Hey folks,

I'm a long time Volvo owner- 4 850 turbos, now a 2002 v70 T5 wagon.

I have replaced virtually every front suspension part, including struts. In the warmer seasons of New England (all three weeks of them!) i run 17" wheels and 235/45/R17 tires. In the winter i run stock 16" alloys with good snow tires all around.
My problem is this: despite new front end parts and struts, tight lug nuts, perfect alignment, etc., my V70 steering seems loose, and the car sort of 'hunts', especially when on ****ty pavement, or narrow, steeply crowned old secondary roads. I need to use both hands firmly on the wheel to keep things going in a straight line.
When i have the winter rims and snows, it handles like a dream (or as good as a 4,000 pound water buffalo can).

Is anyone out there experiencing similar issues, and found a remedy? Or, does anyone know if there are aftermarket steering dampers that can be bolted on to address this?

I love the car, and when pushing it hard on some fun roads, it rises to the occasion, but when driving at grocery shopping/post office runs, it seems to want to jump back and forth a lot of the time.

Thanks,
Augie in NH

 

Have you taken the time to visually inspect every inch of the summer tires to see if you notice any sign of a belt separation ?? Could show up in the tread or as a slight bulge or valley in the sidewall too.

IMHO . . . If it's hunting with the summer tires but runs true with the winter ones it's the wheels or tires and more likely the tires, not the steering or suspension components.

 

I have the same...2001 V70 T5.... recently replaced almost the entire front suspension and it "hunts" too... when I accelerate, it goes right. Take your foot off the gas, it goes left. Not a balance or tire issue as those are new and recently done. I'm having the worn out lower control arm bushings replaced... any other ideas?

 

Sloppy steering rack?

 

Maybe you need to inspect the four sub-frame bushings too. Like above, the mounts for the steering rack to frame.

 

Try the lower arm controls

 

A bent lower ball joint (the rod of the joint being slightly bent) can cause a very vague steering feeling at the center. A low cost aftermarket ball joint can easily bent when hitting a pothole or a curb.

Also, if the car has been in an accident, there can be a frame component slightly bent.

But a ball joint will definitely cause a steering feel like 'disconnected' because the rod turns as the wheel turns, and it constantly varies the wheel geometry. The ball joint doesn't have to be worn (to have loose), just be bent, even a new one can get bent. By the way, it's basically impossible to physically or visually check such condition while the part is on the car. The car will still have a good alignment because the alignment it's checked with the wheels straight.

 

I agree sounds like the sub-frame bushings to me. They are in disguise more than any other suspension component. Both to regular people and to mechanics.

 

SOLUTIONS - Found the lower control arm bushings had failed - also, reduced tire pressure a touch... that fixed the problem 100%.

 

Hey,
So, many thanks to you guys who offered suggestions as to how to solve the "hunting" steering feel i was getting with my v70 . It WAS the subframe bushings that were causing the vague feel i was getting with my car. IPD makes a slick, cheap, easy to install kit that includes 4 polyurethane bushing inserts that fit right into the existing ones, without dropping the entire subframe, which is time consuming and expensive. Anywho, the bottom line is that they worked!!!! My car feels like new again!!

Thanks,

Augie doggy

 

I just ordered these for my car S60 which has the same chasis. They are on back order. All the reviews on IPD said order extra lube. Did you just lube them up and use like a Rubber Mallet to install?