND thread pitch as the volvo ones)
original, <a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/?action=view&current=SUNDAY12-21-08093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/SUNDAY12-21-08093.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
new,<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/?action=view&current=SUNDAY12-21-08094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/SUNDAY12-21-08094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

shock body measurement,
original, <a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/?action=view&current=SUNDAY12-21-08087.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/SUNDAY12-21-08087.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
new, <a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/?action=view&current=SUNDAY12-21-08088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/SUNDAY12-21-08088.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

difference, rod length,
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travel length,<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/?action=view&current=SUNDAY12-21-08091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/CHRIS80GT/SUNDAY12-21-08091.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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I found that the volvo strut housings measure about 46.7 mm. the saab strut inserts fit with a little room to spare still as the volvo cartriges were actually pretty loose in the housings. i will post pics of the car tomorrow as it is almost 1 am. as I post this, but the car is real low and DOESNT bottom out!

good work, you won't really get bump steer issues, the steering rack on these matches the control arms pretty wheel. the problem they talk about is the roll center and the decreasing negative camber on bumps

yes!

Moar pics!

nice seeing this is an alot less work way of doing it!. do you just had to shorten the tubes!? no making the glande nut larger! now i really wana dewz it!

That's full of win!

I'm sure you can get konis or something good for a '97 saab eh?

Awesome writeup! What springs are you using with that setup?

can get bilsteins for sure, probably konis as well. springs are 10 inch freelength 2 1/2 inch QA1 250# rate. (too soft!). yes no gland nut issues cause the factory strut housing just gets cut down and you reuse the factory gland nut. where the weld is acts as a stop for my 7 inch coleman sleeves. heres some part numbers as well,

1997 saab 900 2dr. hatchback, monroe insert number, ns73264ss

1997 saab 900 2dr. hatchback, kyb insert number, k366010

something else to add is that the kyb's body diameter is real close to the strut housing size. I didnt try to install a kyb but it measured 46.5 or something so it would be close.

neat, what is the travel of the inserts? how much travel up and down do you have as installed?

I almost went this route, but ended up going with the Koni race inserts instead, I'll have to find the dimensions, but I am sure the rods are a few inches shorter as well, so you might still bottom out depending on how low you go.

very cool!! i got a 91 244 i want to do that to!! cool that somebody took matters in their own hands and actually figured something out.

Seven inches of travel total. about 2 1/2 inches of compression still and 4 1/2 of droop with a 23" front wheel well measurement and 21" rear wheel measurement. I have hit exhaust header pipe three times now so it's pretty low. also have 4 1/2 coils cut or more in the back to give you an idea. control arm angle in front is also pretty extreme.
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mueller, in the seventh pic above, you can see how much shorter the saab strut is overall. look where the upper strut mount bolts on, sooo much shorter than stock! I dont think I'll be going lower cause it allready hits exhaust and the rear is on the brink of hitting driveline to floor pan.

Woo! That's just about as low as my car is right now with the same setup. Good to see more people doing this!

Pretty slick. Looks easy enough as well. I might have to utilize this along with a spacer bolted between the strut and the balljont to level the control arms and fix the roll center. Thanks for another piece of the puzzle.

^^ Don't forget the tie rod spacers too!

Your car looks fantastic man, I just noticed the cage. You've gotta be reeeeeal low to tuck virgos like that!

damn that ****'s low...scrapin' mudflaps over pebbles

yeah! it's low fo sho! mudflaps scrape with ease!

****s gangster

whats the absolute lowest it can go before its on bumpstops now?

I would say probably about 21 inches to the top of the front wheel well. that would leave roughly a inch or so clearance under the car at the lowest point, maybe less at the exhuast end of things. I dont think you could get the back as low cause the driveline or diff would hit.