Odd SAAB engineering..

[Wightsparks]

Replacing a front suspension arm bush in my SAAB 9-3 (2002 model so early GM).

This one


No. 17 on this drawing https://www.esaabparts.com/viewparts.php?searchpart=1&section=474055225

Got the correct replacement rubber/metal bush and will shortly have the thin inserts to go with it (no.19 on the link above). However the (almost fully threaded!) bolt that goes through is is 12mm dia, the bush hole is 16mm - no way are the inserts more than 0.5-1 mm thick meaning that the whole thing is going to have 3-4mm of slop. - Which would explain the mangled state of the original

What am I missing?

 

[wyn]

The diagram says you need 4 and they are split.

Maybe you just put 4 inside each other and that takes up the gap

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

https://www.autovillage.co.uk/car-parts/saab/area/south-west/avon/Bristol

A friend has pointed me at this place.
I stress I have not used them myself. But he said he has and they did help him.

 

[Wightsparks]

The diagram says you need 4 and they are split.

Maybe you just put 4 inside each other and that takes up the gap

That's 2 per bushing as on the dwg, one bushing each side. The spring inserts are less than half as high as the bushing so they would be in line -I did wonder if they might go inside each other but I can't see it - unless that is why they are sprung as there is no other reason. Still does not make any sense as to why the holes are different sizes!

Thanks TYA - there are a couple of specialist SAAB suppliers that I use, though the generic GM stuff can be obtained from any of the usual suspects.

 

[Wightsparks]

Pics of the spring sleeves https://www.partsforsaabs.com/produ...=2262&osCsid=9974aed023dcd2ec52023f63d1534b8e

It makes no sense at all, they will leave a 15mm dia hole for an 12 mm bolt and why are they spring sleeves anyway ? It's a solid metal inner on that bush. Also why is the bolt fully threaded it should be smooth for that section.

 

[armalites]

Looking at the shape of the bush is it possible that the top section of the bush that does the locating in the chassis/subframe and the bolt is just there to keep it in place so it doesn't need to be a snug fit.

 

[Wightsparks]

That is possible - though an odd design - only the top or bottom could locate else you would not be able to replace it. Still means there are two random spring sleeves that are doing nothing. Looking at pictures of the aftermarket polybushes things they seem to have used a metal sleeve with a 12mm hole so that's what I am going to do. - Unless when I try I discover the reason it has been done this way!

 

[PhillipM]

Probably a bush they've reused from another application and the spring inserts are just to get the fitting tolerances down to where they're acceptable. Lots of cost cutting on those GM models...

 

[Wightsparks]

Yep I think I agree with you. SAAB spent a lot of time undoing (and undermining!) the GM cost cutting.
Took a good look and there is nothing stopping it sliding from side to side so I made up a sleeve insert for it. Fixed now.