1999 SAAB 9-5 cross stay arms

Tiny
JDG50
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SAAB 9-5
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 134,000 MILES
I have a 1999 Saab 9-5, 134k miles. I have a rattle in the rear left side, so took it to the dealership. They diagnosed the problem in the cross stay arms. They said I needed to order from them cross stay arms for both sides at $148 each (didn't specify upper or lower). When I took it back to get the work done they replaced the right side upper and lower cross stay arms on the RIGHT side but the rattle didn't go away (for it is on the left side). I took it back but they insisted (indicating it was a very hard and time consuming job) that the right side was the side that needed replacing. They seem to be an honest dealership, but this has tried my patience, as it looks like both sides (or just the left side) should have been done, and maybe not both upper and lower. I wonder if I was not treated right, or maybe if the parts guy ordered the wrong parts and they just put in what they had; and wonder if I'm looking at more trouble down the road. Thanks for your input!
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 AT 12:03 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
MNTHNY4
  • MECHANIC
  • 612 POSTS
Hey what's up, u sound like u have a problem with the rear hubs, note the rear hubs have 2 balljoint made into them that wears out over time & cause a rattle noise while driving more so on rough roads, the arms roarly goes bad, so have them check again, u may want to buy them used from goldwing saab. Com, after your dealer check again give them a call, cause the hubs are expensive, good luck.
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Friday, August 13th, 2010 AT 11:16 AM
Tiny
JDG50
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Thanks very much for your reply! I just jacked up the car and checked the ball joints. There doesn't seem to be any free play. The rattle is high up; sounds like it is just under the deck behind the rear seat (it's not the speaker, and the shocks were just replaced; had the rattle before and after replacing the shocks). The car has spent most of its life in northern New England, so there is plenty of salt and snow to hasten rust, though I agree; it seems like the arms should last a long time. Anyway, without actually looking under the car it may be too much to expect of you to diagnose the problem. Maybe I should just take it to another mechanic to take a look at it. But maybe you're right on the ball joints :-) But I hope not, I've spent too much on the car already :-( Thanks again! When we find out for sure I'll post it here.
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Friday, August 13th, 2010 AT 12:30 PM
Tiny
MNTHNY4
  • MECHANIC
  • 612 POSTS
Ok now I have replaced a few trunk shocks for rattle, note it took me some time to locate noise, I had to drive inside trunk at one point to verify noise was at trunk shocks, replaced both & noise was gone, so check yours, u can take then both off & drive the car, this & the suspension noise I told u about earlier r the only known noise on the 9-5s to date as per my working on them for a few years now that I know of, so good luck.I am in florida no snow car with rust here that much, so noise could very well be somewhere else due to that, also note to check rear joints car has to be on a lift to check this properly using a pry bar & pushing & pulling on wheel assembly. Question, r the boots torn exposing bolt joint area?Will happen in area where u have snow & sallt mix.
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Saturday, August 14th, 2010 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
JDG50
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Sorry for the 3 day delay in replying to your last note. I will need to ride in the back to try to locate the source of the rattle- it does sound like it may be coming from a trunk shock. Hopefully in a day or two I'll be able to check it out, then I'll get back to you. Thanks very much!
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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 AT 11:01 AM
Tiny
JDG50
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You were right! It is one of the trunk shocks. I took it out and the rattle stopped, though I think the other one may be starting to rattle a little. Thanks very much for you help!
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Saturday, August 28th, 2010 AT 1:23 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Thank you for using 2car pros, your feed back is always welcome.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, August 28th, 2010 AT 8:10 PM

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