When we bought the 2004 SAAB 9-3 convertible, I noticed that the front suspension was making noise over bumps, tracks, and potholes. It wasn’t a horrible feel but one of my mechanics told me that one of the struts was blown out. Did that keep me from enjoying the car as is? Not at all. I’ve driven it as far as Somerset PA (243 miles) without any suspension difficulties. We just had to make sure to drive slowly over railroad crossings, etc. However, we finally decided to get it fixed because of an upcoming vacation.
With previous SAABs, I have usually found what I needed at www.thesaabsite.com. But that company sold out to another that wasn’t as friendly with pricing. So, I looked locally and online. I found a variety of options and pricing for loaded struts (spring included):
As you can see, there was a big difference in pricing. The online pricing was attractive but the shipping time was uncertain or later than needed. Local pricing was more expensive but available next day. With both pricing and shipping combined, I decided to order the loaded struts from our local Federated store. That will ensure the struts are installed before our upcoming trip. We should have the parts on Monday and installed by Tuesday. Hurrah!