Page 671
GENERAL
FRONT SUSPENSION
The front suspension has coil springs, transverse rubberseated control arms and double-acting hydraulic shock
absorbers.
The coil springs operate between the upper control arm
and the wheel housing. The top seat consists of a steel
cone held in place in the wheel housing by the pressure
of the spring itself and located in a pressed boss in the
wheel housing. A rubber ring is placed between the steel
cone and the spring. This rubber ring is supplied in different sizes which are fitted according to the equipment
and weight of the vehicle. The lower spring seat is attached
by a rubber bearing to the control arm.
The downward stroke is limited by two rubber bearings
at both ends, to the bodywork at the top and to the lower control arms at the bottom.
SPRING SUPPORTS AND DISTANCE PIECES, FRONT
SUSPENSION
A distance piece and two upper spring supports of different thicknesses of rubber are provided to adapt the front
suspension to the weight differences between the different models.
1
2
2
~-~§:="~~~-1
1. Distance piece 8933889
2. Thin spring support (rubber) 8919862
Thick spring support (rubber) 8921108
S 6325
FRONT SUSPENSION
1. Upper control arm
2. Lower spring support
3. Coil spring
4. Rubber buffer
5. Rubber buffers
S"-11&
700-1
Page 672
The spring links carry seats for the lower ends of the coil
springs, the upper seats being attached by spring insulators to the body. Upward movement of the rear wheels is
limited by rubber buffers screwed into the body which at
extreme spring compression strike a stop on the rear axle,
while downward movement is limited by the shock absorbers.
The rear shock absorbers are journaled in rubber bearings
at both ends, the upper ends being attached to the body
and the lower to the back axle spring links.
REAR SUSPENSION
The rear suspension comprises a rigid rear axle with coil
springs and double-acting telescopic shock absorbers. The
rear axle is a straight tube carrying end pieces into which
the stub axles are force-fitted. The wheel hubs are journaled to the stub axles on conical roller bearings. The
disc brake shields are bolted to the outside of the end
pieces. The rear axle is movable with respect to the body,
being attached to the latter by two spring links with
their front ends journaled to the body and their rear ends
connected by two rubber bushings to the rear axle tube.
There are also two links connected between the end
pieces of the rear axle and the body behind the rear axle.
These links take up torsional stresses in the axle. Lateral
forces are taken up by a cross bar with one end journaled
in a rubber bearing in a bracket fixed to the underbody.
The other end of the bar is attached to a bracket on the
axle.
SPRINGS, SPRING SUPPORTS AND DISTANCE
PIECES
A distance piece and two different spring supports of
rubber are provided to adapt the rear suspension to the
weight differences between the different models.
15511
A
,__
1
e&+-- 2
ISH!C:====::JW----~s
7310 3
1. Distance piece 89 33 897
2. Thin upper spring support 89 35 330
Thick upper spring support 89 22 304
_,,,,,~~--"'rr-+----lr--/----'--
U~r-Jt1f-71..._-
11
3
3. Up to and including 1978 model lower spring support
89 35 926
3. As from 1978 model lower spring support 89 35 926
3. As from 1978 lower spring support 89 35 33 (thin)
NOTE. The thick spring support must not be installed
in the lower position as from 1979 model.
AUXILIARY
REAR SUSPENSION
1. Rear axle
2. End piece
3. Stub axle
4. Spring links
5. Rear links
6. Cross bar
700-2
7. Spring seat
8. Coil spring
9. Spring insulator
10. Rubber buffer
11. Stop
12. Shock absorber
SPRINGS
Auxiliary springs are fitted on Saab 99 vans (available on
certain markets). The auxiliary spring consists of an airfilled rubber bladder mounted in the rear coil spring.
The pressure in the auxiliary spring should be checked in
conjunction with checking of tire pressures.
Page 673
WHEELS
The basic version of the Saab 99 is equiped with widebase steel wheels. Conical wheel nuts are used.
Aluminium wheels are provided on some EMS, TURBO
and GLE models. As opposed to the steel wheels, cylindrical wheel nuts are used. There are several different designs of centring the wheels as from 1978 model. (See
section WHEEL CENTRING).
Steel wheel:
'~
, I
\
\~
S 3495
1975 MODEL
1976-1978 MODEL
Aluminium
1979 MODEL
4 1/2" J x 15" FH
5"Jx15"FH
5"Jx15"FH
wheel:
5 1/2" J x 15" H2
5"Jx15"FH
SUB
700-3
Page 674
WHEEL CENTRING
Wheel centring on the hub was introduced in 1978 model
to improve the positioning of aluminium wheels.
WHEEL CENTRING IS USED ON THE FOLLOWING
THREE WHEEL DIAMETERS
EMS and GLE between
chassis nos.
99781012809--22772
99782004948-8921
99786006869-10290
59,9 mm
8° MV conical ring 0 59.9 mm
:---~l--hll-ttttt---
TURBO between chassis nos:
99781000000--22420
99786600000- -10290
II
8° MV conical ring 0 65.0 mm
..,..._..,..,...,.,.-,·
-
-1-+!r...-t-t11·-
GL as from chassis nos:
99781023444997820091039978300090199786010291EMS, GLE as from
chassis nos:
997810227739978200892299786010291-
S7510
TURBO, as from
chassis nos:
9978102242199786010291-
111
Hub with 8° MV 0 71.4 mm
NOTE. Replacing steel wheels with aluminium can result in:
- damage to the centre of the wheel and the centring
arrangement
- wheels incorrectly centred.
IF IN DOUBT CHECK THE CENTRING DIAMETERS
OF THE WHEELS IN QUESTION.
700-4
UAII
Steel wheels can be fitted irrespective of their centring
diameters. However the following should be noted: THE
HUB DIAMETER OF EARLIER DESIGN STEEL WHEELS
(up to and including 1978 model) SHOULD BE INCREASED IF THEY ARE TO BE FITTED TO THE LATEST
HUBS (0 71.4 mm). Otherwise the insufficient clearance
may cause the wheels to corrode onto the hubs.
Page 675
HUBS
The front wheel hub is mounted on a double-row, angular
contact bearing in the steering knuckle housing.
The rear wheel hubs are of conventional design with the
two outer rings of the roller bearings forcefitted to the
hub.
The front hub bearings are provided with moulded seals
while the rear hub bearings have a removable sealing ring.
Each hub, front and rear, carries four force-fitted bolts
for attachment of the wheel.
1 2
3
4
6
5
S4379
FRONT WHEEL HUB
1. Lock nut
2. Washer
3.Hub
4. Outer drive shaft
5. Bearings with seals
6. Outer drive shaft joint
TIRES
The tires are tubeless, size 165 x SR 15 in on most cars,
but some cars are fitted with tires size 155 x SR 15
and 175/70 HR 15.
•
S 1755
The tire designation gives the following information:
175
Tread width (mm) ____
T_,
T
70
H
R
15
BALANCE MARK ON TIRE
Height/width of tread------'
(only given if different
from standard)
Speed designation---------~
Type (radial)-------------'
Wheel diameter--------------~
The tires are provided with a balancing mark on one side
in the form of a round colored spot (see illustration); this
indicates the lightest side of the tire and should be placed
above the valve when the tire is mounted on the wheel.
&MB
700-5
Page 676
The illustration below shows how the outside of the
fluted tire bead seales against the inside of the wheel rim,
the bead seating .
.
·~
,'•:::::,...:::::
.....,·,
.~
·~
S 1754
TIRE BEAD AND RIM
The tires incorporate a profile depth indicator; when the
tread pattern is worn down to 1/16" (1.6 mm). unpatterned cross bars appear. This is a signal that it is time to
fit a new tire.
NOTE! Avoid fitting tires of different type or make on
the same axle, the same is also valid for tires which are
sightly different worn.
700-6
Page 677
COIL SPRING SUSPENSION, FRONT
CHANGING COIL SPRINGS AND RUBBER STOPS
As already stated, all wheels have coil spring suspension.
Under no circumstances must the front and rear springs
be interchanged, as the rear springs are shorter and much
softer than the front ones. Concerning differences between the springs see group 0. The springs are delivered
with a rustproof coating. If this coating has been rubbed
off, it should be touched up before the spring is installed.
Removal
REMOVING THE UPPER SPRING ATTACHMENT
1. Raise and block up the front of the car and take off
the wheel.
2. Apply spring compression tool 8995839, engaging the
upper shanks direct in the spring at the second free
turn from the top and the lower shanks round the
spring cups. These are located on the last turn of the
spring with the color-coded cup right beside the end
of the coil.
4. Remove the spring and steel cone.
5. Check, and if necessary, change rubber ring or steel
cone with rubber buffer.
6. Check the two rubber buffers forming the bottom
limit-of-stroke stop and change them if defective.
Check and if necessary renew the bottom spring seat
and bearing.
Installation
1. If the spring has been taken out of the compression
tool or when fitting a new spring, apply the compression tool with the spring cups in the correct position,
i.e. locate the color-coded cup right beside the end of
the coil, and hook the upper shanks of the tool over
the second turn from the top.
REMOVING THE FRONT COIL SPRING
Tool8995839
3. Compress the spring to give 30-40 mm (roughly 1 1/2")
clearance at the top end. If the upper spring attachment or the steel cone is left behind in the wheel housing, glued there by the underbody coating, chip it out
of the housing with a chisel or similar tool.
S3935
NOTE
Do not overload the tool. This can happen if the two
cheeks of the tool are tightened hard against each
other with the aid of a nut runner.
TOOL 8995839 APPLIED ON THE COIL SPRING
SAM!
.L
731-1
Page 678
2. Compress the spring. Place the steel cone and rubber
ring in the top of the coil.
3. Locate the spring on its bottom seat. Slacken off gradually on the compression, guiding the steel cone into
its seat in the wheel housing. Remove the compression
tool. If the bottom seat has been removed, it is advisable when reassembling to mount the seat loosely and
wait until after the spring is in place before securing
the seat, which will automatically take up the correct
position due to pressure from the spring.
4. Mount the wheel. Remove the blocks and lower the
front wheels to the ground.
731-2
!MAB
Page 679
COIL SPRING SUSPENSION, REAR
CHANGING COIL SPRINGS
Removal
1. Apply the handbrake. Remove the rear hub cap and
slacken the wheel nuts. Jack up the car and place trestles under the rear end.
CAUTION
The jack must not be placed under the rear axle, as
this is liable to deform the axle.
2. Take off the wheel. Apply a jack under the spring link
and disconnect the lower end of the shock absorber
Remove from underneath the two lock nuts that secure the front spring link bearing to the body.
REMOVING THE REAR WHEEL COIL SPRING
Installation
Proceed in the reverse order. Fit new lock nuts at the
front spring link bearing attachment in the body.
AUXILIARY
SPRINGS
Removal
Remove the rear springs (see removal of rear coil springs),
unscrew the valve and remove it from the spring link. Remove the auxiliary spring.
Assembly
LOCATION OF JACK UNDER SPRING LINK
3. Place a trestle of suitable height under the rear axle to
prevent the brake pipes between the body and the rear
axle being stretched and damaged.
4. Lower the spring link so that the spring can be removed together with the upper spring support held in
place by the spring tension.
Ensure that the washers at the ends of the auxiliary
springs are properly in position. The lower washer is secured at the spring link and the upper one should be
placed above the rubber seat on the coil spring.
Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
The auxiliary spring should be pumped to a pressure of
28.5 psi (2.0 bar, kp/cm2) after assembly.
As from chassis Nos. 99771029045 and 99772005399,
a rubber cushion is also fitted at the lower spring seat.
A distance piece is provided above the upper spring
support on some versions.
POSITION OF THE AIR VALVE
SA.ft&
732-1
Page 680
REAR AXLE
Removal
1. Apply the handbrake. Jack up the rear end of the car,
place two trestles under the body and take off the rear
wheels.
NOTE
It is absolutely forbidden to jack up the car with
the jack applied direct to the rear axle.
2. Disconnect the brake hoses in front of the rear axle.
Disconnect the lower shock absorber attachments and
the cross bar.
3. Place a jack under the rear axle. Lower the axle and
lift out the rear springs.
4. Undo the screws of the spring link rear bushings and
lift away the rear axle assembly.
Installation
Clean all parts thoroughly, inspect them, and exchange
any that are worn or damaged. Install in the reverse order
to the above. Note that the jack is not to be placed on
the middle of the rear axle when this is put into position
for installation. Use two jacks or a trestle at one side
when the other is lifted to the correct position with the
jack. Note that the rubber bearings must be mounted in
such a way that no strain occurs when the weight of the
car is supported by the wheels, i.e. the rubber bearingsmust be drawn ti~ht only when the car is standing empty
on its four wheels.
The screw at the cross bar attachment to the body shall
be installed with the nut facing forwards.
NOTE
Do not forget to bleed the brakes.
Changingthe rubber bushing,rear axle-springlink
Once the spring link has been removed from the axle, the
bushing can be pressed in or out by means of tool No.
8995789.
The tool can also be used for changing the bushing for
the pivot plate bearing at the front spring mountings.
The various components of the tool are shown in the illustration.
732-2
l
TOOL NO. 8995789
1. Axle
2. Spring washer
3. Nuts
4. Brass washer
5. Removing sleeve
6. Fitting sleeve
Removal
Position the tool as shown in the illustration and withdraw the bushing which will be pressed into the removing
sleeve of the tool.
(N.B. Make sure that the thread of the tool and the contact surfaces of the nut and brass washer are thoroughly
greased.)
Fitting
1. Grease the outside of the bushing, e.g. with soapy water, to facilitate fitting.
2. Press in the bushing, positioning the tool as shown in
the illustration.
3. After fitting ensure that the bushing protrudes the
same amount on both sides of the bushing holder.