1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I’ve read some recent posts about suspension noises (popping, clicking, etc) and I have similar problems that I hope someone here can answer or at least explain. My 1988 9kt 116k was hitting the bumps rather hard I thought and I did notice several loud bangs when hitting pot holes. I assumed (which you shouldn’t do) that it has to be the struts. After buying them and taking the car to my long time Saab mechanic and he said there’s nothing wrong with the struts, emphasizing that they should last 200k on the 9000. When pushing on the fenders it doesn’t bounce but seems to me that it pushes down to easy. The problem he said was ball joints and control arm bushings. After replacing said parts and selling the Boge OE’s (I should have kept them) I’m still not satisfied. There is definitely less noise, but I still feel the car hits bumps hard and bounces around like a slot car racer. By that I mean not dangerously but as if the car is lowered and stiffer and rides sharply over the ridges and bumps. The car handles fine at high speeds, no pulling, although in the corners I do feel a slight floating effect. Not too bad, though. When the road is smooth it’s like a Lexus. But here in Los Angeles the roads are rarely smooth. The car to me feels like it has sport suspension even though it is stock. I am wondering if in fact the struts are okay but maybe stiffened a bit after time and the springs may be weaker. I have yet to hear a lot of creaking from the springs. Any ideas? I am not interested in lowering the car, but I would like to know if the springs should ever be replaced. Lastly, I have also experienced a weird effect when braking from down the off ramp from the freeway and hitting some bumps before I stop, I can feel it in the brake pedal, a jarring (I do have ABS which is working fins) feeling as I pass over the bumps. It stops when the road smooths out. Any ideas? Any good suggestions for a new set-up geared towards comfort? I am bit torn as Sven, my mechanic at Victoria Motors in Marina Del Rey, is fantastic and has saved my hundreds of dollars from other less reputable mechanics. I'm not saying he's wrong I just don't know what else could be the problem(s).
Paul R
88 9kt
116K
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