Hey guys,

Bought some new tires a couple years ago and noticed SEVERE tramlining on cement highways (the ones with the little groves in them)

Anyways, the tires have worn down a little but the car is still tramlining. Anyone know a way to stop this????

Thanks

 

When my car started tramlining it was due to failing lower control arm bushings.

Have you checked these, and mayby the sway bar end links?

 

Also, if you have low-profile directional tires this can accentuate the problem.

 

An article with what to look for.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

 

Thanks for the responses everyone! Nice article as well.

Being that this is a 97 I should probably check the bushing and sway bars. Sway bar failure seems to be a common problem in the Volvo 1990s series if I am correct. Ill will do some more research.

As far as performance tires, they are FAR from it. I just bought some cheap-o Primewell tires back in fall 2011, so they are a couple years old. I noticed the most tramlining on the really heavily rutted highways, like I-80 near tahoe, 405 in LA (the worst!!!!) and 280/880 SF bay area/San Jose area. Ill do a check up on the bushings here soon to see what they look like.

I guess now the main question is, is there a forum for replacing the Volvo 850 sway bars and/or bushings????? Thinking of upgrading to something better

 

Never seen a swaybar break, ever, on any kind of car. Part of your problem is location, they have grooved highways, yes? But yeah, you need to make sure your suspension (front and back) is tight.

IPD swaybars will make big improvement in handling but doubt they will affect tramlining issue. You can download their install instructions from their site. Kinda of PITA job but I've done it 4x now; the first time is hardest of course...

 

You Sir, lead a very sheltered life. I bought my 850 with a broken one and presently have one broken on my 97 LeSabre with the new one sitting on the seat waiting on me.

I have replace many on vehicles that came into the shops I've worked at over the decades.

 

Yeah, I guess so; let me qualify my swaybar statement for you then: in over 15 yrs experience as a pro tech and many more decades of personal automotive experience, I have never seen or heard of a broken swaybar.

So I am sure you're next response will be picture of one so I will save you the trouble:
Google Image Result for http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff171/palsut/DSC03672.jpg

 

Let me try that again, I was thinking link not the bar itself. I think I've only run across one of those and that was recently.

The GMs had a problem with a design because it's the only sway bar replacement most auto parts stores actually stock. The stock bar is split at the end like a "U" and the replacement is solid. It's a Dorman 927-100 fitting various Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Chevrolet vehicles in the '97-'05 range.

 

I'm an engineer. From my perspective, the sway bar, regardless of its condition, is has no effect on this behavior at all. Not worth talking about. That's just my theory, though.

 

Haha okay guys

Im going to check the end links then, not in a huge rush to get this job done though. Thanks for the input though, and the pics. Ill update when I get to it. Right now the PCV system is the priority.

But back to the main problem at hand, and excuse me if I sound dumb (being that I am not a drivetrain kinda guy) Would shocks/struts also assist with traming???? I don't think they have EVER been replaced in this cars 16 years of existence.