I was driving home yesterday at hwy speeds (55-70 mph) and began to feel a slight jerk to the right in the steering wheel. Sometimes it would happen once quickly, sometimes 2-3 times in succession, sometimes 2-4 miles in between occurrences. I was holding on for dear life thinking maybe a tie-rod was coming loose or something similar. I jacked it up this morning checking both front wheels for lateral or horizontal movement, but felt no play... everything felt tight. Any ideas or suggestions to what could cause this?

 

By jerking you mean it started pulling to the right? Tire pressure ok?

 

Check tires. Have the balanced and check pressure. Then report back.

 

Tire pressure was fine as I check it regularly. I haven't had the balance checked for about a month, but it wasn't a vibration or a pull. It was a quick jerk or shudder of the steering wheel to the right.

The best way I can describe the feeling is it was as if I hit a small pothole in the road with the right front tire. Say I'm driving with my hands at 10 and 2, suddenly they would jerk to 11 and 3 but only for 1/2 a second, then straighten back to 10 and 2. I did drive again yesterday for maybe 30-35 miles with no problems at all, then on my way back it happened only twice with about 10-12 miles between occurrences.

 

Sounds like it is possessed. You may want to park it before it gets you hurt. There is a possibility that something is wrong with the power steering pump or something.

Take it to the dealer or somewhere to have it checked out. To much of a safety situation to be trying to figure out on a website.

 

Okay, so I was finally able to get this problem to duplicate itself for a local mechanic. It seems that the problem is what I thought it was in the last 2 weeks. The passenger side cv shaft is going bad... problem found.

The mechanic is trying to tell me that it calls for almost 3 hrs in labor to replace the 1 side, which sounds very high to me. I used to work in a repair facility and it seemed the average Chilton time for a half-shaft on any vehicle was about 1.2-1.5 hrs if memory serves me. Is there something I'm missing or is it for some reason twice as laborious to replace them on the S70 GLT?

 

I think it depends what the quote was for. If an absolute quote, he may want to give himself plenty of time for problems unseen. If a guesstimate, he may want to give you a worst case. I would rather have them estimate high and be pleasantly surprised lower than to get the "IT COST HOW MUCH" surprise later.