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loose steering -- '99 9-3

my sterring has lost it's SAAB-ness! it is a '99 9-3, 50k miles. after gettig new tires, alignment and tire balancing (2 times) it still drives like a '80 buick (loose, sloppy, unresponsive on the wheel and hard to keep from drifting left to right at high speeds) -- and the steering wheel shakes between 55-70 MPH. i've taken it to two mechanics (one a saab specialist), and neither can find anything wrong. strangely, when going up signifiacnt inclines (on the highway) the steering seems to tighten a bit and becomes more responsive -- not like the steering i feel in love with, but a little better.

any suggestions?

robert in ny

Reply to
rfisher_nyc
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Well, I've recently picked up a NG900 which I think shares the same basic steering system.

Check the rubber bushings and sleeves at the steering control arms on the frame, they are the most rearward point of the mounting assembly from the hub to the frame. After that - check to see that the steering rack itself (along the firewall) isn't loose and that the tie rods are solid all the way to the wheel and that it isn't leaking fluid from it's ends. Finally - check the forward control arm bushings (the NG A-Arm is a two part assembly) as well as the ball joints and particularly the wheel bearings.

Your alignment shop should have picked something up if it was bad - but if one or more of these mount points is allowing the wheels to move even a little bit - it will present as described.

Reply to
Dexter J

thanks for the suggestions...

also of note: the steering has A LOT of play -- and i have to turn the wheel twice as much as i used to. in fact, i can shake the wheel left to right maybe

10-15 degrees and the car HARDLY moves. i test drove another '99 9-3 yesterday

-- this one an SE model. the same left to right wheel shake sent the car swerving back and forth.

does this trigger any other thoughts for anyone? thanks again.

robert in ny

Reply to
rfisher_nyc

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