Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 08:28:20 -0500 From: Sunday_Mechanic <mjsmandersonnospamo.com> Subject: Re: Saab 9-3 brakes...help!
Well, good news. After figuring out how the brakes work on the 9-3, Iwas able to quickly install new rotors and pads. Here's thebreakdown... New tools: $78 4 Wagner Thermo Quiet pads: $98 (O'Reilly's) 2 new front rotors: $92 (O'Reilly's) 1 bottle Dot4: $4 Hours doing it the first time: 12 (including getting materials andtools) Savings after my costs, compared with Saab quote: About $400 The car runs and brakes beautifully, no Midas touch required. Here's my experience: 1. You can save $thousands over the next several (or 75k+ miles) yearsif you own your Saab that long by doing your own brakes. 2. Need torx tools and sockets, and Hex Rotors are hard to find (even for Midas or other brake 'specialists'since they get theirs from the same place I do with an upcharge) 3. Rear pistons rotate clockwise when retracting. You will need toapply much pressure, and should go in after about 5-10 revolutions. Ifyou don't have a pin tool, use a pair of needlenose pliers to fit in thepiston holes to grip the piston. 4. If a piston is "stuck" and can't be pushed in (front or back) usecompressed air from an air compressor and release air into the brakeline intake of the caliper. The piston will blow out. Much care mustbe used when doing this: the caliper needs to be removed from the brakeline, and do not try and catch the piston, do this against the floorwith a towel, since the piston will come out very fast. Then carefullyreinsert the piston inside the boot and push back into the caliper. 5. According to a Saab mechanic, there is NO bleeding sequence for the9-3. I found this to be true, but just in case, the sequence I usedwas: LF, RR, RF, LR 6. The brakes may rub a bit and sound like they are grinding for thefirst 50 or so miles when you have new rotors and pads. This is due tothe pads 'setting'. They need to be heated up a couple of times andset, as well as the new rotor-which is massive on the 9-3 - needs towear appropriately for the pads. The grinding sound will go away, andit will drive and brake nicely. Since I was concerned about this atfirst, I asked a Saab mechanic, and he validated the above, and wascorrect in my experience. The brakes make no sound after about 50miles or so depending on your braking habits. There is a product youcan buy that the shops use to take care of this when applied to the newpads. 7. If you don't have a large (24") brake wrench, get one. $25 atSears. It will save you alot of time loosening and tighteningbolts/sockets. 8. The 9-3 rotors are so big, you may not ever have to replace them. Our car had 55k miles on it, and we were changing the brakes for thefirst time. We chose to get new rotors on the front, because they hadbeen worn excessively. Also, the LF pads were disproportionately wornto the RF, as well as the rotor. Next time I do this it will cost me about $50 in front pads and Dot4and maybe 2.5 hours tops. Compare that with a $300++ Midas brake job! More money to play with....-- Sunday_Mechanic------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday_Mechanic's Profile: http://cars.mylounge.us/member.php?userid=68966View this thread: http://cars.mylounge.us/showthread.php?t=141635
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