I have not done this yet, however Paul H has. I have all the parts to do it, it's going to be one of my next projects.

 

i thought paul did the entire setup...axles hubs, discs etc...looks like he just did the calipers?

im debating which to do with the spg now cuz i know the pre 87 brakes kinda sucked...

 

Yep I only did the front calipers :wink:

 

instead of making a new thread, ill just post in here. I have a question about brakes. I have a 87' SPG that needs a complete overhaul. I wanted to purchase some of swedish dynamics slotted rotors/ ceramic pads. only problem is they are ment for post 88' brakes. my question is: is it a direct replacement( besides making the bracket for the brake line) for my SPG?

 

Blast from the past...

I do not think it is a direct replacement as the handbrake went from the front to the rear in 87-88 transition.

 

I did this modification on my old 85 C900T It worked really well I completely swapped hubs with a 89 c900 and put on a set of cross drilled rotors and calipers from a 9000, and For the rear axle I swapped the entire thing from a 89 SPG this way I also now had sway-bars on the front and the rear and was running a set of super aero's. The only part i didn't get to is running the rear parking brake cables because The early cars don't have the holes in the rear floor. I got rid of the car before I had a change to cut them out of the doner car and put them in. You have to be sure when you do the rear axle that you have a doaner one that has the same # of main suply brake lines going to it. There are earlier ones 88 and some 89s that have 1 main suply line and then split into 2 and go the the rear calipers and there are later ones that have 2 suply lines going to the axle and then each goes to one of the calipers. Hope this helps

 

Here is a link to my Thread of the 85

http://www.saablink.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44755

 

Is it absolutely necessary to swap over hubs to do his brake conversion? Maybe I missed it in your thread cruzer. I'll skim over it again.

Thanks for the replies!

 

You need to swap over hubs b/c of the e-brake being on the front vs the rear as mentioned in my previous post. Have you checked out fixmysaab?
http://www.twinsaabs.com/900_repair/brakes/9000_brakes.asp

 

Ok so if you need to change hubs, I'm geussing that the ebrake is located inside the rotor hat. I was thinking it was mounted on the caliper.

 

The e-brake is just a spring mechanism for the brake pads on the later model. I believe the actual hubs/calibers were redesigned, the e brake just is the most distinguishing feature that changed. The dimensions are off for the hubs (spindles are different lengths), which require a complete swap. If you want to upgrade, you'll need to swap...

 

Ok, I don't see why you would have to change hubs. The ebrake wouldn't reach the 87' hub? I'll have to check it out to get a visual. I have a brake line that needs fixing backthere anyway.

 

88- rotors just plain and simple will not go on pre 88 hubs. Same reason 88- wheels don't fit pre 88 cars.....holes no liney. Swap it all. It sucks to do, but well worth it the first time you hit the brakes in reverse. And you will need new wheels too.

 

Ahhhhh, I got it. Well, does anyone have any post 88' hubs they want to sell/ trade? I'm a little dissapointed. I did not know you have to change hubs. I geuss the SPG isn't going to be on the road for a while

 

Getting back to the late model 900s, what is the advantage of this upgrade, samberlong? I'm assuming it's larger pads/swept area, as it looks like it's still a single piston calliper. Do you have numbers, and how has stopping performance improved?

I thought I'd read somewhere that the (late model = rear handbrake?) 900s used the 9000 brakes anyway, but I could be wrong. Any clarifications from those who know, much appreciated.

 

I thought I'd read somewhere that the (late model = rear handbrake?) 900s used the 9000 brakes anyway, but I could be wrong. Any clarifications from those who know, much appreciated.

88+ c900 Brakes are all the same - They are NOT the same as 9000 Brakes*. Installing 9000 brakes which are 88 - 98 is a logical upgrade.

*1986 & 87 9000's have the SAME calipers as the c900's - so don't get those

 

Ah shit, I'm going to need post 88' areo rims to. Damn. I might just keep the brake system it has. Of corse I'm still replacing every damn brake component. I've been talking to Gary from Swedish dynamics, he's going to see if he can get a package together for the pre 88' system.

 

Thanks for the clarification, BurnsSide42, much appreciated. Just what is the advantage the 9000 callipers? Do they provide a larger pad/swept area, or are there other/different benefits? TIA

 

Yes, larger pad, slightly larger/thicker rotor. No real diff other than that, like was mentioned, still a single piston caliper, though the piston is slightly larger on the late 9k brakes.

Paul

 

Thanks Paul, much appreciated. The OP is using the original rotors, so I assume that's an option even though the pads are larger.

Is this upgrade really advantageous compared to say going to ceramic front pads on 900 callipers? Would ceramics and 9000 callipers be the ultimate, or do we reach the point of diminishing returns with the ceramic pads?

 

I'm running 9000 brembos, and PBR/Axxis ceramic pads, its good, probably what they should have come with from the factory, but admittedly I'm a bit of a hard user. They do bring the car from 140 down to normal highway speeds quite nicely though :lol:. Hard to say if its worth doing if you need to buy the calipers, but if you can get a set from a junkyard, the other brake parts are about the same price as the c900 stuff, so its definitely worth doing.

Paul

 

Thanks again Paul; I found and have PBR ceramics for the rear, but hadn't found any ceramics for the front, PBR or otherwise. Now I have. I'm trying ATE rotors and hope they perform as well as they look. (Out of six white box Chinese rotors, I found one that was true! )

I've had ceramics on another car before, and was very impressed by both performance and lifespan, plus reduced dusting is a bonus. I don't drive too too hard, but want to be able to stop short when i need to; it's far to late then to say 'D@mn! I shoulda...'

I do know where there's a 9000 close by, but don't yet know which year. If it's still got its callipers (who else would need them in this few-Saab town?), and they're of the proper year(s), then they deserve to have and should have, an appreciative new owner...

I looked at the front seats too, but they don't fold, as I need them to for the convertible

Thanks again for your info.

 

Another thing to keep in mind - 9000 Calipers often do not like sitting and not being used - i've had to rebuild a few over the years - but the rebuild kits are like $15 and it's a good time to clean them up REAL nice and paint them off the car. I just had to replace my front calipers on my 95' last Fall because I had the car sitting in "storage" for several months - the right front locked up and I pulled another used set and rebuilt them. Brakes are 100% again - aside my cheap PBR Delux pads (which suck at higher speeds)

 

Thanks all, and this is hopefully my last question...

Does the stock 15 x 5.5 wheel fit over the 9000 callipers, or does a wheel upgrade become part of the plan?

I found a clear write-up for the calliper upgrade here on the Townsend 'Fix My Saab' site; with a lot of other useful info on the site too!

ps after re-reading your earlier reply Paul, is that 140 'mph', judging by your location? (quick mental arithmetic.... ) that's 224 kph!!!! What rpm? Any gearbox mod to give 'long legs'?

 

No need for bigger wheels, though the spare doesnt really fit over the calipers, and the 9000 spare doesn't fit in a c900 trunk, not a huge deal as it still fits in the back, but something to be aware of. Yeah, 140mph, stock #7 primary trans is right around 135-140 at 6krpms, depending on tire size, a stock 900t won't pull all the way to redline though, need a bit more boost.

Paul

 

Or jack the back up, change out the good wheel for the spare, then jack the front up take off the bad wheel and replace with the one from the back.

 

so....
a) 5.5x15s fit over 9000 callipers
b) tire rotation still works, and
c) carry a full size spare.... possibly under the trunk floor? if you need to carry groceries that is...

Never did like Mickey Mouse spares, anyway

Thanks all for your clarifications and input; those last little insights were invaluable!

Paul , I figured about 6k, if it was a stock trans; do you cruise at that without any problems, or use it just for when you need it 'passing by'?

 

Wait, I thought I would need a 9000 disk for this mod. I pulled the calipers from a late 9000 in a u-pull-it, I can just slap them on my original C900 disk (with rebuild and other changes mentioned initially)??

~Junkie

 

I'm pretty sure you need the 9000 rotors as well as the parts mentioned in the thread.

Edit: you can use the c900 rotors. I'm sorry, my head is in the fog.

 

Great info, thanks.

~junkie

 

when switching out the hubs, calipers, ect... is everything pretty much a direct fit, except the bending and mounting of the ebrake + cable?? what do you guys recommend getting hubs from? do i have to worry about the drive axe? suspensions are kinda my weakness. my plan is to put Super Aeros on my 87 Spg.. any thoughts much appreciated!