 |
|
|
1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Do you have any handling or improper tire wear issues? I have a 1999 9-5 that has eaten rear tires with excessive cupping for the three+ years I have owned it. My gripe has been that most tire shops rely on what specs are put out by their alignment equipment manufacturer (Hunter, John Bean, etc.) which indicate that for the 9-5 the rear camber is non-adjustable. As you have the WIS shop manual, you know this is incorrect, but you need the Saab metal shims, or once I had one in hand myself, could have fabricated them. I had swapped out the stock suspension for a used set of Saab road holding shocks/struts and only slightly lowered springs and the rear camber was increased even more as a result (tires leaning in at the top.) Installation of two top shims at each rear wheel hub visually seems to correct this, but I have yet to take the car to a Saab dealer to accurately get the alignment checked. My newest set of rear tires also appears to be wearing better. I have the good advice of a Saab enthusiast who has owned over 30 Saabs who feels that the factory specs for the rear camber are too negative, resulting in the edge wear and cupping of the tires. His opinion is that the car weighs plenty enough in the rear to not need as much negative camber for sure-footedness (unlike a Porsche, for example) and the savings in aggressive tire wear is worth it. We shall see...
Incidentally, before putting the shims in, I meticulously followed the WIS specs to measure the distance from the rims to the wheel fender arch at all four corners, after getting the suspension to level by backing and up and forward and rocking the bumper...etc, etc, and found one wheel arch higher than the other (at whatever exact point you measure...Is it to the sheet metal fender or the plastic wheel well liner??)) Anyway, I leave it to the Saab dealer to remeasure the alignment and give his opinion. He actually quoted me a cost figure equal to the going rate at most alignment shops. Keep in touch on this camber issue.
Kirk D.
posted by 169.253....
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
