rear suspension help

1502 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by rayodunne, Jul 19, 2010

zach9000

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2010

hi,

im putting on lowering springs on my 9-5 and the fronts are done and now time for the rear. well im stuck. i cant get the lower strut bolt out. its the really big 21mm one. it is STUCK. i have an impact gun that is good for 220 ft lbs and its not even budging. i dont know what to do next. i tried PB Blaster to loosen rust but still nothing.

just wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas?

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

saabkid37

· #2 · Jul 3, 2010

get out your handy torch.

mhess427

· #3 · Jul 3, 2010

someone said you can put a torque wrench on it and push it up with a jack. the weight of the car should be enough to loosen it up.

zach9000

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 3, 2010

i got it out.

but now i cant get the nut off of the top of the strut so i can get the spring out. its really rusted and the impact gun doesn't get it off.

the whole shaft spins. how can i get the shaft to stop spinning? i tried using vice grips and an open ended socket but it keeps slipping.

is there any other way?

mhess427

· #5 · Jul 3, 2010

http://photo.platonoff.com/Auto/20040617.Saab_9-5_Rear_Suspension/
http://photo.platonoff.com/Auto/20070930a.Saab_9-5_Rear_Suspension/
http://www.fixmysaab.com/9-5_repair/suspension/rear/step1.asp?nsteps=6

Honestly, this is why i paid my indie to install my struts. yea the satisfaction of doing it myself was missing, but damn did i save myself a lot of grief. Good luck btw i hope you get the install done quick and painlessly.

zach9000

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 4, 2010

no it sucked.

i had to grind out the nut and bushing and i have to now order new parts and a new damper/buy a used one.

ofcourse the last one was the pain in the ass

mhess427

· #7 · Jul 4, 2010

which damper was it? I just replaced all of mine so I have my aero dampers just sitting in a box. you can have them if you want, one has a leak, i just don't know which one.

zach9000

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 4, 2010

rear passenger damper.

its so messed up. i grinded everything off hoping to ghetto rig it but no luck.

can you meet up? i will drive to you tmrw if you wanted. im desperate.

i do have an LPT thou so will that make a difference if i have 3 LPT dampers and 1 aero damper?

do you have the bushing and lock nut and all that too?

mhess427

· #9 · Jul 4, 2010

If I were you, I would just take all of them. After all, they will probably work better with lowering springs than what you have. Like I said, I think one has a leak but I was driving around with them up until a few weeks ago no problem. If you take them, assume that they're temporary until you get what you really want. (maybe some nice FSD's

)
Everything I have is in this box. I'm pretty sure it's everything you need unless my mech reused some parts (i doubt that)

I work literally the entire day tomorrow, but I can throw the box in my trunk and you can meet me at work if you want. (Avon, CT)

See less See more

zach9000

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 4, 2010

ah its okay man. thats about 6 hrs away from me. lol.

i appreciate it but i just found a kid that will sell me the rear strut assembly i need for a good price and i can go get it monday morn.

it is all temp thou haha. i would LOOOVE to get some FSDs or even just some bilsteins.

the stock ones are poop.

mhess427

· #11 · Jul 4, 2010

ok good luck!

cking1975

· #12 · Jul 6, 2010

never worth it to do this job in my opinion...I think my suspension shop charged me like 40 bucks cash for each side...the problem is this area is a rust trap and the bolts will take you all day to get off...kinda like an oil change when I get charged 10 dollars cash to change my oil...why would I do it...?

bobg450

· #13 · Jul 6, 2010

zach9000 said:
i got it out.

but now i cant get the nut off of the top of the strut so i can get the spring out. its really rusted and the impact gun doesn't get it off.

the whole shaft spins. how can i get the shaft to stop spinning? i tried using vice grips and an open ended socket but it keeps slipping.

is there any other way?

Try a nut splitter, they're $15 or $20 and handy to have. Be careful if you don't have a spring compressor on that strut spring. They launch the nut & washer.

Sleeve Sportswear Automotive exterior Bicycle part Electric blue

See less See more

zach9000

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 8, 2010

nah i dont trust anybody to work on my car. haha only two close friends besides myself.ha

i had fun doing it actually. i got it all done thank god.

rayodunne

· #15 · Jul 19, 2010

It took me 6 days to complete this job. Stripped threads and trying to find helicoils and fine thread replacement bolt for the lower bolt was the main issue. Previous owner destroyed the threads in the trailing arm.

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.