Just one more thing to add to the list, when I go round a corner hard and accelerate, I get a very pronounced judder from the front end. Its not a grinding or anything, a deffinately judder. You can feel it through the whole car.

It doesn't so it in a straight line, and it only seems to do it going round left hand bends. (althought that could be I've only driven round left hand bends fast)

I took it to a volvo garage and they said it could be the viscous clutch in the drive shaft. does that sound about right?

thanks

Stu

 

That is possible some have it and other cars don't. So make sure yours does actually have it.

 

ah, ok thanks tech, I'll have a look.

Stu

 

How do you tell if you have a "viscous clutch"?

 

I would say it is the upper strut mount or upper coil seat causing the problems. The only real way to pin point it is to jack car up and pull wheel off and check for play in suspension and steering system. A way to check for viscous clutch is to look at half shaft near the bearing cap and it will look like a small black box. It will be part of the half shaft assy. If the box isn't there then you don't have viscous clutch. If it is the viscous clutch you can get a half shaft assy for $50 -$70 so don't let them take you to the cleaners. I did mine in about 1.5 hrs. A second hand is helpful if you can find help. I didn't have the option.