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I now own 3 Saab 9-3's , a base 99 9-3, 99 9-3 Se and 00-Viggen.
The Viggen had low right turn growl front left front wheel from day one. I was planning to bring it in to the dealer for that and other warranty work, I owned the car two weeks and driven only a 1/2 tank of gas,and went over with a fine tooth comb. I stopped in a few days before to ask about the previous service records.
I tried to get the left wheels off to swap them front to rear to see if it was a balance/tire issue but they were rusted tight. So I retorqued all the wheels and let them be. While the car was up I saw grease on the CV boot so guessed it was cut. Bad bearing was what I thought
I took the car out to watch my friends at the race track and driving back at 75 mph the left front wheel comes off with on lug holding it on , the car drops onto the rotor into the wheel and grooves it and wrecks the rim but stays on the rim. Right before that it started suddenly shaking violenty but I was in a work area so no pulloff area.
I call Saab it gets towed and they now they want $2200 to fix it.
"Cause stripped lug bolts". THe tow driver threw the one bolt off the road so there were none at the Saab dealer, the prognosis loose lugs. I had taken a pic 10 miles prior to finish a roll of film and have 20 witnesses to that wheel.
The cause was the hub and bearing failed and that caused the sudden lug issue. They buy the word of the tow guy with no evidence at all.
They also say it needs 2 qts tranny fluid with no apparent leaks. And they are the last to service at 35K now car has 37K.
I had only driven car 70 miles since checking it out and the lugs were at 80 ft lbs all around I never took the wheel off because I was going to let them struggle with it.
I asked what a warranty was. they say 4 yr 50K I asked what it covers, they say mechanical and electrical I ask them to define mechanical , they say bearing etc. So I ask to see the car and now it has the lug nuts on so I say if it is lug related and they are on now ,I can drive it home ...right??. They say it is not driveable. And I ask why , it was only bad striped lugs right?
They say bearings can fail easily even with minor bumps, so I respond I guess they should not use bearings in cars then ...sounds very unsafe.
I leave pissed and the say the Tech had the day off and to stop back. So here I am.
At this point I would like dump all three cars and i expected them to do something besides blame me .
I have many of car experience and have had loose lug nuts twice once I forgot and got 100 feet down the road and the other on a race car where the AP Racing brake backing rotor mount had loose torx bolts. I rebuilt several early Saab 99-900 for the synchro repalcement. and rebuild Lotus Esprit's.
It is not as if I don't know anything about cars.
Needed to vent and see what others have done...hopefully were lucky with a wheel essentially coming off at 75 mph. I told them they are lucky I dont tubes coming out of my nose and they would have had visit from someone with the last name Esq.!
I know it was bad bearings that shookthe lugs loose but stayed on due the rust for short time ,10 miles. I was on highway so they were not as stressed as they could be. What do I know I am not tow truck driver i guess.
Lew
posted by 67.31.13...
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