I have a 2004 S60 FWD. Lately the steering has been absolutely bizarre. It's really only noticeable at freeway speeds, but that might be because it's mostly straight-line driving. In the city things seem to be okay.

Anyway, the car will track back and forth within the lane, making me look like a drunk driver! It seems to happen in both directions, and it's difficult to tell if it's occurring on its own or in conjunction with minor steering movements. But the movement of the car is quick and noticeable by passengers, not like a gradual drift. It's kind of like when you get blown around by a gust of wind, but there's no wind...

I've replaced the suspension up front, new tires/wheels, new brakes, etc., but this behavior is still happening. My mechanic is suggesting replacing the steering rack as we've essentially done everything else up to that, but he admits that he's not finding anything conclusively wrong with it.

Any suggestions?

 

I was wondering if you ever figured out you steering issue. My 2001 s60 is doing the same thing. I feel like I'm fighting it all the time on the freeway unless the road is perfectly smooth.
Any update would be appreciated

 

The two most obvious places to check are the tie-rods and control arm bushings. Less likely but still possible are ball joints.

 

Just read this as my 2002 V70 is doing the same thing, diving into or out of curves on the freeway. I am replacing the ball joints, control arms, and sway bar links. All look a little bad, I think it is a combination of everything which produces the effect. The faster I would take a curve the more it did it, at 60 on the same curve it would not do anything bad at all. I will add to this thread after I get done.

 

I found a video on YouTube of someone who was having EXACTLY the same problem, and they suggested it was the bushing on the control arm. I thought it seemed unlikely because the swerve is so violent and so pronounced, but wouldn't you know, that's exactly what it was?

The original part has the bushing vulcanized to the metal, so you'll have to replace the whole thing. Some aftermarket parts allow the bushing to be replaced independently apparently.

You'll want to do both sides at the same time if you can, because I had the offending side done alone, and now the other side seems loose to me. I also had my ball joint replaced at the same time because it was causing some wobbling.

There was a YouTube video of a guy with the same problem, but I can't seem to find it again.

But the bushing on the lower control arm was the culprit. Unbelievable, I know.

 

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