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Leeky · #1 15-03-10, 18:41

So I made a start on stripping the alternator out the afternoon, as we were waiting for some parts to finish replacing my father in laws rear axle.

I thought wicked, I can try out my new cordless impact gun, and my new ultra low racing jack...

Well the jack isnt so good.

It barely lifted the front wheel of my Saab off of the ground!! I think something is wrong with it, so its going back tomorrow morning! I really need this jack now (see below for why!)

So after getting my other big jack to lift it high enough for axle stands, I then use my impact gun to remove the wheel bolts... All 5 come off with ease, and its absolutely outstanding!

So wheels are off now... I thought I'd have a good look at the bushes as I'm getting a knocking noise.. They're all fine, not even cracked, then I look up, and see my spring has snapped in two, and has almost completely dropped off of the bottom of the shock cup!

WTF! Half my spring is missing and the broken piece is wedged between whats left of my spring, and the top of the droplink mounting!

So I then remove the other front wheel, and the same with the other spring, except the spring is just dangling halfway off of the bottom of the shock tower!

It makes me really wish I'd checked the problem with the noise I was hearing months ago (though I doubt I've done 50 miles since I first heard it)..

After hearing the price of a genuine spring from Saab, I then promptly ordered a new Eibach lowering spring kit, which should arrive on wednesday... -30mm springs, should be cool!

My car is in such a sorry state right now too.. Its missing the whole suspension leg, and driveshaft assembly, required to remove the alternator... lol. Should have the new alternator fitted tomorrow morning, ready to run it back up and hopefully have it working properly.

The problem now is, even at standard ride height (my car isnt lowered I don't think), the skirts arent high off of the ground... I purchased the low level entry racing jack so I could use one jack to get it in the air.. If its 30mm lower its going to be impossible to lift it without one! So I hope once I replace the jack tomorrow morning the bloody thing will work better than it did today!!

All in all a bloody annoying day, and an expensive one too!

.NEIL. · #2 15-03-10, 20:24

i think you need to sell it and get a gsi Lee

Leeky · #3 15-03-10, 20:52

	Quote:
	Originally Posted by .NEIL. i think you need to sell it and get a gsi Lee

LOL, its a 2005 model, hardly at the point of needing to sell on yet. pmsl. If I sold this, I'd only be getting a 2.8t Aero 9-3 Sports Saloon.

Tom · #4 16-03-10, 13:23

damn gutted mate not had much luck there!

Did you take the jack back & get a replacement?

violator · #5 16-03-10, 13:29

did u bleed/prime the jack before u used it lee, common mistake people make

Leeky · #6 16-03-10, 13:49

The springs are now ordered; I went for Eibach ones, they should be here tomorrow.

I've replaced and checked the alternator now and all is good with that.

Just need to fit these springs, fill the gearbox with oil (which is on order and will be here thurs) and then remove my 6speed gear selector unit and see if I can ease it up slightly.

If that doesnt work, then its another £150 for a new one from Saab because its now seized and the gear level doesnt spring to centre anymore!

Dam cars! I wonder what will happen next! LOL.

	Quote:
	Originally Posted by violator did u bleed/prime the jack before u used it lee, common mistake people make

It was apparently pre-done. I didnt check it though.

	Quote:
	Originally Posted by Tom damn gutted mate not had much luck there! Did you take the jack back & get a replacement?

They told me if I took another one the same, and it didnt work they've have to send it off for repair. So I elected to change to a 2ton low level trolley jack, costing slightly less money.

Its nowhere near as funky, but should easily lift my motor up.

Tom · #7 17-03-10, 10:38

	Quote:
	Originally Posted by Leeky They told me if I took another one the same, and it didnt work they've have to send it off for repair. So I elected to change to a 2ton low level trolley jack, costing slightly less money. Its nowhere near as funky, but should easily lift my motor up.

Bugger! Was hoping you could give me some feedback on those lightweight one's (Other than you never got to use it, lol!) as I am looking to buy one or 2 of them in the coming weeks.

BTW- Get some pics up of the saaaaab in bits.

Useless, pics, thread, without... REARRANGE!

Leeky · #8 17-03-10, 12:13

	Quote:
	Originally Posted by Tom Bugger! Was hoping you could give me some feedback on those lightweight one's (Other than you never got to use it, lol!) as I am looking to buy one or 2 of them in the coming weeks. BTW- Get some pics up of the saaaaab in bits. Useless, pics, thread, without... REARRANGE!

They get very good reviews, its likely I got a dodgy one; though they were insisting they never have any play up. I wasnt prepared to take the risk of it not working with the 2nd one, as they then wouldnt refund me or offer an exchange, so decided on a low entry 2ton model.

As for pics:

The passenger front arch, showing my spring literally out of the lower cup and looking a mess:

The drivers side front arch... Its looking rather bare! The driveshaft assembly has been removed, along with the hub assembly with shock still attached.

Its looking rather upset like this!! LOL

Leeky · #9 05-04-10, 22:52

Bit of an update for all.

The car is now running like a charm again. Total spend was a lot though, as I ended up spending just under £200 on a new gear selector unit from Vauxhall (Saab wanted £239!), 3ltrs of Saab fully synthetic gear oil (£35 more!), the Eibach springs (at £170 delivered) and of course the alternator (another £140!). The middle of Jan saw me spend almost £750 on a new EGR valve (and its new gaskets), the full list of filters and oil for service, a new sump bung and of course the cambelt (£313 alone for Saab to supply and fit). Been an expensive couple of months, but shes fighting fit for a while now!

The suspension has now settled, as I've done about 300 miles since replacing it and its rather low! The rider is slightly harsher at low speed than the Saab's OEM springs, but speed bumps and pot holes are now a nightmare around town! I literally need to almost stop and crawl over speed bumps now otherwise the bumper just smacks straight into the speed bump! It catches when I crawl up the drive, I now can't drive up kerbs forwards (I have to back onto them!) and well, its annoying. LOL.

I've also realised (by doing it!) several times now that hitting pot holes on uneven road surfaces or doing through excessive dips also causes my side skirts to meet the tarmac due to the lack of clearance as well! Not good! LOL.

Once going though, and at high speed the suspension is absolutely fantastic! At times my Saab can be rather light on the front end at very high speed. Thats all gone now, and it feels planted no matter how much I push the car or throw it around a bend.

So its a good trade off all around really. I think in retrospect I'd maybe have gone for Hirsch Springs, but they're much dearer and given the cost of genuine springs I'm happy I've made the right choice.

So fingers crossed I don't need to spend out til its due its next oil change now! Next service is just a minor inspection/oil change thankfully as it had its cambelt and major service in March!

So just tax, MOT, 2 new number plates (they're splitting), and insurance come June now!