Hi, I have a 2001 V70XC with 178k miles (lots of work done). I just had the front axles replaced again today due to a typical axle wobble when accelerating uphill or out of a turn. After two sets of FHQ axles I went out of my way to order EMPI brand ones from IPD this time. And... the wobble is still there. It is very severe at times, especially under acceleration on a left or right 90 degree turn, like when you are pulling out of a side street into traffic and accelerating moderately hard. Steering wheel vibrates quite badly when you do that. I can also get a pretty bad vibration if I gun it going uphill at low (20-30mph) speed.

I have removed my driveline to eliminate that as a source of the vibration. That seems to have made it much worse. My mechanic (a great volvos only indy who works on a lot of these cars) said that "if I felt that wobble 100 times I would say it was an axle," but seems to think it is something else. He said that the engine mounts look fine and has suggested putting the driveline back in. I've also replaced the trans torque mount, upper eng stabilizer, and lower right eng mount.

Any ideas on what could be causing this are appreciated. Thank you.

Alex

 

EMPI axles are Chinese just like FHQ. Stay away from C.R.A.P. (Chinese Replacement Auto Parts). Best way to go with axles is rebuilt OEM from raxles.com. It's possible you've installed three sets of bad axles.

Random thoughts. Check for bent rims. Jack car, spin wheel, look at both sides of rim - if it's bent it'll be obvious. Tire damage. What brand tires? How many miles? Tire out of balance side to side. Steering rack bushings, tie rods, ball joints, control arm bushings.

 

Yeah - I was sad to see the "Made in China" mark on the EMPI boxes.

I'm running goodyear comfortreads with 30k miles, not a big fan, but they are balanced and the wheels seem to be okay. The car feels fine when coasting.

I've replaced all of the parts you mentioned (although some of them were done 60k miles ago or more), except for the steering rack bushings. Which is interesting because I have been noticing for a couple of months a little "bump" in the steering wheel when it is slightly turned and brake hard enough for the front end of the car to dive. You can get it driving around a parking lot. It is feels like something is moving, the steering wheel actually shifts slightly. Maybe rack bushings?

 

To be honest I'm not sure how the steering rack is attached on your car or even if it has rack bushings. I suggested rack bushings because I know they can cause problems on other vehicles.

Anyway, not too hard to check the rack. Put the front wheels on ramps and with the engine running have a trustworthy assistant turn the steering wheel from side to side a few inches while you watch the rack from under the car. Look for excessive side to side motion - i.e. more than a slight amount - of the rack. Also check your tie rod ends.

Tires can cause weird handling problems, even tires that are apparently balanced and undamaged. I had a set of Goodyears (original equipment) on a Dodge Ram pickup that would shake at highway speed even though they were perfectly balanced on the machine. You might try swapping your wheels front to back to see if that changes anything. My personal tire rule is any brand of tire as long as it's Michelin.

 

I agree with you on Michelins... definately for my next set. Maybe Nokians. But the way this problem presents, severe wobble under certain load conditions, I suspect something else.

What do you think of the possibility of engine mounts? Front or Rear (hard to get to, I think).

 

The wobble or the feeling that the front end is "Tucking under" may be due to a worn steering coupler. This is the universal link between the column shaft and the rack.