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I recently purchased a 2001 9-5 (47K) and discovered driving home that when the windows are down you can hear a very smooth, metal-against-metal sound (similar to sandpaper against a hollow tube with regards to the nature of the sound) coming from the front end, driver's side. It is clearly wheel or driveshaft dependent, never changes in pitch and not annoying in the least. But it is there. Residential neighborhoods or highway guardrails reflect the sound very well. When the windows are up and the climate control on (which they were during the initial test drive) the sound is not audible. IF you’re in the passenger seat, windows down, you can hear it, but it is not eminating from that side; it is off the driver’s side.
There are no other symptoms transmitted through the car; it tracks perfectly and rides like a dream. No balance or alignment issues that transmit through the steering column. Never having owned a Saab, I nonetheless knew enough to know that the noise should not be inherent to the vehicle. One's immediate impulse is to implicate the entire wheel, brake and drive shaft assembly, but so far the mechanic at the dealership has been unable to isolate the noise, systematically disassembling everything back into the gearbox and finding no signs of friction. The dealer (not a Saab dealer) has been incredibly accommodating, but they are clearly stumped.
Is there anything else on or in the engine on that side of the car that might give off a noise like this? (P.S.- the car is on Michelin touring tires with about 60% tread remaining. I did notice at the dealership that the very outer edge of tread (1-2”) on the driver’s side tire is worn away and am now asking myself how I missed this during the initial inspection. Is this a clue?)
Any help in solving this mystery would be greatly appreciated. I really want my Saab back and am not ready to start using the word “lemon’ quite yet.
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