Non e30 suspension refresh question

[browntown]

I have to redo the suspension on my saab. While I have everything out, I'm putting in new front wheel bearings. The bearings are separate from the hub on this model and after pressing in are held with circlips on each side.

Question: Is it standard practice to replace the hubs as well, or if they look fine, just wire wheel them, grease and press into the bearing? They don't seem to be a wear item, but if I'm going through all this trouble, I figure to replace everything I should so I don't have to tear it apart down the road.

thx

[mr2peak]

Try grassrootsmotorsports.com forum, someone there will know

[Das Delfin]

thesaabsite.com might have some info. They helped me with my old 9000

[E30SPDFRK]

Unless the bearings were worn to the point of eating into the hub, or you suspect them to be bent, they will be ok to reuse.

[george graves]

side question: How's replacement parts on Saab these days? Any issues getting parts?

[browntown]

Thanks e30spd, they're fine, just redoing all the bushings and suspension, so the strut/spindle assembly has to come out of the car anyways, so I ordered new bearings. I'm sure the hubs are fine, just was wondering what standard shop practice was for hubs that aren't combined with a bearing. Not really a saab specific question.

George, not terrible, tend to be pricey though. Eeuro, thesaabsite and pelican are my goto's. Some things like the common problems (DIC's and Fuel Pumps) are ludicrously expensive depending on who you get them from -- I've replaced both. Even more than BMW though, trying to get something at NAPA on a Sunday is pretty much impossible. I try to plan preventative maintenance a couple weeks out since it will undoubtedly be mail order.

Also, if you're fine with the generic part, you can save some dough. But from my learning when I had a volvo a couple years ago, Scandex or Professional Parts Sweden are utter garbage.

So say you want a new window washer valve - PPS part will be 50 cents, and genuine saab will be $8. You gotta make the decision about if that 50 cent part fails, how much work will it involve to swap out.

So although Saab doesn't really exist anymore (except Chinese electric cars), http://www.saabparts.com/ does exist to keep on making parts. Who knows how long that will last though. My 9-3 has 130k, and I love it as an extra car, my 16yo son is eyeballing it, and I think I can nurse it another 50k miles before it becomes too expensive to keep.

[Das Delfin]

George, not terrible, tend to be pricey though. Eeuro, thesaabsite and pelican are my goto's. Some things like the common problems (DIC's and Fuel Pumps) are ludicrously expensive depending on who you get them from -- I've replaced both. Even more than BMW though, trying to get something at NAPA on a Sunday is pretty much impossible. I try to plan preventative maintenance a couple weeks out since it will undoubtedly be mail order.

Saab blower motors are just as expensive as e30 blower motors. A saab clutch master cylinder is $150, compared to $35 for our cars. But Saab side-mounted reverse lights are just plain cool