The original "normal" style that you can take apart & regrease, that went up to 1974. From 1975 through 1980, there was the first style of sealed bearings. This arrangement has the brake rotor behind the hub, so the whole thing has to come out of the car to change a rotor or bearing. From MY 1981 on 900s, and it should be the same time frame on 99s (yes, I'm fully aware the US only got 99s through 1980), Saab again changed the front spindle, placing the rotor on the outside of the hub, so the rotor can be changed without removing everything from the car. These were on all 99s & 900s through MY1987. The ONLY things that interchange are the brake caliper, ball joints, and outer tie rod end. Overall, for a car you want to drive a lot, the best thing to do is update the car to the 1981-1987 setup. This lightens the corners by about 10 pounds a side, and lets you use front ventilated rotors, if you desire, and can source the three parts - hub, rotor, caliper - that are different from the non-ventilated arrangement. You use all the 900 parts from balljoint to balljoint, including the 900 outer CV, and just use your 99 driveshafts (900 halfshafts are too long). Works a treat, especially with ventilated rotors, AND will take you less time than changing one bearing on the 75-80 setup. 20 or so years ago, my Uncle was a bearing salesman (really!). I asked him to try and get me some of those sealed bearings for my 1976 99, but there was no cross-reference, and they were even very hard to get out of SKF. He did manage to get me some Timken bearings for the rear axles, though... The 75-80 bearings won't be getting any easier to find, so unless there is some specific reason to prefer the original spindles, upgrading to the 81-87 setup is the better - and easier - choice. Posts in this Thread:
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