1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Vibrations follow up!
I always like to know how things ended…
Original thread: http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9000/index.html?bID=258229
So a few weeks ago, I had a horrible vibration in the front. Inner drivers, motor mounts, possible rear suspension, loose front end, front wheel bearing and probably a couple I forgot were all mentioned as possibilities.
The answer is: half shaft was too long.
I had replaced the hal shaft/axles months back. But I had not driven the car much since then, a couple of miles because of this vibration. The driver’s side axle was just a bear to put back in with extreme prying everything in order to get the strut bolts back in. That should have been a clue but I missed it!
After eliminating all of the above possibilities, I confirmed the suspect axle length issue this way: I put the driver’s side up on a jack stand. Loosened the axle nut. Removed the lower of two bolts holding the strut on. Loosened the upper strut bolt, but left it in.
Then I started the car. With my foot on the brake, I put the car in drive. The vibration was nearly gone with the axle straight. If I turned the wheel slightly, the vibration went haywire. If I returned it to center the vibration decreased. Mind you this was with allowed length increased.
So I was pretty much 99 percent sure that was the problem given the mix up with the other side that I caught right away and further the fact that there are many different possibilities of axles for the particular year 1989.
So I ordered another. From a different supplier. Came Christmas Eve Day via UPS. Installed it this afternoon. Took a 16 mile test drive and I am happy that it seems to have been what the solution was.
Thanks for all your attention and suggestions.
posted by 72.1....
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