Front suspension issues - symptoms to parts

[the blaab]

Hi all,

I am curious about how to determine which parts of the front suspension need replaced based on symptoms while driving.

My SAAB's (120k miles) suspension was a mess, main complaint was it was very loose and all over the place in general and sharp bumps vibrate violently all the way up through the steering wheel to the point where it almost shakes your hands off the wheel.

So I got it "fixed" or so i thought! I just dropped about $600 to have lower control arms replaced and some other sundry work done. This is an 01 9-3 SE.

So the mechanic, a guy i trust implicitly, replaced lower control arms, rotated and balanced tires, "tightened up some things that were loose." Wheels were shaking/vibrating at 55-60mph so I had the tires rebalanced (Goodyear Eagle GTs) as well, and he gave it an alignment and hit me for about $600....(total bill $985 that also included inspection, emissions, oil change and replacement of tensioner on serpentine belt as it was cutting into timing cover, part was $162)

Results?? OK overall, it is "tighter" although over the last week or so it seems to be "looser" again or I am just getting jaded.

No longer shakes/vibrates at 55...BUT now it shakes/vibrates at 70 mph and on up from there.

And the big bumps are still exactly just as bad on the ole steering wheel....scary!

I understand that is an SE and I am on sport tires so i should expect a hard ride but this shakes the entire steering set up - unnerving. Does this happen to anyone else?


So.....Strut inserts????? Springs???? Thoughts???

Thanks in advance!