front struts make clunking noise when braing or bumps

[Waxa]

Hi,
I replaced my front struts on my 2001 aero 95 wagon. I went for a quick drive and when I braked or went over a bump it made a "clunking" type noise. I stopped and pushed on one of the front fenders and heard a similiar noise.
The struts I got were KYB 335921, they looked the same as the SAAB's except the chrome cylinder that the spring goes around was a lot longer, but the base that is bolted to the car and part that holds the spring looked the same in length and detail as the SAAB strut. I did not replace the top section with the bearings or rings. I put the old struts back on and have no noise when braking or going over bumps.

The compnay who sold the struts assured me they were for aero wagon but I am not sure. Is this noise common when a front struts are replaced or have I simply received the wrong ones?

My time to change struts is half what it was!

thanks
Clayton

[geoff 9-3]

Are your struts the same has the above?

If they are make sure the nut that holds the damper in the strut is tight.

[Waxa]

Hi Geoff,

No my old and new struts have the same set up and are set up with 2 bolts from the side near the disk brake,

I used an "racket gun" and got the nut done up to about 3 threads showing above the nut. It was about that before I took off the old one. I followed Wulf's instructions except doing up the bolt where I used the racket gun.

thanks Clayton

[geoff 9-3]

Ah right I forgot the 95 has a different set up.

[Waxa]

Unfortunately ..

[trwilson70]

Experienced similar clunk when entering driveway or low curbs, but not during braking, coming from passenger floor area. I replaced the front sub-frame bushings with urethane - no noise and handling much stiffer - had about 160K miles.

[walawala]

Mine made a clunking noise because of worn subframe bushes. Maybe you should get those checked out?

[Waxa]

I did change the rear lower bush mounts,

[Waxa]

Hi,
Just an update I found out from KYB Australia the struts I purchased were the standard suspension, not the sports. KYB Australia do not supply the Sports Suspension Struts for SAAB 95 Aero.