18 replies to this topic

[pete0r]

hey all,

about 2 weeks ago i bought my volvo and had it checked out by the volvo dealership in the area. they listed a few little problems, turbo return leak, no airguide, and it needed an alignment. i took it into the local goodyear place where my parents bring their cars for tires and alginments and such. the car went straight for a little while after that just fine. no problems.

this weekend, it started really pulling to the right. i haven't put on many miles since the alignment and haven't hit any huge pot holes.

could something need to be replaced? also, i don't know if this goes along with it or if it's just the way volvo's drive, but there's some play in the steering wheel. i know on my mom's 2002 passat, there's no play at all. on mine i feel like i can move the steering wheel back and forth for maybe 1/4 of an inch or whatever and nothing happens.

any ideas? thanks!

[KLS]

Swap the tires from one side to the other or front to back and see if it pulls the other way. A defective tire may pull.

Put the car up on ramps and have someone turn the wheel while you're underneath. You want them to turn the wheel just until resistance is felt, then turn the other way. Look for any loose motion of the steering components. Or, jack up one side and try to wiggle that tire from side to side with push/pull motions of your hands...right pushes when left pulls, and vice versa. Have a helper look for loose parts.

Did the alignment shop give you a printed report of their results?...better shops do. Are the results equal on each side?



Ken

Edited by KLS, 09 May 2005 - 09:31 PM.

[pete0r]

Swap the tires from one side to the other or front to back and see if it pulls the other way.  A defective tire may pull.

Put the car up on ramps and have someone turn the wheel while you're underneath.  You want them to turn the wheel just until resistance is felt, then turn the other way.  Look for any loose motion of the steering components.  Or, jack up one side and try to wiggle that tire from side to side with push/pull motions of your hands...right pushes when left pulls, and vice versa.  Have a helper look for loose parts.

Did the alignment shop give you a printed report of their results?...better shops do.  Are the results equal on each side?
Ken

alright i can swap the tires myself on the front easy.

what exactly am i looking for? i'm not so sure i could do the 2nd thing on rhino ramps.

and yes, i did get a report and as far as i remember, they're eqal on each side.

[R4Life]

I hate to tell you this but you might need to take it to a shop that specializes in Volvos to get a proper alignment.

I have tried Goodyear stores twice and it was never right

Everytime I take it to the dealer or my indy Volvo shop, its perfect.

850s seem to lose alignment a lot if you drive on bad roads. Mine goes out every 2 - 3 months.

[pete0r]

I hate to tell you this but you might need to take it to a shop that specializes in Volvos to get a proper alignment.

I have tried Goodyear stores twice and it was never right

Everytime I take it to the dealer or my indy Volvo shop, its perfect.

850s seem to lose alignment a lot if you drive on bad roads. Mine goes out every 2 - 3 months.

how much was it off when you took it to goodyear? something real noticable shortly after?

[theunderlord]

wait.. shouldn't it pull a lil to the right normally... isn't that like a safety feature?

[R4Life]

It was slightly off. I took it back and they told me to try rotating the tires

I was like whatever.

[R4Life]

wait.. shouldn't it pull a lil to the right normally... isn't that like a safety feature?

There is no such thing.

[pete0r]

so should i just bring it to a shop and ask them to check it out?

[theunderlord]

There is no such thing.

if you fell asleep at the wheel, you'd want the car to pull right, not the the left right?

[R4Life]

so should i just bring it to a shop and ask them to check it out?

Yes. Your car should NOT pull in either direction. Steering sheel should be dead center and the car should go straight. The only reason it would pull is if the road surface was degraded or was not level.
Do also make sure that tire pressure is equal in all tires. That is also one of the reasons a car will pull.

[pete0r]

what should the tire presure be at? i think it was 33psi last time i checked.. stock rims and everything like that

[theunderlord]

what should the tire presure be at? i think it was 33psi last time i checked.. stock rims and everything like that

I roll at 40 PSI on all 4 corners.

[pete0r]

that high eh? i remember reading around here that it should be 34/36 or something like that

[theunderlord]

that high eh? i remember reading around here that it should be 34/36 or something like that

well, look inside your gas fill Lid. That's where it's listed.. my tire size is +2... so, thus the 40PSI.

[gdizzle]

well, look inside your gas fill Lid.  That's where it's listed.. my tire size is +2... so, thus the 40PSI.

It depends on what kinda ride quality you want. My r calls for 34/36 If I Recall Correctly.

[pete0r]

i just checked and it says 32/31 If I Recall Correctly

[R4Life]

I roll at 40 PSI on all 4 corners.

What ????!!!!!

You must like it rough

Just kidding. I keep mine at 32psi. Very smooth ride

if you fell asleep at the wheel, you'd want the car to pull right, not the the left right?

A misconception that cars are designed to do that. Its actually the roads that are designed that way. The crown of the road makes the car go right.

Edited by R4Life, 09 May 2005 - 10:39 PM.

[theunderlord]

What ????!!!!! 

You must like it rough

Just kidding. I keep mine at 32psi. Very smooth ride 
A misconception that cars are designed to do that. Its actually the roads that are designed that way. The crown of the road makes the car go right.

oh yeah... rich and i talked about PSI, and for handling and overall tire wear, he reccomended 40 PSI.


thanks for the knowlege on the right alighnment bias.