Saab 9-5, third times a charm with struts

[Split_Pin]

43 minutes ago, rainagain said:

Just to add for anyone thinking of going to upullit, their website often says they have cars in stock at Inverkeithing which are clearly in their York premises.

 

[rml2345]

On 7/26/2023 at 4:27 PM, captain_70s said:

@rml2345actually raided this a couple of weeks ago and got some bits for me!

At least the bits that weren't rusted to oblivion...

It had already lost a wing when I showed up. It looked pretty good from 10 yards but up close you could tell it had sat for a very long time indeed and was actually a bit ripe in places. Unfortunately for @captain_70s it included all the really important bits he needed.

Sadly the mint interior was also of sod all use as none of the SVM have blue interiors or saloons. 

[rainagain]

I’ve been trying sort a stale smell in the car so I thought it would be a good idea to change the pollen filter. After removing the lower trim and then the glovebox I managed to get the old filter out which turned out to be like the air filter I replaced a genuine Saab part.

It was manky but not too bad.

I used a radiator paint brush to clean out the enclosure.

The old foam had gone all weird and sticky.

I also noticed some interesting wiring repairs much like the front washer pumps.

 

[rainagain]

I also found this little Motorola unit which I unhooked from the loom and found it was the bluetooth kit that I couldn’t get to connect to my apple phone (I’m assuming as apple have strange ideas of Bluetooth). 

[rainagain]

I found holes for footwell lightning but no lamp units as my car is only linear spec. I’m quite tempted to add these but I couldn’t see any wiring harness for them. Does anyone know if I’m likely to find it taped up somewhere or if Saab had separate looms for each spec?

[rainagain]

Could anyone confirm if this is standard Saab fitment on the gear level?

[RoverFolkUs]

10 minutes ago, rainagain said:

Could anyone confirm if this is standard Saab fitment on the gear level?

Nothing to see here, standard GM build quality! 😅

[rainagain]

The patch of rust on the o/s arch was really annoying me as was the rust all over the tail gate that annoyed me each time I opened the boot. 
 

I looked out a wire brush attachment for my drill but left it at my dad’s so I had to resort to an angle grinder.

Rust removal 50%

95%

Applying everyone’s favourite or not vactan.

One coat

Two coats

Followed by some zinc primer, hand brushed for maximum smoothness 

Then I ripped the rough shape out of a cardboard box and sprayed on some Toyota silver.

It’s rough as… but I’m just trying to stop the rust coming through, again. If this lasts over winter I’ll give it proper sand down in spring and actually paint it the correct colour.

[rainagain]

The boot lid had rusted all along the lower edge. I forgot to take a pic pre grinding but this is it with most of the rust removed.

 

Again I applied some vactan followed by zinc primer.

Followed by a top coat of Toyota silver.

Let see how this holds up over winter.

 

[rainagain]

What's this pretty little light on the dash for

That'll be the alternator dying, I remembered one of the Saabs at upullit had a new looking alternator. I nipped down there and managed to find the right car, thanks to total disregard to the wiring and piping round the engine I had this out in 20 minutes. It even came with a free 8mm socket that someone had left on one of the nuts on the back of it.

The HBOL put the fear up me with the instructions telling me I'd have to disconnect driveshafts and split ball joints, I'm not sure if this is carried on from the 2.2 Diesel. I managed to remove the old alternator from the top of the engine after moving some hoses out of the way.

I took a pic of the belt run as I was sure I would forget how it was run

Old versus 'new' look at those lovely shiny field windings

All back together with the new aux belt I'd bought but not got round to fitting.

Many volts

The old aux belt was indeed past it

I also spotted this potential future disaster, this clip on the oil cooler lines had been slowly rubbing a hole in the hose next to it, I sprayed it with some release fluid and managed to work it round out of they way, I wonder if it left the factory like this?

[rainagain]

I’ve been having repeated problems with this starting. A few times it’s gotten bum clenching close that I thought I was going to run out of battery. I found the part number for the starter and did an order by cheapest on ebay, I got one delivered for £13.50.

I thought it would be worth stripping the second hand starter down and given it a clean and lubricate inside.

Things went ok to start with and I got the solenoid off easily enough, I found the diaphragm had perished but it otherwise looked ok.

 

I marked the case so I could put it together in the same orientation.

Then things when down hill sharpish, both the long bolts that hold the motor together sheered as I tried to remove them. Even though I was taking it easy trying to work them back and forward and I was only using a 1/4” socket set. I think what I should have done was heated up the aluminium chunk the bolts screw into. 

 

The only real positive thing about this is I was planning on doing this strip down on my actual starter motor. I’m very glad I didn’t as it would have left me stranded. I’ve ordered another second hand one off eBay and that will be getting fitted as it comes! 

[rainagain]

After hitting god knows how many potholes on the roads round where I live I noticed the Saab was making a knocking noise from the front. I initially thought it was a lower ball joint however when I removed the wheel I found this.

The anti-roll bar link mount has sheared off. I’ve removed the whole link to allow me to keep the car on the road. 

The local upullit sells complete struts for £17+vat, as mine look like the originals so likely have 170,000+ miles on them I’m just going to replace both struts. They only have two Saabs 9-5s in the yard. One a pre-facelift and one an aero. I quite fancy grabbing the ones off the aero but what do you think the chances of them being ok are given the state off the donor vehicle:

Would the pre-facelift ones fit? I’m sure I remember reading they made changes to the suspension. When they carried out the facelift. 

[Saabnut]

28 minutes ago, rainagain said:

Would the pre-facelift ones fit? I’m sure I remember reading they made changes to the suspension. When they carried out the facelift. 

I am not an expert on these, but I am fairly sure the pre facelift will not fit the later cars.

[jonathan_dyane]

Are the struts otherwise ok? If so you could just swap yours left to right so the broken one uses the other bracket on the other side.

They do look pretty rusty though and might be better replaced

[rainagain]

35 minutes ago, jonathan_dyane said:

Are the struts otherwise ok? If so you could just swap yours left to right so the broken one uses the other bracket on the other side.

They do look pretty rusty though and might be better replaced

Yeah I did think that but with the miles on them and how cheap they are at upullit I thought I’d just stick some new(er) ones on it.

[Split_Pin]

They're bent to fuck. I looked at this the last time I was there.

[Spiny Norman]

7 hours ago, rainagain said:

 

That's taken its hit well, poor old girl. Probably managed to open the doors and walk away from that. Always thought they were solid old buses for a near 30 year old design.

[rainagain]

10 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

They're bent to fuck. I looked at this the last time I was there.

Thanks for the heads up, that would leave only a pre-facelift one to grab the struts off. But as mentioned above I don’t think these fit a facelift 9-5. Anyone else able to offer an opinion on this? 

[jonathan_dyane]

Looks like they were all interchangeable after 2002

[rainagain]

22 hours ago, jonathan_dyane said:

Looks like they were all interchangeable after 2002

Bugger I checked upullit this morning. The 2005 Saab they had has been cubed, they now only have the smacked Aero left. I can’t even find any second hand struts on eBay apart for the odd random strut from Lithuania or Germany. I never knew 9-5s were getting so rare. I might try SCB, but last time I called them when I needed a second hand intercooler it was cheaper to buy a new one off eBay. 

It’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to swap the struts round. 

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 minute ago, rainagain said:

Bugger I checked upullit this morning. The 2005 Saab they had has been cubed, they now only have the smacked Aero left. I can’t even find any second hand struts on eBay apart for the odd random strut from Lithuania or Germany. I never knew 9-5s were getting so rare. I might try SCB, but last time I called them when I needed a second hand intercooler it was cheaper to buy a new one off eBay. 

It’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to swap the struts round. 

I'm guessing the 9-5 is too far removed from the Vectra it's meant to be based on, to have shared the struts between the two?

[rainagain]

24 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

I'm guessing the 9-5 is too far removed from the Vectra it's meant to be based on, to have shared the struts between the two?

I was thinking that myself but I don’t know if/when the vectra’s suspension was changed like the 9-5 was in 2002 and also the 9-5 is a bit heavier than a vectra so I don’t know how that would effect the damping effort from the strut. Has anyone else heard of someone trying this?
 

I was trying to give it a google earlier today and found people talking about fitting cheap vectra coil over kits to their 9-5s and others saying the spring/damping rates wouldn’t work. 
 

I know I could buy a new strut, bump stop, top mount, spring, etc and build a complete new strut, but this costs far more than the £17+vat for a strut from upullit and sadly there’s other things I need to spend my money on right now. 

[Split_Pin]

Try Bill at Saabits in Perth or Ron Saab Leeds. It also really helps if you are on Facebook and on the groups. I needed a strut for my 75 and it uses items specific to the Contemporary SE and MGZTs fitted with Comfort suspension. There was a chap in Armadale who had exactly the right item complete with spring for £30. I will ask on the Scottish Saab Owners page for you.

[grogee]

15 hours ago, rainagain said:

Bugger I checked upullit this morning. The 2005 Saab they had has been cubed, they now only have the smacked Aero left. I can’t even find any second hand struts on eBay apart for the odd random strut from Lithuania or Germany. I never knew 9-5s were getting so rare. I might try SCB, but last time I called them when I needed a second hand intercooler it was cheaper to buy a new one off eBay. 

It’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to swap the struts round. 

I'm famously tight and love a bit of used part action to keep a shiter on the road. 

However I'd draw the line at fitting used dampers. 

It's a reasonable faff getting them off the car and changing the springs over is time consuming. 

For that reason but also because of the noticeable benefit to ride and handling I would be looking at new (pattern) dampers. 

I would think if you shop smart you should be able to find a pair for £150-200.

I'd also replace the top mounts and bearings but having said that there's never been anything wrong with the ones I've taken off. Budget £20-30 for them. 

[Spiny Norman]

Try Pete Raw.
https://rawsaab.com/

[rainagain]

Driving to work on Thursday I suddenly found I had no power and was making large clouds of black smoke out the back whenever I tried to accelerate, that’s and whoosh sound let me to believe I had a major boost leak. 
 

I quickly stuck my head under the bonnet whilst at work and found the lower boost hose I’d changed back in 2022 had burst. Last time I had to wait ages to get a replacement but I shocked to find I could get one next day from Amazon. Even better the most common option was apparently to order one once per month. 

 

[rainagain]

Today whilst it was blowing a gale I pulled the front bumper off so I can get it to drive up my ramps.

The old hose was removed and it obvious where it had failed.

This is where the problems started, the new hose seems to have been made too short.

[rainagain]

As it was such a tight fit it meant it was rubbing on various parts of the car.

Like the radiator 

I did think that a quick wrap of gaffer tape would help by there was no way it would protect it. I cut a section off the old hose.

And wrapped it round it where it hit the radiator 

And also the power steering pump.

This is shit bodge and very annoying, but I didn’t really have an alternative. I’m now thinking the best thing to do is wait till another 9-5 appears down upullit and grab the genuine hose off it. Or I could get the same make of hose I fitted back and 2022 and fit that again knowing it should last a year and a bit. 

Or can anyone think of another hose supplier I could use? 

[Wgl2019]

28 minutes ago, rainagain said:

hose supplier I could use? 

https://www.saabits.com/ are always a good shout...... there's a discount code knocking about on the UkSaab forum for 10% off. 4SSXWZ

[rainagain]

I was just doing some more googling. You can see how much the one I bought, which is this one (same hose but eBay rather than Amazon):

Is smaller than this one: