1996 saab 900s - a little help?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

eylem - 13 Nov 2006 22:21 GMT

i got this car about a month ago and i would like to get some thoughts
and opinions on a problem.

first of all, let me start by saying that this is my first car, and i
intend to take good care of it and keep it for years to come.

the problem i'm having is that the brakes squeal for the first five
minutes of driving, and then the squealing goes away. i asked around a
little and some people suggest that i have the brake booster checked,
some people say that i should have the brakes replaced, and some say
that since the noise goes away after five minutes it should not be a
problem yet.

if something does need to be changed, im willing to put in the time and
effort and do it myself; instead of let someone else do it and not do
it well.

any pointers/ideas?

i really appreciate your help.
thanks.

eylem

Reply to this Message

Charles C. - 13 Nov 2006 22:50 GMT

Hi,

> i got this car about a month ago and i would like to get some thoughts
> and opinions on a problem.
>
> first of all, let me start by saying that this is my first car, and i
> intend to take good care of it and keep it for years to come.

Good on you :-)

> the problem i'm having is that the brakes squeal for the first five
> minutes of driving, and then the squealing goes away.

Squeal as in make a high pitch noise like screeching (or young girl
screaming when she has a tantrum).

Sometimes (in wet countries) the brakes can make a grinding noise when
used the first few times (e.g. every morning) but that is because there
is surface rust on the disks/rotors.

i asked around a

> little and some people suggest that i have the brake booster checked,

Nahhh, have it checked last if at all.

> some people say that i should have the brakes replaced,

Maybe, but no.,

and some say

> that since the noise goes away after five minutes it should not be a
> problem yet.

Correct!

> if something does need to be changed, im willing to put in the time and
> effort and do it myself; instead of let someone else do it and not do
> it well.
>
> any pointers/ideas?

Nothing needs to be changed yet (but you will find what is what once you
take the brakes apart). If you want to cure the problem you have to
remove the brake pads clean the areas they touch ... apply plenty of
copper grease (a copper based paste which has a high melting point and
is used to lubricate brakes). Dry brakes or accumulation of dust on the
pads surfaces can produce the squealing you probably describe.

All said and done it is just noise from vibrating parts, it does not
change the ability of the car to stop.

Read the WARNING below though :-)

> i really appreciate your help.
> thanks.

WARNING!

As this is your first car you should get yourself the necessary tools
and you should get a manual. I use Haynes ... it might help if we know
where you are located (which country).

For example, if brake pads are too worn the manual will explain the
minimum thickness.

If you remove the rear pads you have to know how to adjust/set the hand
brake (parking brake, emergency brake). Further, ask people near you who
know (but from what you said above they don't know too much).

1. You need to jack the car up in order to remove the brake pads. When
you do so you must support it on proper stands NOT on the jack.

2. You must NOT contaminate the surface of the pads or of the disks with
copper paste, grease or any other oil.

3. And on it goes ... :-)

... Telling you what the solution is, is dangerous unless you know how
to fix things ;-)

Regards
Charles

Signature

Please remove _removeme_ to reply.

Reply to this Message

eylem - 13 Nov 2006 23:21 GMT

charles,

i will be sure to pick up the manual as soon as possible, and proceed
carefully after that =). thank you for your input, i was really worried
about this.

eylem.

Reply to this Message

Charles C. - 13 Nov 2006 23:29 GMT

> charles,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
:-)

You can always ask questions ... but you have to be aware that the
answer is based on what *we think* it is you mean so the advice can be
very wrong.

It is worth trying to do things on your own! It is just those first few
jobs that it is nice to have someone next to you who knows what you
should do ;-)

Charles

Signature

Please remove _removeme_ to reply.

Reply to this Message

- Bob - - 14 Nov 2006 22:59 GMT

>charles,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>eylem.

You will need to find a Haynes manual for this car. It's not published
in the USA if that's where you are but some companies import them and
resell. Post here if you can't find one.

It's possible the simply disassembling the brakes, cleaning the
sliding parts, and greasing with a proper (special) brake grease will
stop the noise. But, if you are going to do all that, you might decide
it's worth replacing the pads too - labor is the same and it will
definitely cure it. However, if this is your first car, I would not
advise doing brake work as your first endeavor unless you have an
experienced mechanic to help you do it. Brakes are important :-)

Reply to this Message

Charles C. - 15 Nov 2006 01:46 GMT

>> charles,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> advise doing brake work as your first endeavor unless you have an
> experienced mechanic to help you do it. Brakes are important :-)

I was leaving it for further investigation ;-) Amazon.com seems to have
them:
http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-1650933-6329646?url=search-alias%3Daps&fiel
d-keywords=haynes+%2Bsaab+%2B900&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

or short url
http://mini.dundee.ac.uk/bin/?732629x1

:-)

Charles

Signature

Please remove _removeme_ to reply.

Reply to this Message

NW Fungi - 15 Nov 2006 03:39 GMT

>>> charles,
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> :-)
> Charles

I agree with Bob and Charles. I own a 96 900 and love it. 174K on it and
other than a few of the "SAAB Quirks" (SID, dash gages flakey etc:) it
has been a great car. I live in the wet Northwest of the USA and the
brakes do squeal a bit the first few applications if it has been sitting
for a day or two, even with new brakes. Enjoy your first car! And Amazon
is were I bought my manual.
NWFungi

Reply to this Message