CV, control arm FAIL, 85 Saab (pics)
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Crack.
Snap.
How many miles? (oops - see your sig) Common?
Beat during a HS maneuver I suppose.
Snap.
How many miles? (oops - see your sig) Common?
Beat during a HS maneuver I suppose.
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You will have to look at the CV for damage. Good time for the part to fail though!!!
It appears to be toast. I've never seen that happen. Not many miles for an 85. I had a 85 900 but mine did not have a turbo. Great cars.
ouch. I had an '86 900 2 door 8valve n/a. I loved that car, it was awesome, super reliable, different looking, and got good mileage. However, it was THE slowest car I've ever driven. That poor little 8valve nearly had to have the hazards on when trying to get on the express way, even with its 5 speed manual.
Get a reman from NAPA with a lifetime warranty, or a new one your choice, about 50-80 bucks, and toss a new control arm on both sides with new lower joints. Look at the rest of the suspension for damage. This may have been caused by stress on that particular part or some type of defect.
sucks.
sucks.
Originally Posted By: defektes
Get a reman from NAPA with a lifetime warranty, or a new one your choice, about 50-80 bucks, and toss a new control arm on both sides with new lower joints. Look at the rest of the suspension for damage. This may have been caused by stress on that particular part or some type of defect.
sucks.
+1 No rust damage at showing either, I would have a very close look at its twin or better yet just get a new one.
Control arms shouldn't really fail even with alot of abuse. Or maybe it got a tap in an accident long ago.
Get a reman from NAPA with a lifetime warranty, or a new one your choice, about 50-80 bucks, and toss a new control arm on both sides with new lower joints. Look at the rest of the suspension for damage. This may have been caused by stress on that particular part or some type of defect.
sucks.
+1 No rust damage at showing either, I would have a very close look at its twin or better yet just get a new one.
Control arms shouldn't really fail even with alot of abuse. Or maybe it got a tap in an accident long ago.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Or maybe it got a tap in an accident long ago.
I think you may be on to something. There are a couple of underbody scratches in the same vicinity -- they look to me consistent with curb contact, definitely from prior owner era. I'm wondering if the half shaft let go first, then the control arm snapped at a previously fatigued spot?
Or maybe it got a tap in an accident long ago.
I think you may be on to something. There are a couple of underbody scratches in the same vicinity -- they look to me consistent with curb contact, definitely from prior owner era. I'm wondering if the half shaft let go first, then the control arm snapped at a previously fatigued spot?
Originally Posted By: Johnny248
ouch. I had an '86 900 2 door 8valve n/a. I loved that car, it was awesome, super reliable, different looking, and got good mileage. However, it was THE slowest car I've ever driven. That poor little 8valve nearly had to have the hazards on when trying to get on the express way, even with its 5 speed manual.
I wish mine were a manual. The 3-speed Borg Warner is a buzzkill. OTOH the turbo makes acceleration acceptable for me, no problemo on the interstate.
ouch. I had an '86 900 2 door 8valve n/a. I loved that car, it was awesome, super reliable, different looking, and got good mileage. However, it was THE slowest car I've ever driven. That poor little 8valve nearly had to have the hazards on when trying to get on the express way, even with its 5 speed manual.
I wish mine were a manual. The 3-speed Borg Warner is a buzzkill. OTOH the turbo makes acceleration acceptable for me, no problemo on the interstate.
A rebuilt axle is surprisingly cheap, and is well worth considering.
New boots, grease, and internals are nice and tight.
This may be a good time to do both sides.
At least carefully inspect the other control arm.
An alignment should be in your future, after all parts are replaced.
New boots, grease, and internals are nice and tight.
This may be a good time to do both sides.
At least carefully inspect the other control arm.
An alignment should be in your future, after all parts are replaced.
Boy, that's weird!
I had 4 Classic 900s, and while they weren't all that refined, they were fun to own.
I drove my 86 na auto out to CA and up to WA and back - with the engine buzzing along at 4200-4500 rpm the whole time.
My favorite was my 85 Turbo 5-speed; the sound and the torque that started at spoolup was intoxicating.
I've replaced many many of those ball joints and shocks, but I've never seen a failure like that!
I had 4 Classic 900s, and while they weren't all that refined, they were fun to own.
I drove my 86 na auto out to CA and up to WA and back - with the engine buzzing along at 4200-4500 rpm the whole time.
My favorite was my 85 Turbo 5-speed; the sound and the torque that started at spoolup was intoxicating.
I've replaced many many of those ball joints and shocks, but I've never seen a failure like that!
That control arm had a crack before. You can see where it is rusted INSIDE the crack.
Wow does that bring back memories! I had an 83 900 turbo 4-door 5-speed, same color. What a fun car! I kept her 14 yrs and ran up 255,000 mi on the odometer. . further than the Moon!
I too experienced the drivers side lower A-arm breaking while backing out of the driveway with the steering turned. Evidently, it was a known fault. I replaced the other side as well just to be sure.
I too experienced the drivers side lower A-arm breaking while backing out of the driveway with the steering turned. Evidently, it was a known fault. I replaced the other side as well just to be sure.
It could have indeed been worse. There is a nice windy stretch of road here (50 mph speed limit) that is a favorite drive to get to one of the more scenic destinations here (plus the drive itself is fun). There was a bad single vehicle accident on it resulting in 3 fatalities, and the sole survivor was in pretty bad shape.
Prior to that accident you could get a used vehicle slip for next to nothing as it was common practice at some places to give you the slip with only minimal inspection. A shady inspection was named as a culprit, resulting in a similar failure (along with excessive speed).
-Spyder
Prior to that accident you could get a used vehicle slip for next to nothing as it was common practice at some places to give you the slip with only minimal inspection. A shady inspection was named as a culprit, resulting in a similar failure (along with excessive speed).
-Spyder
Originally Posted By: sleddriver
I too experienced the drivers side lower A-arm breaking while backing out of the driveway with the steering turned. Evidently, it was a known fault. I replaced the other side as well just to be sure.
Thanks sleddriver -- it's always good to know you're not the only one when something unexpected like this happens.
I too experienced the drivers side lower A-arm breaking while backing out of the driveway with the steering turned. Evidently, it was a known fault. I replaced the other side as well just to be sure.
Thanks sleddriver -- it's always good to know you're not the only one when something unexpected like this happens.
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