Hirsch, or possibly Eibach.

Pretty much every Aero owner who has put the Hirsch springs on has reported an improvement in ride comfort.

 

And a consequent reduction in wallet thickness too

 

eibachs...E10-78-003-01-22

 

I have eibach's. Quite an improvement over the aero springs in terms of cabin noise. May be a little too low, ie the car occasionally "bottoms out" (if you know what i mean) when you take a big spead bump. The increased drop looks cool -"very beautiful" were the words of the mechanic who fitted mine - although english wasn't his first language.

 

Wouldnt want to go any lower as constantly trying to avoid breaking my front spoiler as it is! Do the Hirsch lower the car?

 

The Hirsch/Eibach lower the car a tiny bit. Probably 10mm on an Aero. They quote 20mm, but that's on a standard car and the Aero is already lower as it has the sport suspension.

The quick test is to check the gap between the top of the tyre at the front and the underside of the wheel arch. With the Hirsch i can get two fingers in. On standard suspension it is a four finger gap.

 

Wouldnt want to go any lower as constantly trying to avoid breaking my front spoiler as it is! Do the Hirsch lower the car?[/b]

tbh, front spoiler damage is pretty normal in the aero...but the extra 10 mm is more difficult...with or without, no matter how careful, your never bullet proof. Its a good upgrade & I'd recommend buying a paint pen and expecting a respray now and then.

 

The Hirsch/Eibach lower the car a tiny bit. Probably 10mm on an Aero. They quote 20mm, but that's on a standard car and the Aero is already lower as it has the sport suspension.[/b]

30mm from standard

20mm (aero) sports suspension

 

Trouble with fitting aftermarket lowering springs is that may mainstream insurance companies will pass you on to their sister "performance" company and charge you a hefty premium


I can insure my '05 Aero Convertible cheaper than my previous lowered '95 2.0 Accord grandad saloon!

 

Trouble with fitting aftermarket lowering springs is that may mainstream insurance companies will pass you on to their sister "performance" company and charge you a hefty premium


I can insure my '05 Aero Convertible cheaper than my previous lowered '95 2.0 Accord grandad saloon!

[/b]

This is a very valid point. Although you may be able to get away with the 'factory fit option' if you were to use Hirsch springs maybe?

 

Curious to know why you think it's your springs that are too hard. Could it not be the dampers as these are what soak up the bumps in the road and the springs control the 3D action of the car ie rolling in corners etc

As said just curious.

Szgany

 

I got some of these a couple of months back and completely transformed the handling of my 2003 9-3 aero.

Sits about an inch lower but looks c :envy: :envy: l

 

I think the Aero looks and handles better with the Hirsch springs and isn't as harsh. Put them with Koni FSD dampers and the ride is actually quite soft to be honest. As far as insurance goes I declared my mods and the hike for my suspension changes was a zero, drilled grooved discs.... zero, dual exhaust.... you guessed it zero ! Pity the same couldn't be said for the BSR stage 1 but I felt I could live with a £60 hike !

Standard.......

Hirsch......

 

ok im getting confused now (USA have scored, thats confusing enough). I have another thread for comments on Konis and bushes. Is there a suggestion on here that the hirsch springs along with the stock dampers will improve the ride about town? potholes etc. Basically although the Koni/hirsch spring package is the best, if youre a bit light on the wonga would the springs alone be a good upgrade?...or are the dampers the more important part of the equation?

 

I think you will find positive comments on here about just changing the springs improving the ride. Hirsch or Eibach. The anti roll bar bush thread is about the crunching/scraping noise over speed bumps especially in the cold weather.....they will carry on crunching no matter what suspension set up is on the car.

 

Is the consensus that you shouldn't put new springs on your standard old shocks? I've read a number of comments that make this argument but I don't see the issue?

 

Shock absorbers last quit well these days (maybe not the rears on a 9-5though....) so, unless you have a huge mileage on your 9-3, the springs alone may be OK.

 

My 93 has done 42k so I'm tempted to give the Eibach springs a go on their own. Would like the Koni FSD shocks too but it starts getting a bit expensive then.

 

Our car is at 40,000 now and the Hirsch springs have been on the car for half its life and it's fine.

 

Got my Hirsch Springs off ebay. Brand New in the box, just tell them what model it's for. From what I can remember I paid a little less than the current price of £199

Hirsch Springs

 

looking through all these posts and reading the Hirsch site and others. A spring upgrade is all that is needed on the Aero. It already has the Saab sport setup, and Hirsch say that its hard to beat that. For 150-160 coins the Eibach kit takes my fancy.

BMWLEE...You say the ride is too harsh, don't go for lighter springs. The 207R engine has oversized parts as opposed to the other engines in the 9-3 range therefore is heavier.