Page 521
the reat shock absorbers for the Saab 96 are of telescopic
e. They are connected by means of rubber bushed bear-
ody at the top and to the rear axle at the bot-
REAR SUSPENSION, SAAB 96
1. Center bearing
2. Rear axle tube
3. Shock absorber
4. Upper spring seat
5. Rubber bumper
6. Stop strap
7. Lower spring seat
8. Body bracket
9. Side link
— >
==
S2trz2=-2s25
22==S=S=S===
ee
=FSS>SSS=5=5=
Page 522
WHEELS
The dished wheels and wide base rims are manufactured
of pressed sheet steel and riveted or welded together to
form and integral unit.
A pierced hole in the rim accommodates the air valve,
while five pressed and countersunk holes in the wheel it-
self are intended for the wheel bolts. The hole is used
when adjusting the brakes, and when the wheels are assem-
bled this hole should be located opposite the correspond-
ing hole in the brake drum. The rim is also fitted with
three pegs to retain the hub cap. As from model 1972,
the wheels have ventilation holes with the Openings against
the periphery of the wheel. This reduces the risk of get-
ting dirt on the disc brakes.
ROAD WHEEL AND HUB CAP
1. Valve hole
2. Whee! bolt hole
3. Hub cap button
4. Hub cap
A. Rim width: 4" up to and incl. model 1975,
4.5 as from model 1976
HUBS
The wheel hubs on the rear wheels also serve as brake
drums. The hubs are shaped to form an annular seal
against the back plate, thus preventing water, sand and
other foreign matter from entering the hubs and brakes.
The hubs have five threaded holes for the wheel bolts
and a guide ring for centering the wheel during the mount-
ing.
700-4
TIRES
The tires are tubeless and equipped with a balancing
mark in the form of a colored circle. The marking shows
the lighter side of the tire, and when the tire is fitted, the
mark should be by the valve. The illustration below shows
how the externally corrugated wall and bead of the tube-
less tire seals against the inside of the rim (the bead seat),
BALANCING MARKS IN TIRES
SEAL OF TIRE TRIM
As from model 1971 the tires are equipped with profile
dept indicator: this means that when the thread pattern
has worn down to a thickness of 1/16 in. (1.6 mm), un-
patterned cross bars will appear on the tread. At this
point the tire should be exchanged.
NOTE! Avoid fitting of tires of different type or make,
or tires that are remarkably different worn, on the same
axle.
Febr 1977
Page 523
_—
L-SPRING SUSPENSION, FRONT = [> = |
col
NOTE
aepLACEMENT OF COIL SPRINGS AND RUBBER If the upper rubber bumper cannot be removed be
guMPERS cause the bolt has rusted on, the spring can be taken
Out by cutting off the lower bumper, thereby allow- |
ail four wheels are fitted with coil springs. The front and Soh cme arm to drop down towards the sup:
s.
ie springs must on no account be confused as the rear
ones are shorter and much softer than the front ones, On i ae
later models, front coil springs of a new type are intro-
duced. This springs are somewhat longer and harder than
the springs previously used. The new ones are color-
marked, see group O, and may under no circumstances be
installed together with springs of other design. The springs
should always be changed in pairs.
Two alternative methods are described below.
Alternative 1 is removal and installation of the front coil
springs using spring clamp 78 40 820 and spring compres-
sion tool 78 40 812.
Alternative 2 is removal and installation of the front coil
springs using spring scissors 89 95 060 (also designed for
Sgab 99 up to and incl. model 1972) and spring cups
78 61 248.
3. Remove the shock absorber.
4. Compress the spring with the aid of the spring clamp,
tool 78 40 820.
Removal, alternative 1
1, Jack up the front part of the car and remove the
wheel.
2. Insert a suitable gripping tool (a Polygrip or the like)
in the spring and unscrew the rubber buffer from the
rubber bumper, allowing it to drop down inside the
spring.
REMOVAL OF FRONT COIL SPRING
Tool 78 40 820
WARNING
Unconditionally, the spring clamp must be fitted
with the retainers fitted in the way shown by the
fig.
5. Back off and remove the two bolts holding the ball
FRONT
SPRING SEAT AND RUBBER BUMPER
Febr 1977 SAAB
731-1
Page 524
=
joint to the upper control arm. Remove the lower 2. Apply the spring clamp, tool 78 40 820 to the Spring
Si le and withdraw the spring from the compressor,
3. Check that the rubber sealing ring and metal washer;
are fitted in the upper spring seat and that the rubber
buffers are mounted under the upper contro! arm,
4. Place the spring against its upper seat, at the same
time inserting the previously removed upper bumper
in the spring.
5. Locate the lower spring seat between the spring and
the control arm and refit the ball joint.
6. Back off the spring clamp screws successively until
this tool can be removed.
7. Screw on the upper rubber bumper.
8. Refit the shock absorber.
9, Refit the wheel and lower the car to the floor.
Removal, alternative 2
i oa OF UPPER BALL JOINT AND LOWER SPRING 1. Jack and block up the front of the car. Remove the
wheel. Remove the shock absorber on the right side.
2. Fit spring cups 78 61 248 as close to the ends of the
springs as possible as follows:
Left side: Fit the upper spring cup diagonally out-
i Remove the compressed spring. | wards—backwards and the lower cup diagonally in-
; Carefully examine the rubber sealing ring in the upper wards—frontwards. The spring scissors should be ap-
spring seat and fit a new one if necessary. plied diagonally outwards—backwards
8. Examine the two rubber buffers under the upper con-
trol arm which form the rebound travel limit, and fit
new ones if necessary.
Installation, alternative 1
1. Compress the coil spring with the spring compressor,
tool 78 40 812.
THE POSITION OF THE SPRING SCISSORS AND THE SPRING
CUPS ON THE LEFT SIDE
= { =
ey side: Fit the upper spring cup diagonally in-
wards—backwards and the lower di ul t-
TOOL 78 40 812, WITH AND = i aginmeh
seming COMPRESSOR, ° wards “frontwards. The spring scissors should be ap-
plied diagonally Outwards—frontwards.
731-2 cael
Page 525
Installation, alternative 2
1. Place the spring in the tool as shown in the pictures
below and compress the spring. Avoid tightening with
a nut runner. The shanks of the spring scissors should
not be brought together completely.
SITION OF THE SPRING SCISSORS AND THE SPRING
THE PO!
cups ON THE RIGHT SIDE
CAUTION
Under no circumstances may the spring cups be
simultaneously turned towards the spring scissors.
Otherwise the spring may bend out and spring loose
from the tool.
=
THE POSITION OF THE SPRING IN THE TOOL ON THE
LEFT SIDE
3, Compress the spring. Avoid tightening with the nut
runner. The shanks of the spring scissors should not
be brought together completely.
4. Remove the lower spring seat to facilitate removal
and fitting of the spring.
5, Remove the spring.
6. Check and, if necessary, replace the rubber spacer on
the upper spring support.
7. Check the two rubber buffers under the upper control
arm, which limit the downward movement of the con-
trol arm, and replace them if necessary.
THE POSITION OF THE SPRING IN THE TOOL ON THE
RIGHT SIDE
2. Check that the rubber spacer and the washer for the
upper spring seat and the rubber buffers under the exvave
upper control arm have been fitted. ware
3. Put the compressed spring into place. NYY
4. Fit the lower spring seat and the ball joint to the con- NaN
trol arm. YY NY)
5. Release the spring scissors and make sure that the Hey
spring assumes the proper position. The lower end of Hy
the spring coil should butt up against the stop in the mae
spring support.
6, Fit the shock absorber on the right side.
7. Mount the wheel and lower the car.
Febr 197 SANE
‘ 731-3
Page 526
w—
cOIL-SPRING SUSPENSION, REAR
LACEMENT OF REAR COIL SPRINGS AND/OR
REP eR BUMPERS
RUBBER
1, Jack up one side of the car, applying the jack under
the rear end of the sill.
2, Remove the rear wheel.
3, Unfasten the stop strap at its rear bracket and allow
; the axle to fall down, thus enabling the spring to be
removed without the use of tools. On the Saab 95
first remove the shock absorber link.
4, If the rubber buffer needs changing, unscrew it with
a suitable pair of pliers, gripping the steel washer at
the thick end.
iene
Nrestat 1x3
‘BZ
Z
Z
Vag Cee
@
S 5272
REAR COIL SPRING SEATS AND RUBBER BUMPERS
5. Check the condition of the stop strap to see if a new
One is required,
Reassembly
1. If the rubber buffer has been removed, screw a new
one in place.
2. Refit the spring.
Fit the spring with the unground end facing down-
wards and turn until it is correctly located in the lower
spring seat.
3. If the stop strap has been removed, fix a new one to
the front bracket, bearing in mind that the end should
project 0.6 in. (15 mm) beyond the bracket.
FITTING THE REAR AXLE STOP STRAPS
A =0.6 in. (15 mm)
4, Refit the wheel and lower the car.
5. Secure the stop strap at the rear end, again bearing in
mind that the end of the strap should project 0.6 in.
(15 mm) beyond the bracket.
STOP STRAP
Replacement
When fitting a new rear axle stop strap, make sure that
the ends project 0.6 in. (15 mm) beyond the brackets.
732-1
eS te ed
Page 527
REAR AXLE
Removal
Remove the rear seat and back cushions.
2. Jack up the rear part of the car and remove the
wheels,
3. Disconnect the exhaust pipe and rear muffler from
the floor and wheel house.
4. Disconnect the brake hoses from the body,
5. Unscrew the rear brackets for the stop straps and
remove the coil springs, which can be done with-
Out the use of tools.
6. Hand the axle UP provisionally in the stop straps.
7. Disconnect the shock absorbers. On the Saab 95,
unfasten at the rear axle. On the Saab 96, discon-
nect at the upper connection.
8. Detach the brake cable clamps from the shaft and
the wire connections from the rear brake levers.
9.
Disconnect the rear axle bearing from the body.
@ E FCECLECG
(<) f ert tf (Rd)
Ress
DISCONNECTING THE REAR AXLE CENTER BEARING
BRACKET
10. Unfasten the side link body brackets. The nuts are
accessible from inside the car under the rear seat
cushion,
732-2
NUTS FOR SIDE STAY BODY BRACKET UNDER THE REAR
SEAT
11. Unfasten the stop straps again and remove the entire
rear axle assembly.
Installation
Clean all parts thoroughly and, after a careful check, re-
new all worn or damaged parts. Installation is carried out
in the reverse order to removal. Bear in mind, however,
that the rubber bushed bearings must be fitted in such a
way that no stresses are incurred when the car is resting
on the wheels, i.e. such bearings must not be tightened
at the axle and body brackets until the car has been low-
ered to the floor and is unladen.
The ends of the stop straps should project 0.6 in. (15 mm)
beyond the brackets.
NOTE
1. Take pains to protect the rubber bushings against
contact with rubber solvents such as grease, gaso-
line, etc,
2. If arubber bushing has rusted on, it must be re-
jected, but great care must be taken when remov-
ing it to avoid damage to shafts and stays. After
removal of the bushing, clean the bearing surfaces
with very fine emery cloth,
3. Elastic retaining nuts which have lost their grip
after repeated backing off and retightening must
be rejected and replaced by new ones.
Febr 1977
Page 528
Center bearing
If the bushing in the center bearing is to be changed, the
entire rear axle assembly should be removed, It is, how-
ever, possible to change the bushing while the axle re-
mains in place.
Replacement of bushing without removing the rear axle
1, Jack up the rear part of the car,
2, Disconnect the brackets for the rear muffler and
exhaust pipe from the wheel house and floor re-
spectively.
3. Back off and remove the bolt through the center
bearing.
4, Pull the rear axle down and place an assembly bar
across the tunnel between the body and the axle
on either side of the center bearing.
5. Remove the rubber bushing with tool 78 40 739.
EXTRACTION AND INSERTION OF CENTER BEARING
RUBBER BUSHING WITHOUT REMOVING THE REAR
AXLE ASSEMBLY
Tool 78 40 739
9,
10.
Drive a new bushing in, using the same tool. Locate
the bushing in the center of the bearing.
Refit the center bearing, but do not tighten the
nut until after the car has been lowered.
Refit the rear muffler and exhaust pipe to their
brackets on the wheel house and floor respectively.
Lower the car.
Tighten the nut on the rear axle center bearing bolt.
Replacement of bushing on a removed rear axle
Change the bushing with the same tools and in the same
manner as described above.
732~3
Page 529
SIDE LINKS
Replacement of rubber bushings
1,
Disconnect the links from the brackets on the rear
axle.
Detach the body brackets from the links.
. The bushings are best removed by gently heating the
link bearing sleeves with a burner flame or other suit-
able source of heat, whereupon the bushings may be
eased off with tool 78 40 762,a special tool which is
also used to fit the new bushings.
PRESSING IN RUBBER BUSHINGS
Tooi 78 40 762
4. Refit the body brackets to the links, noting that the
angle between the link and the bracket should be 4°
when the bushing has been tightened.
CORRECT ANGLE BETWEEN SIDE LINK AND BODY
BRACKET
732—4
5. Refit the links to the rear axle but do not tighten the
nuts. These nuts must never be tightened until the car
is resting on the wheels. Insert the bolts from the out-
side towards the center bearing.
Lower the car, and tighten the nuts on the side link
rear bearing brackets. .
Check the elastic retaining nuts for fatigue, and fit
new ones if necessary.
Febr 1977
Page 530
——————L a eS SS
sHOCK ABSORBERS
GENERAL
Defective shock absorbers must be rejected, and new
os fitted. This is a matter of the utmost importance,
since the shock absorbers have a pronounced effect on
the roadability and steering qualities of the car,
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS
Removal
1, Jack up the car and remove the wheel.
9, Remove the shock absorbers, collecting the washers
and rubber items.
fe
3 4
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS AND CONNECTING PARTS
1. Nut
2. Spring washer
3. Washer
4. Rubber bushing
Febr 1977
a
NOTE
Before reassembling, provide new rubber items in
place of any defective ones,
When a shock absorber iis to be refitted, be sure to
use Only genuine rubber bushings at the upper and
lower seats, as the use of wrong parts may give rise
to noise, Before a shock absorber is fitted, any air
in It must be expelled, To do this, hold the shock
absorber in the same position as it has on the car
and pump it up and down several full strokes. Now
fit the shock absorber to the car immediately — if
it is put down, air may re-enter its valve system.
—s
Reassembly
1. Put on the rubber bushings and washers, Refit the
shock absorber on the car. Smear the pin threads with
grease before screwing on the nuts. Tighten the nuts
hard.
2. Refit the wheel and lower the car.
SAAB 761—1