Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 09:17:38 -0400 From: Malt_Hound <Malt_Houndnospamm*yahoo.com> Subject: Re: 1994 900SE turbo (coupe) Ball joints
saintzal wrote: > But is there a temporary fix? Something that would stop the clunking, > and keep the car moving safely for around 250 miles or so? > > Zal No. Replace the control arms if the joints are actually bad. Someone mentioned checking the upper ball joints with a large wrench, whcih is hilarious since a 1994 SAAB 900 (NG guys!) has no upper ball joints. The way I check them is jack the car up so that the wheel is hanging from the suspension about 3-4 inches off the ground. Now put the end of a length of 2x4 under the wheel and pry up on the bottom of the tire. while prying watch the joint for any vertical motion. There should be none. There are a few other things that will cause clunking when driving over bumps or uneven road, so before you spend a couple hundred bucks on control arms be sure they are actually bad. The bolt that attaches the control arm to the stanchion arm has a propensity for coming loose and/or wearing the bushing at that point. Boith of which will cause some nice clunking on bumps. There is a service bulletin with an improved torque procedure for that bolt due to all of the complaints from owners. -Fred W