Front Suspension lower control arm

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lbh - 23 Oct 2005 01:25 GMT

So,

In a pretty dramatic way one of the sides of the front suspension lower
control arms cracked and failed. It is very cut and dry for replacing
this part, but the next question is what else could've been damaged in
the process. I was going under 5 mph and was under the impression
that I had a flat tire, which seemed odd for the snapping sound that
was mad when it occurred.

So is there anything else I should be aware of before making the trek
out to the local bone yard for a replacement part or multiple parts?

Regards,

lbh

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Charles - 23 Oct 2005 02:41 GMT

You forgot to mention what car this happened to.

We must assume it was a SAAB of some sort?

Classic 900's are notorious for this. It often happens while backing up.

It happened to me about a year or so ago on my 86 900T with around 240+k
miles. Just the arm was all that was needed. I did not fix this myself,
but I had them check the other side. they said that the arm that broke
had about 1/8" holding it when it went.

Charles.

> So,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> lbh

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lbh - 23 Oct 2005 06:03 GMT

> You forgot to mention what car this happened to.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Charles.

Yep. It is a '89 900s, with around 189k. And it happened while
backing up, just as your experience was. Any ideas on the repairs
beyond just that broken suspension arm?

thanks,

lbh

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hippo - 23 Oct 2005 08:54 GMT

>> You forgot to mention what car this happened to.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>>
>> Charles.

>Yep. It is a '89 900s, with around 189k. And it happened while
>backing up, just as your experience was. Any ideas on the repairs
>beyond just that broken suspension arm?

>thanks,

>lbh

There was a global recall programme in Aus a lot of years ago for C900 lc
arms. They were retrofitted with a modified arm. IME a low speed break
shouldn't cause any additional damage; the one that broke in the driveway
on one of ours didn't anyway. Of course, if you were silly enough to keep
driving on it ... rather hard I would imagine! Cheers

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Craig's Saab C900 Site - 23 Oct 2005 10:42 GMT

>There was a global recall programme in Aus a lot of years ago for C900 lc
>arms. They were retrofitted with a modified arm. IME a low speed break
>shouldn't cause any additional damage; the one that broke in the driveway
>on one of ours didn't anyway. Of course, if you were silly enough to keep
>driving on it ... rather hard I would imagine! Cheers

Do you have any details on this? I'm fairly sure both of my running C900's
were recalled for something since there a couple of Saab mod labels which
don't really identify what they're for stuck above the front wheel spaces.

Would be curious to know what that's all about. I haven't noticed any
fracturing in the lower a-arm's of my 1983 900s or 1985 900i but it's
something I always check when I have the cars lifted at the front.

Craig.

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