upgrade front brake for NG900

satha · Dec 4, 2003

Hi

I am a saab owner from Thailand. I currently own 900SE turbo (1995) and 9000CD (for my wife). I have modified my 900SE: TD04 and intercooler from Viggen, 3 inch free flow exhaust and Maptun stage 3. The performance is great. However its performance may be limited by the fuel (95 octane) and hot weather. Johnny from Maptun said, from this condition I should get around 260-270 hp. Now I would like to upgrade the front brake. Using one from AP racing or Breambo may be too expensive. Is it possible to apply the front brake set from Viggen or 9-5 Aero to my 900SE. The car is 1995 model). This is much cheaper compared with AP or breambo. I can have any required fitting machined.

burre · Dec 4, 2003

I am pretty sure you can use the Viggen brakes. I am not entirely sure , but I know Marky and a few others know what you'll need. Also, as a in between or a permanent fix, is simply going to better fade resistant pads such as Hawk HPS, Ferodo DS2500 and others.

And welcome to Saabscene!

kprm77 · Dec 4, 2003

Welcome to SaabScene

maartenvandorst · Dec 4, 2003

Welcome to Saabscene!

TD04, Viggen intercooler, 3" exhaust, reprogrammed ECU.........very nice specs for a NG900

Early NG900 models have slightly different brakes. All upgrades available are for '96 on.
This week I've asked several people about the exact differences. If I get an answer I'll let you know.
It's obvious the backplate and discs are smaller on a '95 900, but that's not the issue since they will be replaced.
Just like you, I'd like to know why a big brake upgrade won't fit a '95 900.

On >'96 models, even Porsche brakes will fit

ERP · Dec 4, 2003

Hi 270HP, your NG900 has the same upgrades as mine. I dyno’d at 270 crank hp with the same setup but SQR software. I’ve also looked into the front brake upgrade for my 1996. The problem is the hub, it is larger on the later models. If you want to upgrade to the Viggen brakes you will need a new hub and they are a bit expensive, around $200 each if I remember correctly. Check out my website for lots of other upgrades.

Eric's Saab Site

Eric

maartenvandorst · Dec 4, 2003

Thanks ERP, that was exactly the information I was looking for.

An upgrade for an early NG900 will be several hundreds of euros more than on other Saab models

doons · Dec 9, 2003

hi everyone, i own a 96 abbott set coupe and have been thinking about possible brake upgrades for the future since i've gone down the abbott route, (i had experience with brake fade aswell which was a bit scary!).

i was looking at past posts when this one really caught my eye

maarten (900 hirsch)

i was really interested in the image you posted about the porsche brake upgrade, do you hav any more info on that?, which porsche brakes fit and do they bolt straight on??

cheers for any info

thanks

haydn

maartenvandorst · Dec 10, 2003

A friend had the Porsche brakes fitted to his 387

hp 9-3. I've experienced the stopping power and it's amazing.

IIRC the brakes are from a GT2. Porschefreaks like MarkA will be able to tell you wether this is right or wrong. The brakes probably won't bolt straight on.

john · Dec 10, 2003

Some time ago, Hirsch performance used to use Porsche components for their brake upgrades.

markcanderson · Dec 10, 2003

The brakes are probably more likely 911 993 Twin Turbo brakes. (same as on my RS2). 322MM cross drilled disc, 2 piece 4 pot brembo calipers to a modified Porsche design.

The only problem I see with these big brake conversions is in light of what I read in an article I posted here last week.

http://www.saabscene.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimat...c;f=23;t=000566

Talking about, for example the fitting of a set of large 4 pot calipers with high performance compound pads on a set of big rotors to a car whose ABS system was factory calibrated to have deceleration values based upon modest sized single pot calipers with street pads and smaller rotors. - How this situation would confuse the hell out of ABS and in emergency situations actually lengthen stopping time.

maartenvandorst · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by MarkA:
[qb]The only problem I see with these big brake conversions is in light of what I read in an article I posted here last week.

http://www.saabscene.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimat...c;f=23;t=000566
[/qb][/b]

The theory might be applicable on ESP equipped cars which have a steering angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor, and a lateral/longitudinal accelerometer.

ABS systems like the one on my 900, probably just reduce braking power when a wheel blocks. Right now on a dry road I have trouble reaching the point where ABS starts working. The brakes are just too small

Eric van Spelde · Dec 10, 2003

Hmmm, at 1,325 kgs or so your car is not particularly heavy so methinks the 288 mm discs should be OK when a 1,470 kgs 9000 Aero makes do 280 x 25 discs up front (and still set a record 34,9 m from 100 km/h in an Auto Zeitung comparo - what kind of pad compound are you using right now?

maartenvandorst · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by Eric van Spelde:
[qb]What kind of pad compound are you using right now? [/qb][/b]

Ferodo DS2500

Maybe I'm just not applying enough force to the pedal

burre · Dec 10, 2003

I agree with EvS on this one. You should have no problem getting in the ABS in the dry. Put your ass into it, man! Although I noticed, as expected, that if you have grippy enough tires, it just takes that much more pedal pressure to get the ABS going in the dry.

Anyways, about the ABS not working well with too large of brake upgrade, I have heard the same of what Mark reported. The first time I heard it was from Keith Maddock, who is a engineer for TRW in Cologne, and an avid Ring driver.

markcanderson · Dec 10, 2003

Keith Maddock, who is a engineer for TRW in Cologne, and an avid Ring driver. [/b]

Yeah, he should know.. after all he designs anti-lock and ESP systems for cars...

Eric van Spelde · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by Maarten (900 Hirsch):
[qb]Maybe I'm just not applying enough force to the pedal

[/qb][/b]

Don't laugh - that might apply to 9 out of 10 drivers at least. A couple of years back I took part in a track event for Audi TT drivers where one of the 'exercises' we got before venturing on the track (in groups) was ABS braking. I was surprised at the kind of violence we were taught to 'attack' the middle pedal with - basically it involved dropping your right leg on the pedal with all your might. I got the hang of it pretty quickly (after apologizing beforehand to the owner of the car who sat besides me, as we were doing this with two people in one car), but for soem of the others it took three or four runs before their rreaction was deemed 'acceptable'...
It's a bit counterintuitive as we have been taught to be as fluid and progressive (as opposed to sudden and hamfisted) with the controls as possible, and the natural thing is to extend that to your braking (not such a bad thing with non-ABS brakes, though ).

Marky · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by Eric van Spelde:
[qb]Hmmm, at 1,325 kgs or so your car is not particularly heavy so methinks the 288 mm discs should be OK when a 1,470 kgs 9000 Aero makes do 280 x 25 discs up front [/qb][/b]

The 288 mm discs are the 9-3 spec discs. A 1994-1996 900 uses smaller discs. I don't know their size, but if you compare both, the difference is HUGE!

Marc

Eric van Spelde · Dec 10, 2003

Not smaller than the 280 x 23.5 mm Classic 900 (1988-'93) discs, though, I might hope??

Marky · Dec 10, 2003

Here a few pictures:

94-96 900:

9-3 288mm:

9-3 Viggen 308mm:

maartenvandorst · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by Eric van Spelde:
[qb]Not smaller than the 280 x 23.5 mm Classic 900 (1988-'93) discs, though, I might hope?? [/qb][/b]

Front:

To model '96 it's 284 x 24
From model '97 it's 288 x 25

Rear:

To model '96 it's 260 x 10
From model '97 it's 286 x 10

upgrade front brake for NG900

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