posted this in the 9-3ss section but got zero response.

Anybody?

I know they are the same epsilon platform and that the majority of the car is saab, but there are a lot of shared parts obviously. (as with the majority of cars these days)

I have had a scout around the forum and there is a consensus that the same parts are a lot dearer for the saab variant even though they are identical.

There is a little problem with my tdi (05 reg), mentioned before but with no responses I have had the car at my local garage who have thoroughly checked the suspension, steering and shafts inc cv joints. Everything is fine apart from "suspected" start of cv joint wear. I believe this to be the inner joint on the drivers side but, as the garage has said, it isn't bad enough to be conclusive, and they are not prepared to do the work unless they know for sure.

I've been looking around the web and I am having serious difficulty sourcing cv joints for this car. Vectra C models are in plentiful supply. I got a quote from an online retailer for the outer joint - £290 whereas the vectras come in at £27. Are they the same? Inner joint from a US site states around $300 again vectra is around £30.

Can anybody supply the correct part numbers for the 2 joints so I can at least have something to compare?

What other parts are common to both cars? I would imagine that the whole engine is the same. Got a sump plug from VX dealer (though he said it was the same sump as the Astra and not the Vectra )

I don't need to change anything yet, but I would like to be prepared when it does get worse and obviously would like to avoid the dealers at all costs.

You might be in luck if you have a manual gearbox.

The parts manual lists various kits for driveshafts. I have been working on the assumption that part numbers that start with a 9 are common GM parts. If I'm right then only drive shafts for the diesel right-hand drive manual gearbox version have driveshafts with the right part number. 91 86 550.

The inboard tripod unversal joint may be part of the above kit, if not it's 93 183 229.

Inboard is the countershaft 91 86 588

All the other bearings and things have parts starting with 11... 12.... or 13..... which I think are Saab only parts. But I could be wrong.

Cheers mate, that gives me something to look for. Really don't fancy paying £300 + fitting for a cv joint. When/if it gets worse.