New car, Advice sought: saab 900 turbo front wishbone

[mashedpot8er]

Hi there. I've got a new car and it's got a few issues. Being new to car fetling I was hoping someone might have some wise words / thoughts.

Here's the car, its a 1993 saab 900 classic turbo, 16v sport.



The nearside front brake was binding so I whipped the wheel off to investigate. Pads were shot, caliper locked on, offside caliper has got good pads, but was locked off. I've found some reconned calipers for both fronts cheap enough and will get new pads etc too. While looking about I saw a rust hole in the drivers side lower wishbone / arm. Pic below (socket bar inserted into).





Jammed up caliper


I panicked a bit at this point, then got the spanners out and have taken if off. I've had a look on the internet and it appears I should be able to get hold of one ok. Would it be best to buy a new one, or buy a second hand one and hope it's ok ? Any personal experiences of good places / people to talk to ?


I had to fight most of the nuts and bolts, wrecking a few and will need to get new ones. Where's the best sort of places to get little bits, like nuts, bolts and washers etc from, oem if possible ? Direct from saab ?


This sort of wrecked nut.



Should I change all the rubbers etc too ? How do most people go about getting all these little bits and bobs ?

these sorts of things. 3 caliper bolts and 2 lower ball / control arm nuts and bolts

[madwelshman]

Hiya, first thing you want to do is get registered on UKSAABS.co.uk, the guys on there will be able to answer ANY questions you have.
There are plenty of suppliers of Saab parts out there without thinking of going to main dealers.
Modifications, ask on the Saab forums, they'll be able to point you in the right direction as it depends if your car is a low pressure 155bhp model or full boost 175bhp. Heads can be changed for ones off a 2.1 or 2.3 which have much better flow and there for more efficient.
Saabs are a great car and if looked after will provide many years of loyal service and lots of fun too.

Enjoy.

Will

[mashedpot8er]

Hiya Will. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll post up on uksaabs and see what they think. The head swap sounds very interesting too if it turns into a keeper. Cheers

[madwelshman]

No worries. Parts for the Classic 900 isn't too bad still and set up properly they're a very rapid, nice handling car.
They're especially great as a long distance cruiser.

[mashedpot8er]

Hiya Will, I've been looking about the past week and parts don't seem too expensive at all to be honest. So far anyways. Can't wait to get it out on the road to see what it's like to drive.

[madwelshman]

No, parts aren't too bad for the C900. Just have a good search around, because there are a few suppliers that don't come up on google search etc. You won't go far wrong on the Saab forums. Just ask anything you want to know on there. There's guaranteed to be someone who can give you an answer. If not, they'll be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.

Get it on the road and enjoy it.
Says he with far too many projects parked up in the lockup!! lol

Will

[ejenner]

I got my new ones from www.partsforsaabs.co.uk - they don't sell them now as Scantech went bust and that's where they used to get the control arms.



If you're not sorted yet then I have some second-hand control arms. They're rusty... but not with holes in. I have all the nuts and bolts you want as well.

The lower wishbone bushes don't really fail because they're so small and so tough but if you wanted to replace them you could get rubber ones from www.partsforsaabs.co.uk / they also sell Powerflex bushes for the 900 so get them from PFS, Eurocarparts or best of all camauto.com

[mashedpot8er]

Thanks for the advice and the offer of help for parts. I managed to find and get a really good arm, brilliant !! Apart from the wrong part had been put on the end by some kno* so it didn't fit !! Got it sorted now. Thanjs again for the offer of help.

[thooms]

Nice work! You'll love it - they're magic to drive.

Where are you - guessing So'ton / Portsmouth? There's a fantastic garage in Bristol for c900 bits if you're stuck for anything - he's got most things in stock and loads of genuine Saab stuff. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

jamsaab.co.uk/

I'm changing the front ball joints and shocks on mine - so I've got spares of the bolts that go through to the arms (in your image) which I can post to you if they'd be of use?

Driveshaft tunnels look good - will be a nice car!

While you're in there, those ARB bushes look a bit tired - if you're feeling keen, Powerflex do those (as you can see in ejenner's post).

[mashedpot8er]

Thanks for the recommendation and info thooms. I think I'm ok on the bolts, but its gonna get a strip down imminently, so that might change Still can't wait to get it MOT'd and driving. Yeh, I live on the south coast. Not far from portsmouth and southampton.