Finally got my calendar meshed with my trusted independent repair guy and retrieved the Saab this evening. Most of the clunks are gone. Time will tell if these pads make less dust than the previous ones. This service included:
- new front lower control arm assemblies
- new outer tie rod ends
- new rear upper lateral link bushings
- new right rear shock and upper mount
- new front pads and rotors
- new rear pads and rotors
- new Falken Sincera tires all around
AK1 drove me out in the SS and I followed her home in the Saab. 174k and counting. AK1 is a big fan of the 415 hp / manual trans combo. 3BABY9 for life!
EDIT: WTF rotated pic?!?! Is this a feature of the new server?
Here i rotated the original 270° CCW and it posted in that orientation, vs the previous post it was right side up portrait style and posted with a 90° CCW rotation.
Falken Sincera tires....
The 201s have been my go-to for fleet Prius. Not a high tech winter tire but a very good all-arounder. Wear mileage has been very good on these 65k rated tires. The 250s are rated for 75-80k.
Smooth, quiet and remain true, wearing evenly. I very much like them. They used to be really inexpensive (but what is anymore?)
In reply to John Welsh :
I've got a guy at Falken, so I get a healthy discount. I drove it home about 30 miles and I can say they are quiet and seem grippy enough. AW drove the Saab to the airport today and reports "This is such a nice little car to drive." Prior to today, she had not driven the Saab since the Rowdy Audi arrived back in May.
After replacing front LCAs and outer tie rod ends, the steering wheel was a little off-center and she pulled a little right. So, this morning I dropped the Saab at my local Belle Tire for a 4-wheel alignment. They turned it around in under 2 hours, and all is well. Dude said "are you aware of the rust in the front subframe?" So I explained that I was not yet done patching it up.
174k and counting. AW loves this car.
Spent some quality time on the Saab today. goal was to patch the hole on the back of the subframe on passenger side (pic from a few months ago):
as well as bridge over the exhaust to replace some of the lost vertical strength in this section. Started with a trip to The Future Hammer Store for a finger sander, then dragged out the CAD and the plasma cutter (V2 shown):
The finger sander allowed me to get down to clean metal for welding:
and that's where I ran out of daylight. I will make a similar bridge piece for the forward section, then tie them together across the bottom. It won't be as good as OE, but it will be better than it was yesterday.
note: doing this E36 M3 on my back on the cold concrete driveway was not nearly as fun as many other things I've done, but I appreciate having the tools and the ability to do such things.
Good work AC, and the fun comment reminds me of lying on my back, on the driveway, in the snow, in the dark, welding up my then rally car (TR7)- DEFINITELY not fun, but appreciated that I could do it!
A few days ago a close family friend asked if I had any loaners in the fleet. Not knowing if I had any bike rides or junkyard runs in my near future, I elected to keep Ody at home and loan out the Saab. This car has been the gift that keeps on giving. She's due for oil change and ATF spill'n'fill, plus a fresh set of winters because there's no berkeleying way those loud-ass Sumitomos are going on again.
World's Loudest Winter Tires have been scrapped. New Blizzak WS90s installed today. 175k and counting. Still love this car.
