FRONT WHEEL BEARING SAAB 900 81 - 93 & 94 CV

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Parts:

• 9104209 The wheel bearing
• 8965360 The axle nut

• Remove the hub cap from the wheel and break the center axle nut loose. Loosen in a counter clockwise manner. It wouldn't hurt to do the same for the lug nuts at the same time.
• Jack up the front end of the Saab 900 and secure with jack stands. Remove the tire from the side you are going to replace the bearing in and remove the axle nut. IMPORTANT: Put a floor jack under the lower A frame at the ball joint and jack up until you get enough room between the upper A frame and the frame under the A frame. You need enough room to insert a special spacer tool or two nuts the same dimension as the big center axle nut between the A frame and the frame. One on each side of the A frame. This holds the axle up and takes the preload off between the two A frames. With out doing this It makes it almost impossible to extract the hub assembly.
• Remove the 19 mm nut at the tie rod end. Put it back on as far as it will turn by hand. Use a large hammer and smack the boss area the tie rod end extends through. Be careful not to hit and rupture the boot. When it loosens remove the nut and pull the tie rod out of the way. This method can be used on ball joints also. Now is a good time to use a large pair of channel locks to squeeze the ball joints and check for wear.
• Remove the 17 mm bolts that hold the ball joints to the A frames.
• Bend back the retaining clips that are bent over the two 19 mm bolts that hold the brake caliper on. A medium size old screw driver works well as a chisel to bend back the tabs. Remove the two 19 mm bolts and retainer. Use a old clothes hanger bent into a "S" to hang the caliper on the spring so it doesn't contact and damage the outer cv boot. Remove the two screws that hold the brake rotor to the hub and pull off the rotor.
• Push or pound the center of the axle inward toward the transmission and pull the upper ball joint loose from the A frame while forcing the axle out of the hub. Then pull the complete spindle out of the lower A frame.
• Take the assembly to the work bench. On the back side you see a very large C clip. If you have the tool remove it. Put the spindle in a press and jig it up so the hub faces in the direction you are pressing. Use a 15/16 deep socket, position it on the center hub and press out. The bearing will probably break at this point and the center part will dive to the floor. Use a puller to remove the inner bearing race off the hub "the part that took the dive to the floor" Now you can see the large C clip on the other side, remove it. Use a driver and press the bearing out of the spindle.

• Preparing the spindle: Clean and it helps to use a cylinder hone "like what you use on a engine cylinder wall" to pass through the bearing bore to clean it up and condition it for the new bearing. IMPORTANT: The Saab 900 has typically a loud thunk in the front end when turning sharp while backing up. This noise is the result of the bearing moving in its bore. TIP: Use Loctite "Red" on the surface of the bearing to spindle contact surface. If you take this to a machine shop for the press work you will have to tell the machinist IMPORTANT about the loctite.
• Put the C clip in the back side and press the new bearing home. You will know when you are there because you can install the other C clip to retain the bearing.
• Prepare the surface of the hub by squeezing 320 emery cloth over the machined surface and working it smooth and clean. Clean it off in solvent. Now is a good time to wire brush the area the brake rotor attaches to. There are three 10 mm bolts that hold the backing plate on. Tighten them while your there.
• Pressing on the hub: Put the hub face down on the base of the press. Put a spacer under the center part of the hub, enough to clear the wheel studs. Take the spindle and place it over the hub as to start it in the center part of the wheel bearing. Use appropriate spacer between bearing and the press ram. One that will only cover the center part of the wheel bearing as you press it onto the hub. It is important that all machined surfaces be clean and when pressing that all surfaces be square to each other.
• Install unit on car: Take the axle, outer cv joint and apply some molly grease around the inside face of the boot and splines. Make sure the splines are clean and free of rust. Someday you may have to take it apart again to replace the cv boot. Start the lower ball joint in the lower A frame and slide both mounting bolts through. Then try to mate the cv joint and upper ball joint home at the same time. You will have to move and shake the cv joint into position. once the cv starts sliding home, use a brass hammer to pound the upper ball joint into the A frame enough to start upper A frame bolts. It helps to put your knee under the hub and to press upward to start the bolts and other components.