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  1. #1
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    9-5 proper alignment question.

    The general consensus seems to be that all 1998-2009 9-5's will suffer from increased rear camber leading to uneven tire wear. My 2006 has badly cupped tires in the rear.


    Is this excessive rear camber due to worn bushing or is it just the natural state of the 9-5?


    Did saab make the same car for 10 years with messed up alignment? Surely there' s better fix than "camber shims" which seem like treating the symptom rather than the problem itself.


    Has anyone gotten an alignment on a "then new" 9-5 and seen if the factory alignment was correct?

  2. #2
    Frank
    Administrator nordwulf's Avatar
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    I used spring spacers on mine and haven't seen any abnormal tire wear since. More info about the issue here: http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=28469

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wulf View Post
    I used spring spacers on mine and haven't seen any abnormal tire wear since. More info about the issue here: http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=28469

    I understand that shims will fix the camber, but I'd rather treat the root cause of the problem rather than repair its after effects.

  4. #4
    Frank
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    Quote Originally Posted by borderwave2 View Post
    I understand that shims will fix the camber, but I'd rather treat the root cause of the problem rather than repair its after effects.
    Shims will adjust the camber but not the ride height and toe issues. I replaced springs and shocks on a previous 9-5 Aero with the same issue and it didn't do much for the ride height.

    The site where I got my spacers from suggest replacing the bushings: https://sites.google.com/site/jjjperformance/

    Full Fix

    This is probably for the owner that wants to be 100% correct and money really is not the issue. New parts are put in all parts of the suspension system, springs, shocks, bushings, etc. Springs and Shocks are an ok DYI job, but bushings are a different story. These need to be pressed in and out and may need special tools to do so. Some have done this DYI, some have had an INDY / Dealer which will cost something like $250 or more each. Some people swear by doing this, but we have done about 10 cars without this and restored ride height at much less cost. Some cars have nearly perfect bushings and still are very low. Some have had the Full Fix and still had low ride heights

  5. #5
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    Thanks Frank, I will look into getting new springs/shocks. Do you think it is doable for the home mechanic with hand tools?

    Quote Originally Posted by Wulf View Post
    Shims will adjust the camber but not the ride height and toe issues. I replaced springs and shocks on a previous 9-5 Aero with the same issue and it didn't do much for the ride height.

    The site where I got my spacers from suggest replacing the bushings: https://sites.google.com/site/jjjperformance/

  6. #6
    Frank
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    Pretty easy to replace rear springs and shocks: http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=2172

    But.. new springs and shocks will not do much for the camber issue or ride height.

 

 

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