I just finished replacing a couple of break calipers on my 1987 SAAB 9000S. One thing I noticed after the first roadtest is that the break disks heat up quite a bit. Obviously, some heating is to be expected, but after driving the car for just three or four miles (without a lot of stopping) the disk are too hot to touch for more than 2 or 3 seconds.

Is this normal for SAABs? I'm afraid to take the car on a long trip for fear of heating up the disks so much that they begin to deform. But perhaps SAAB disks are just made to run hot.

marko,
dont be too alarmed
brake disks on any car get hot
the energy absorbed by the brakes is mostly turned in to heat I say mostly its 99.99% or maybe a bit more
theres a simple mathmatical formula to work out how much heat is dissapated from the brakes which eludes me at this time of the night
basically if you can touch them for 2-3 seconds after a short journey they arent that hot
if you can touch them for 2-3 secs after a spirited 20 mile run, you're a very hard man with very deep burns http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/violent/torch.gif http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/laughing/icon_smile_lachuh.gif

if the brakes do overheat brake fade is the problem. you should be able to feel this and slow down or stop to let the disks cool before it becomes a big problem
I used to have problems with fade on my 9k when using allied signal pads but only on spirited runs in the peak district

mel

You will soon know if your brakes are overheating because they will start to smell awful, the same aroma as burning clutch.(can't describe the smell, but you never forget it) My 900 did this when the front caliper siezed, squeezing the pads against the disc.
Jimbob