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9-5 a braking oddity!

4.2K views 25 replies 7 participants last post by  nikchalkley  
#1 ·
Hope someone out there can help. I have recently purchased a Saab 9-5 2.0 lpt SE auto. 121k on the clock, full history (Saab), almost perfect paintwork (a couple of bumper scuffs!). The car was disposed of by main dealer as it has just hit the 5 year old mark - mine for £2900.

Have already fixed SID unit - courtesy of saab9-5.com and the detailed fix instructions.

Now have to do same with ACC unit as a couple of symbols are missing!

Anyway on to my question:
Brakes are stopping the car fine, but under moderate to heavy braking (not enough to initiate ABS) the car jolts a little - almost like you are taking your foot on/off the pedal repeatedly. Car otherwise brakes as you would expect. Could this just be warped discs? (maybe due to over zealous previous owner) or possibly dodgy pads? Maybe a little brake fade?

It has full SAAB history so I would imagine original parts all the way.

Car had new pads and discs fitted 7k miles ago!

Your assistance would be much appreciated.
 
#6 ·
Originally posted by Leon [9-5 stg2]:
[qb] Yup, the brembo discs would almost certainly improve the brakes. [/qb][/b]
have a feeling my 9-5 2.0 lpt will need new all round shortly. The car has covered 55,000 miles in 18 months and I am still on the discs/pads that came with the car.

How much are the Brembo discs.

I'm sure this has been covered before, can I fit Aero discs/pads to my standard lpt brake setup?

Thanks,

Andrew.
 
#13 ·
Originally posted by Leon [9-5 stg2]:
[qb] Brembo discs

The Aero discs will fit, quite simply!
But...

You will need:
Thelarger Aero 308mm discs
The disc backplate
And also the caliper carrier mount from and Aero.

The actual caliper and pad are the same., all bolts up as if you were replacing a disc so fairly straight forward! [/qb][/b]
Thanks Leon,

How easy are the backplate and caliper mounts to come by? And how much should I expect to pay?

Would the SAAB 4 kit on the URL below give similar braking performance to the aero setup?

http://www.edworthys.co.uk/edworthys/prodl..._category=Saab#
 
#15 ·
Originally posted by Leon [9-5 stg2]:
[qb]
The Aero discs will fit, quite simply!
But...

You will need:
Thelarger Aero 308mm discs
The disc backplate
And also the caliper carrier mount from and Aero.
[/qb][/b]
Leon,

I don't suppose you have the part numbers for the aero back plate and disc caliper carrier. I have tried on my EPC disc but cannot seem to find them.

Thanks.

Andrew.
 
#17 ·
Well I made an inspection of the front discs and pads - not a distortion in sight!!!

Rears have not been investigated yet - but the discs appear to have a rusty outer edge and the pads are at least half-worn.

I have Pagid replacements on order from Elkparts to replace the worn pads and will clean up the rusty discs.

Hopefully problem solved
 
#19 ·
Originally posted by andy 9-5:
[qb]How much better will the braking be with an aero discs/pads setup over say a Brembo disc and pagid pads setup on a 2.0lpt MY99 9-5? [/qb][/b]
My two penneth

If the aero disc is made from the same material as the 2.0/2.3 disc and the pads are the same material, the only benefit must be the increased size, ie more pad touching disc

However, aftermarket discs and pads have different compounds, producing more friction, on the same size disc as standard, so no increase in weight, and surely a better bite for the same pedal pressure

Not sure if that helps at all Erm, the upgraded discs look sexier
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#20 ·
Originally posted by Cosmic Blue 9-5:
[qb][If the aero disc is made from the same material as the 2.0/2.3 disc and the pads are the same material, the only benefit must be the increased size, ie more pad touching disc      [/qb][/b]
The Aero pads are the same size as the lesser models. The discs have a larger diameter so the pads exert the same force on the disc, but at a greater radius. Same force at greater radius = more torque = better stopping
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#24 ·
I am totally happy with my Aero but the one minor gripe I have is braking. It will slow me down but doesn't seem to stop you very quickly. It's worse after a good run, your needing to really put your foot down to have the same braking effect.

Is this purely down to needing better pads like the ones mentioned above or is something not right.

As I am approaching 1000 miles since I bought it last Wednesday I have to book it into the dealer, they agreed to carry out it's next service FOC but didn't have time before I took delivery. So they said rather than carry out their usual free 1000 miles check, which they usually do, they would do the full service and if I was to notice anything amiss with the car to let them know.

The cars done 69,000 miles by the way.
 
#25 ·
The 9-5 brakes have been a bit af a talking point, but the usual problem has been low-speed bite. High speed is OK once they are warm.

At 69,000 miles, has the fluid been changed? If not it will probably be on the way out.

If you are on your second set (or more) of pads, are the ones you have Saab or "cheapies"?

May be that the calipers just need a good clean.
 
#26 ·
Brembo discs are superb!

Finally got around to replacing them.

Discs on the car (Saab OE replaced 7k miles ago - but b4 I owned said vehicle) were somewhat out.

Using an accurate device to measure the run out I calculated 6 thou' on pass side and 10 thou' n drivers!!!

No wonder the damn things were juddering!

Replaced pads too - with OE Saab pads (£19 off e-bay!!)

Thanks to all for the advice!
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