SAAB 9000. Instruction - page 44
10•8 Suspension and steering
6.3 Remove the four bolts that secure the
hub to the steering swivel member
to the steering swivel member (see
illustration).
4 Lift off the steering swivel member and
brake disc backplate (see illustrations).
Refitting
5 Reassemble the hub and brake disc
backplate to the steering swivel member by
reversing the removal procedure, observing
the specified torque wrench settings. Use the
marks made during removal to ensure that the
hub is aligned correctly.
6 Refer to Section 5 and refit the steering
swivel member to the vehicle.
Warning: To preserve the
handling characteristics of the
vehicle, BOTH rear dampers (left
and right-hand) should be
renewed as a pair.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission). At the applicable rear roadwheel,
remove the centre cap and slacken the bolts.
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, rest it securely
on axle stands and remove the roadwheel;
refer to "Jacking, towing and wheel changing".
6.4a Lift off the steering swivel member...
3 Reposition the jack, so that it is positioned
under the joint between the axle tube and the
lower suspension arm. Raise the jack just
enough to relieve the load on the shock
absorbers and anti-roll bar.
4 From within the load space, remove the
spare wheel protective panel, then fold back
the carpet and side trim panel, to expose the
shock absorber top mounting; refer to Chap-
ter 11 for guidance. Remove the nut, locknut,
cup and bush from the damper rod (see
illustration).
5 From underneath the vehicle, remove the
bolt that secures the shock absorber and anti-
roll bar to the mounting bracket on the axle
tube (see illustration).
6 Lower the jack slightly, and separate the
shock absorber bottom mounting from the
axle tube.
7 Withdraw the shock absorber from the
wheelarch, noting the positions of the
remaining bush and washer at the top
mounting.
8 Inspect the shock absorber for signs of fluid
leakage, particularly from the piston rod seal.
Test the action of the shock absorber by
pushing the piston rod firmly through two or
three full length strokes, then rapidly through
several short strokes. Smooth, consistent
resistance should be felt; if the action is at all
uneven, weak or unduly noisy, then the shock
absorber unit should be renewed.
7.4 Remove the nut, locknut, cup and bush
from the damper rod
7.5 From underneath the vehicle, remove
the bolt (arrowed) that secures the shock
absorber and anti-roll bar to the mounting
bracket on the axle tube
6.4b ... and brake disc backplate
9 Check the piston rod for signs of corrosion
or distortion; renew the shock absorber unit if
its condition is unsatisfactory.
Refitting
10 Refit the shock absorber by following the
removal sequence in reverse order, noting the
following:
a) Ensure that the shock absorber top
mounting components are refitted in the
correct order (see illustration).
b) Tighten the lower mounting bolt to the
specified torque.
c) Refit the roadwheel, lower the vehicle to
the ground and tighten the roadwheel
bolts to the specified torque.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission). At the rear roadwheels, remove the
centre caps and slacken the bolts.
7.10 Correct assembled order of rear
shock absorber top mounting components
Suspension and steering 10•9
8.5 Free the anti-roll bar from the inboard
mountings by removing the two bolts that
secure the U-clamps (arrowed) to the
hanging brackets
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, rest it securely
on axle stands and remove the roadwheels;
refer to "Jacking, towing and wheel changing".
3 On one side of the vehicle, reposition the
jack, so that it is positioned under the joint
between the axle tube and the lower
suspension arm. Raise the jack just enough to
relieve the load on the shock absorber and
anti-roll bar.
4 Referring to the relevant paragraphs of
Section 7, unbolt the anti-roll bar from the
mounting on the axle tube (see illustration 7.5).
Repeat the procedure at the other side of the
vehicle.
5 Free the anti-roll bar from the inboard
mountings by removing the two bolts that
secure the U-clamps to the hanging brackets
(see illustration)
6 Lower the anti-roll bar away from the
vehicle, and recover the bushes from the
inboard mountings.
7 Inspect the rubber bushes for signs of wear
or deterioration; renew bushes that are
perished, deformed or split. Examine the anti-
roll bar for cracks, particularly around the
mounting points.
Refitting
8 Refit the anti-roll bar by following the
removal sequence in reverse order, noting the
following:
a) Tighten the lower mounting bolt to the
specified torque.
b) Refit the roadwheel, lower the vehicle to
the ground and tighten the roadwheel
bolts to the specified torque.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission). At the applicable roadwheel, remove
the centre cap and slacken the bolts.
10.3a Unbolt the fixings at either end of the
torque arm, at the floorpan (arrowed)...
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, and rest it
securely on axle stands.
3 Detach the handbrake cable from the
suspension lower arm, by prising out the
press-stud clip.
4 Position a jack underneath the trailing end
of the suspension lower arm, then remove the
bolt that secures the arm to the axle tube; refer
to Section 12 for details.
5 Use the jack to lower the suspension arm,
until the coil spring can be removed from its
mounting position. Recover the rubber seat.
Refitting
6 Place the spring and rubber seat in their
mounting positions on the suspension lower
arm; ensure that the stepped lower edge of
the spring engages with the ridge on the
suspension arm.
7 Use the jack to raise the suspension arm;
ensure that the top of the spring sits squarely
on its upper seat.
8 Refit the bolt that secures the trailing end of
the suspension arm to the axle tube, and
tighten it securely.
9 Screw the handbrake cable bracket back in
position on the edge of the suspension arm.
10 Refit the roadwheel and bolts, then lower
the vehicle to the ground and tighten the
roadwheel bolts to the specified torque. Refit
the wheel centre cap.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission). At the applicable roadwheel, remove
the centre cap and slacken the bolts.
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, and rest it
securely on axle stands. Remove the
roadwheel.
3 Unbolt the fixings at either end of the torque
arm, at the floorpan, and at the top of the hub
carrier (see illustrations).
4 Lower the leading end of the arm away from
the bracket on the floorpan, and then push the
10. 3b . . . and the top of the hub carrier
(arrowed; hub removed for clarity)
trailing end off the hub carrier. Recover the
bushes as the arm is released.
5 Examine the bushes for signs of wear or
deterioration, and renew them if necessary.
Refitting
6 Refit the torque arm by following the
removal process in reverse.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission).
2 Raise .the rear of the vehicle, and rest it
securely on axle stands. Removal of the
roadwheels will improve access, but is not
essential.
3 Slacken and withdraw the two Panhard rod
mounting bolts, first at the axle tube and then
at the hanging bracket at the vehicle's
underside (see illustrations).
4 Remove the Panhard rod from the vehicle,
recovering the bushes.
5 Check the rod for distortion, damage and
serious corrosion. Examine the bushes for
signs of wear or damage; renew them if they
appear perished, deformed or age-hardened.
11.3a Slacken and withdraw the two
Panhard rod mounting bolts, first at the
axle tube (arrowed)...
Suspension and steering
11.3b . . . and then at the hanging bracket
at the vehicle's underside (arrowed)
Refitting
6 Refit the Panhard rod by following the
removal process in reverse.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic
transmission). At the applicable roadwheel,
remove the centre cap and slacken the bolts.
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, rest it securely
on axle stands and remove the road-
wheel; refer to "Jacking, towing and wheel
changing".
3 Detach the handbrake cable from the
suspension lower arm, by prising out the
press-stud clip (see illustration).
4 Position a jack underneath the trailing end
of the suspension lower arm, then remove the
bolt that secures arm to the axle tube (see
illustration).
5 Use the jack to lower the suspension arm,
until the coil spring can be removed from its
mounting position - refer to Section 9 for
details.
6 Detach the leading-end mounting bracket
and bush from the vehicle's floorpan by
removing the two retaining bolts (see
illustration).
7 Withdraw the suspension arm from under
the vehicle. Check it for damage, corrosion
and distortion. Examine the leading-end bush
for signs of wear or damage; if it is at all
perished, deformed or age-hardened, renew it.
Likewise, if the trailing-end bush shows signs
of wear, it should be renewed. The bush
renewal procedures are described in the
following paragraphs.
Leading-end bush - renewal
8 Slacken the nut and withdraw the centre
bolt. Lift out the bush and bracket assembly.
9 Fit a new bush assembly, and refit the
centre bolt.
12.3 Detach the handbrake cable from the
suspension lower arm, by prising out the
press-stud clip
Caution: Do not tighten the
centre bolt until the suspension
arm has been refitted to the
vehicle.
Trailing-end bush - renewal
10 Hold the suspension arm firmly in a vice;
pad the jaws of the vice to protect the anti-
corrosive surface of the arm. The bush can be
removed by driving it out using a socket (with
an external diameter just smaller than that of
the bush) as a drift. Ensure that the socket
bears squarely on the bush, then tap it out
with a light mallet.
11 Lubricate the new bush with washing-up
liquid, then carefully drive it into suspension
arm, using the same method employed during
removal.
Refitting
12 Lift the suspension arm up to the
subframe, and refit the bolts that secure the
leading-end bush and bracket to the vehicle's
floorpan.
13 Seat the coil spring and rubber seat in
their mounting positions on the suspension
lower arm, referring to Section 9 for details.
14 Using the jack, raise the suspension arm
to engage the top of the spring with the upper
seat on the floorpan.
15 Refit the bolt that secures the trailing end
of the suspension arm to the axle tube, and
tighten it securely.
12.4 Remove the bolt (arrowed) that
secures the arm to the axle tube
16 Press the handbrake cable clip back in
position on the edge of the suspension arm.
17 Refit the roadwheel and bolts, then lower
the vehicle to the ground and tighten the
roadwheel bolts to the specified torque. Refit
the wheel centre cap.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, select
first gear (manual transmission) or "PARK"
(automatic transmission) and chock the front
wheels. Slacken the bolts at the applicable
rear roadwheel.
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, support it
securely on axle stands and remove the
roadwheel.
3 Refer to Chapter 9 and remove the brake
caliper, carrier and disc. Note that there is no
need to disconnect the caliper from the brake
hose; use wire or a cable-tie to suspend it
from the coil spring, to avoid straining the
hose.
4 Using a mallet and a stout screwdriver or
chisel, prise off the hub dust cap ; if it is stiff,
work around the perimeter of the cap, and tap
it off progressively (see illustration). Do not
use excessive force, as this may damage the
cap, necessitating its renewal.
12.6 Detach the leading-end mounting
bracket and bush (arrowed) from the
vehicle's floorpan by removing the two
retaining bolts
13.4 Using a mallet and a stout screwdriver
or chisel, prise off the hub dust cap
Suspension and steering 10•11
13.6a Remove the hub nut (and
thrustwasher, where fitted)...
5 Fit a socket and breaker bar over the wheel
hub nut. Loosely refit two of the roadwheel
bolts to the hub flange, and insert a lever bar
between; use it to brace the wheel hub, as the
hub nut is slackened.
Caution: On earlier models, the
flange of the hub nut is deformed
into a groove in the stub axle, to
lock it in position. Before
attempting to slacken the nut, bend back
the nut flange to release it from the stub
axle, using a punch and hammer.
6 Remove the hub nut (and thrustwasher,
where fitted), then lift off the hub (see
illustrations).
7 Clean the stub axle using a suitable
degreasing agent, paying particular attention
to the thread and bearing contact surface.
Caution: Take care to ensure that
the delicate tip of the ABS wheel
sensor is not damaged during the
cleaning process.
8 Examine the stub axle for evidence of wear,
in the form of channelling or gouging where
the bearings contact the axle surface; a
polished ring is normal, but excessive erosion
or cracks indicate that the stub axle and hub
carrier are in need of renewal. These are an
integral part of the rear axle and must be
renewed as a complete assembly; a
description of this procedure is detailed in
Section 14.
Refitting
9 Apply a smear of multi-purpose grease to
the stub axle, then fit the hub over the stub
axle.
10 Ensure that the hub is seated squarely,
then fit a new nut (and thrustwasher, where
applicable), tightening it to the specified
torque (see illustration). Note: On earlier
models, the flange of the nut should be
deformed into the groove in the stub axle
thread, using a hammer and punch, to lock it
into position.
11 Refit the dust cap (see illustration), and
tap it back into place using a soft-faced mallet.
12 Refit the brake disc, carrier and caliper,
referring to Chapter 9 for details.
13.6b . . . then lift off the hub
13 Refit the roadwheel and bolts, then lower
the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the
roadwheel bolts to the specified torque and
refit the roadwheel centre cap.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, select
first gear (manual transmission) or "PARK"
(automatic transmission) and chock the front
roadwheels; do not apply the handbrake.
Remove the centre caps and slacken the rear
roadwheel bolts.
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, support it
securely on axle stands and remove the
roadwheels; refer to "Jacking, towing and
wheel changing" for guidance.
3 Unbolt the handbrake cable brackets from
the lower suspension arms.
4 Remove the brake calipers, as described in
Chapter 9. There is no need to disconnect the
caliper from the brake hose; use wire or a
cable-tie to suspend it from the suspension
coil spring, to avoid straining the hose
5 Unbolt the Panhard rod from the axle tube;
tie the free end to the underside if the body, to
keep it out of the way.
6 Manoeuvre a jack under the centre point of
the axle tube. Protect the axle tube by
inserting a block of wood between it and the
jack head. Raise it just enough to relieve the
suspension of the axle's weight, but no more.
7 Remove the bolt that secures the shock
absorber and anti-roll bar to the bracket on the
axle tube; refer to Section 7 for more detail.
8 Slowly lower the jack, and allow the axle
tube to drop away from the vehicle. As the
suspension lower arms deflect, retrieve the
coil springs and store them out of the way;
refer to Section 9 for details.
9 Refer to Section 10 and unbolt the leading
ends of the torque arms from the tops of the
hub carriers; tie them up inside the wheelarch,
clear of the work area.
10 Remove the bolts that secure the trailing
ends of the suspension lower arms to the
bases of the hub carriers. Place a wooden
13.10 Fit a new nut (and thrustwasher,
where applicable) and tighten it to the
specified torque
13.11 Refit the dust cap, and tap it back
into place using a soft-faced mallet
block underneath the end of the suspension
arm, to provide support whilst it is
disconnected.
Refitting
11 Balance the axle tube on the jack head,
and manoeuvre it underneath the vehicle.
12 Raise the axle up to its mounting position,
and loosely refit the hub carrier-to-suspension
lower arm and torque arm securing bolts.
13 Locate the coil springs squarely on the
lower arm, referring to Section 9 for more
detail.
14 Slowly raise the axle, ensuring that the coil
springs contact their upper seats squarely;
support the anti-roll bar as the axle is raised,
so that it falls on the correct side of its
mountings.
15 Line up the shock absorber and anti-roll
bar bushes with their mounting bracket on the
axle tube, and engage the retaining bolt
through them. Fit the nuts, and tighten them to
the specified torque.
16 Tighten the hub carrier-to-suspension
lower arm and torque arm bolts securely. The
jack can now be lowered away from the axle
tube.
17 Lower the Panhard rod into position and
refit the mounting bolt through the axle tube;
refer to Section 11 for details.
18 Refit the brake calipers, referring to
Chapter 9 for details.
19 Press the handbrake cable clips into the
suspension lower arms.