Page 571
April 1969
CONTENTS
700
731
732
761
71
774
General
Coil spring suspension, front
Coil spring suspension, rear
Shock absorbers
Wheels
Hubs
Page 573
GENERAL
Front suspension
The front suspension has coil springs, transverse rubber-
seated control arms and double-acting hydraulic shock
absorbers.
Up to and incl. model 1972 the coil springs are com-
pressed between fixed seats. The lower seat is secured by
two screws to the upper control arm in the 1969 model
and welded to it in the 1970 and 1972 models. The top
seat in the 1969—1972 models consists of a steel cone
welded to the wheel housing with a rubber buffer screwed
to the cone. The rubber buffer acts as a stop, limiting the
upward stroke of the suspension.
As from model 1973 the lower spring seat is attached by
a rubber bearing to the control arm. The seat is thus arti-
$1780
FRONT SUSPENSION UP TO AND INCL, MODEL 1972
1. Upper control arm
2. Lower spring support
3. Coil spring
4, Rubber buffer
5. Rubber buffers
6. Shock absorber
Jan. 1973
mn
culated (pivoted). 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 that fits the inside rim of the cone. A rubber
buffer is vulcanized to the cone. 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 downward stroke is limited by two rubber buffers
attached to the bodywork.
The shock absorbers are attached by rubber bearings at
both ends, to the bodywork at the top and to the lower
control arms at the bottom.
FRONT SUSPENSION AS FROM MODEL 1973
1. Upper control arm
2. Lower spring support
3. Coil spring
4. Rubber buffer
5. Rubber buffers
6. Shock absorber
700-1
Page 574
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 jour
naled 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 con-
nected 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 ina
rubber bearing in a bracket fixed to the underbody. The
other end of the bar is attached to the right end piece of
the rear axle.
On model 1974, a new cross bar has been introduced. Its
attachment to the body has been moved somewhat for-
ward and its attachment to the rear axle has been moved
to a bracket on the axle tube.
The spring links carry seats for the lower ends of the coil
springs, the upper seats being attached by spring insula-
tors 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 ab-
sorbers,
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, UP TO AND INCL. MODEL 1973
. Rear axte 7. Spring seat
End piece 8. Coil spring
. Stub axle 9. Spring insulator
. Spring links 10. Rubber buffer
. Rear links 11. Stop
Cross var 12. Shock absorber
OAPWNS
700-2 SAAB
REAR SUSPENSION, MODEL 1974
1. Rear axle 7. Spring seat
2. End piece 8. Coil spring
3. Stub axle 9. Spring insulator
4. Spring links 10. Rubber buffer
5. Rear links 11. Stop
6. Cross bar 12. Shock absorber
Dec, 1975
Page 575
rp ok
Wheels
The wheels are of dished type with a wide rim base. They
are for the standard models made in two parts, the disc
and the rim, both of pressed steel sheet, which are then
welded together. The rim designation is 4 1/2"’ JSL x 15”,
as from model 1972 4 1/2” J FHAx 15”,
The rim has a hole to accommodate the air valve, and there
are four pressing-reinforced holes for the wheel nuts in the
disc, which also has three pressed retaining lips for the hub
cap.
Saab 99 EMS is equipped with light metal alloy wheels
5” JFHA x 15.
Hubs
The front wheel hubs are each journaled on two conical
roller bearings with their outer rings force-fitted to the
steering knuckle housing. The rear wheel hubs are of con-
ventional design, with the outer rings of the roller bear-
ings force-fitted to the hub. Both front and rear hubs are
provided with seals to prevent water and dirt from enter-
ing the bearings.
Each hub, front and rear, carries four force-fitted bolts
for attachment of the wheel.
|
N
N
N
GS
WHEEL, AS FROM MODEL 1972
S 3495
FRONT WHEEL HUB
. Castle nut
. Washer
Hub
. Outer shaft seal
Pons
5, Wheel bearings
6. Spacer sleeve
7. Inner shaft seal
8. Outer drive shaft
Dec. 1975 SAAB
S 1752
700-3
Page 576
Tires
The tires are tubeless, size 155 x SR 15” up to and incl.
model 1972. As from model 1973, most variants are
equipped with 165 x SR 15’’. Saab 99 EMS is equipped
with steel-cord tyres. They 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 is
mounted on the wheel.
The illustration below shows how the outside of the
fluted tire bead seales against the inside of the wheel rim,
BALANCE MARK ON TIRE
the bead seating.
As from model 1971 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 alsc valid for tires which are
sightly different worn.
TIRE BEAD AND RIM
700-4 SPER Dec. 1975
Page 577
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 betwee
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 up to and incl. model 1972
1, Jack up the front of the car put the car on trestles,
and remove the wheel.
2. Compress the spring using compression tools
899502 and 899506 (see illustration).
It is easier to remove and install the spring if the rubber
buffer is removed before the spring is compressed. Place
the tool in such a way that most possible numbers of
spring coils are surrounded by the tool.
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.
a.
REMOVING FRONT COIL SPRING
Tools 899502 and 899506
3. Remove the compressed spring.
4. Check and if necessary change the rubber spacer at the
upper spring seat.
5. Inspect the two rubber buffers under the upper con-
trol arm and change them if necessary. These buffers
limit the downward stroke of the suspension assembly.
Dec. 1975
Installation up to and incl. model 1972
1. Apply tool combination 899502 and 899506 to the
spring so that the unmachined end of the spring is
correctly located in the lower spring seat. Compress
the spring.
2. Check that the rubber spacer and steel support ring at
the upper spring seat and the rubber buffers under the
upper control arm are in place.
3. Locate the spring between its seats, place the rubber
buffer in the spring and gradually slacken the screw of
the compression tool until the too! can be removed. Fit
the rubber buffer.
4, Put on the wheel and lower the front of the car.
Removal, as from model 1973
1. Raise and block up the front of the car and take off
the wheel.
2. Apply spring compression tool 899584, 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 (see illustration).
REMOVING THE FRONT COIL SPRING
Tool 899584
731-1
Page 578
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
(see illustration).
REMOVING THE UPPER SPRING ATTACHMENT
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.
731-2 SAAB
Installation, as from model 1973
1. If the spring has been taken out of the compression
tool or when fitting a new spring, apply the compres-
sion 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 (see illustration).
TOOL 899584 APPLIED ON COIL SPRING
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 grad-
ually 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 advis-
able 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,
Jan. 1973
Page 579
=
ee
_.
COIL SPRING SUSPENSION, REAR Installation
chaceiins oodlnorives Proceed in the reverse order. Make sure that the unma-
chined end of the spring is at the bottom and is securely
Seren located in the lower spring seat (up to and incl. model
1973.)
1. Apply the handbrake. Remove the rear hub cap and
slacken the wheel nuts. Jack up the car and place a
trestle under the side where the spring is to be removed.
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.
LOCATION OF COIL SPRING
LOCATION OF JACK UNDER SPRING LINK
On model 1974, the upper end of the spring is unma-
chined and is instead provided with a upper rubber spring
support.
The lock nuts at the front spring link bearing attachment
in the body are to be exchanged (model 1974).
Remove the two nuts under the rear seat that secure
the front spring link bearing to the body. On model
1974, remove the lock nuts from underneath.
3. Lower the spring link so that the spring can be re-
moved. On model 1974, the upper spring support is
held in its place by the spring tension anc is to be re-
moved together with the spring.
REMOVING THE REAR WHEEL COIL SPRING
Dec. 1975 SAAB 732-1
Page 580
Rear axle Installation
Removal Clean all parts thoroughly, inspect them, and exchange
any that are worn or damaged. Install in the reverse order
1. Apply the handbrake. Jack up the rear end of the car, to the above. Note that the jack is not to be placed on
place two trestles under the body and take off the rear the middle of the rear axle when this is put into position
wheels. 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 bearings
must be drawn tight only when the car is standing empty
on its four wheels. _
The screw at the cross bar attachment to the body shall
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. be installed as follows:
Disconnect thé lower shock absorber attachments and Up to and incl. model 1973 with the nut facing backwards.
the cross bar On model 1974 with the nut facing forwards.
3. Place a jack under the rear axle. Lower the axle and
lift out the rear springs. NOTE
4. Undo the screws of the spring link rear bushings and Do not forget to bleed the brakes.
lift away the rear axle assembly.
732-2 SAAB Dec. 1975