mikie Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 Okay you guys are going to kill me. This was a thread that I started a while ago. So basically the quick run down is this; I hit a pothole - high speed turns seemed kind of unstable - got an alignment - everything was fine.After a month or so I brought the car to volvo to check suspension - they said everything was fine - and they test drove it.Now the problem is very bad. When I hit a bump/seperator/bad areas on the highway the car decided to pull either to the left or the right. I have to yank the steering opposite direction to bring the car going straight again or just wait for another bump. When I brake on uneven roads the wheels just start going crazy left - right - more right- left....Has anyone ever experienced this before?Since then I have installed brand new control arms (slater's bushings) and link ends (slater's), the problem still exists. I took my car to volvo thinking my tie rods were gone... but they told me that the ball joints and end links were ruined and that the everything else was fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadeInJapan Posted August 11, 2006 Report Share Posted August 11, 2006 Find another dealer or a reputable indy mechanic to look it over. I think your dealer is a POS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2006 I'm just going to change my tie rods. I don't think it can be anything else. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWinkey Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 I doubt the problem lies in the tie rod ends. If they have no play why replace them? It sounds more like a mounting issue to me. Make sure your upper strut mounts are ok and make sure the strut's themselves are ok. Other than that it's really hard to say without looking at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstem Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Have you rotated the tires? A possible seperated belt can cause intermittent imbalance, shaking and pulling. Take it to another shop and offer to pay a small sum just to have alignment checked and get the printed results. If far off- stay as far away from first shop as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Hey guys,When I lift one side of the car up, and hold the wheel at 3 and 9 oclock there is movement, that is why I believe it must be tie rods. I just don't understand why they can't find any play. Last time a brought it to my local garage the car was up on a lift in neutral so the wheels were obviously turning while trying to find for play, maybe that is why they can't find the problem. I'm just not confident enough to isolate the problem myself but I figure that tie rods are not expensive so I my as well give it a shot.The alignment is a tad off now only after I replaced both control arms, the car was aligned about 3 months ago when the problem started - everything turned out fine. I looked at my mounts and struts - everything seems fine.Thanks for the help guys! If you have any more thoughts keep them coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarhead Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Play can develop in a rack and pinion box after hitting a large enough hole. The worm gears can actually have teeth sheared off. Slim possibility but maybe something to look at. It happens all the time on our HMMWV'S steering box when they are subjected to such punishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Play can develop in a rack and pinion box after hitting a large enough hole. The worm gears can actually have teeth sheared off. Slim possibility but maybe something to look at. It happens all the time on our HMMWV'S steering box when they are subjected to such punishment.So how would you determine if play is coming from the rack and pinion box? Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 You can check the play in the rack by disconecting your tierods (so you can feel just the movement in the gear assy) then move your steering back and forth preferably by hand. You will be able to feel any problems with the gears or shafts. Then if you dont feel any rough movement or problems your tierods would be the suspect. I will say again this is just a possibility and hopefully not what has happened to your car. Racks ae expensive$$$$. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 You can check the play in the rack by disconecting your tierods (so you can feel just the movement in the gear assy) then move your steering back and forth preferably by hand. You will be able to feel any problems with the gears or shafts. Then if you dont feel any rough movement or problems your tierods would be the suspect. I will say again this is just a possibility and hopefully not what has happened to your car. Racks ae expensive$$$$. Good luckThanks for all the info. I really hope it's not my rack, it's new I just changed it around a year or 2 ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Okay so I decided to take a second look at the car today. While holding the wheel at 9 oclock and 3 oclock I noticed that the rubber boot slightly compresses and decompresses (# 1 in the picture), followed by a low thump noise right when the motion of play stops.# 2 in the picture... that is suppose to have some movement as I pull correct? And that is the driveshaft I am assuming??? Sorry guys I really don't know cars... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarhead Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 #2 is your constant velocity joint or better know as your driveshaft. it should move a bit when you turn your wheels back and forth and yes it does slide a bit that is normal. #1 is your steering rack . If it is popping at all, that is bad news! If you replaced it 2 years ago then hopefully you have a reciept and a warranty. Maybe you can get them to buy off on it "just wore out". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 #2 is your constant velocity joint or better know as your driveshaft. it should move a bit when you turn your wheels back and forth and yes it does slide a bit that is normal. #1 is your steering rack . If it is popping at all, that is bad news! If you replaced it 2 years ago then hopefully you have a reciept and a warranty. Maybe you can get them to buy off on it "just wore out".I think it's a 1 year warranty If the problem was found back then it would be still under warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Okay so I guess I will update you guys with what's been going on. I took the car again to volvo and they found that both strut mounts were loose. So they tightened them, for some reason the problem seems a tad better be still present. Could it possible be that I need new strut mounts? Bad strut mounts can cause such play? Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWinkey Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Okay so I guess I will update you guys with what's been going on. I took the car again to volvo and they found that both strut mounts were loose. So they tightened them, for some reason the problem seems a tad better be still present. Could it possible be that I need new strut mounts? Bad strut mounts can cause such play? Thanks, MikeThats kinda what I thought to begin with, yes they may need replaced. But also as suggested it could possibly be in the tires as well. Have you tried a front to back rotate? I'm not really understanding why they can't nail the problem if it's that bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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