Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2002 10:19:14 -0500 From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.net> Subject: 91 9000T 5spd trans
It looks like I will need to replace the manual transmission on my 9000. So far I have found 2 sources for a rebuilt trans: the local Saab dealer and www.thesaabsite.com. The dealer is about $275 more expensive, but doesn't charge the $100 or $200 for shipping if I pick it up from and return the core to his store. My question is: What comes with the transmission or what additional parts should I get? Tom Townsend of www.townsendimports.com says the Saab transmission comes with a slave cylinder. TW at www.thesaabsite.com says that "for the many years that [he] worked for Saab" the Saab rebuilt transmissions did not come with a slave cylinder, and his doesn't either. I know I will have to get a clutch kit, but nobody has let me know if I need to reuse my existing transmission mount. If so, this would be the perfect opportunity to replace it too. I also need to find a place that will make the repair. I'm not considering the dealer for this because their labor rate is $95 per hour, so they are estimating over $4000 for the job. The independent transmission repair shops (not necessarily familiar with Saabs) are also giving me different answers on how the transmission is replaced. This is important because the amount of time quoted for the job varies by quite a bit depending on how the transmission is removed. One shop says that the engine and transmission have to come out as an assembly and then they are separated. TW and another shop says that the transmission can come out by itself. It seems that one of the subframe members have to come out to allow the transmission to come out the bottom. I can't see how this can be done without also removing the entire suspension on the left side. Any information or advice would be appreciated. Walt Kienzle