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What causes rear end to wander?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Free2drive!
Posts: 231
Joined: 24 October 2006
Year and Model: 2007 XC90
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What causes rear end to wander?

Post by Free2drive! »

Problem, car wanders at speed and seems to turn more left more tightly than turning right.

I replaced the front control arms and drop links, the front struts were done last year!

Alignment was done 1 month ago they said it squares up on thier rig but something on the rear axle/suspension might be worn??

Question, what could cause wandering on the rear end?
Car is 94 t5 auto 143k miles.
Matt

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

There are a couple of possibilities on the rear. The bushings that tie the trailing arms together or the end links where the trailing arms mount to the frame (chassis). When the bushings go bad they normally really go bad and separate. When the end links go bad they normally clunk on small bumps.

Either one can be diagnosed visually if you jack up the back of the car.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

Free2drive!
Posts: 231
Joined: 24 October 2006
Year and Model: 2007 XC90
Location: At home, at work.
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Post by Free2drive! »

Thanks, are any of these easy to replace?
Matt

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The endlinks can be a bear unless you just melt them out with a torch. I have not had to replace any of the bushings yet so I have no hands on experience. Others that have changed them indicated that it was pretty easy.

It took me a while to figure out that the torch was the way to go.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 1294#31294

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

pgregston
Posts: 12
Joined: 23 August 2010
Year and Model: 92 960 wagon
Location: SANTA BARBABRA

Post by pgregston »

I have had the loose rear end symptoms from tires being aged. They had good tread, and held air but at speed the car felt like the tail wagging the dog! When it first happened I was sure something had come undone. Yet there was no sign of worn bushings, loose mounts etc.
Rotate and see if the behavior changes.
Make sure the easy things are right before you do something more time and money consuming.

peacock
Posts: 375
Joined: 1 August 2009
Year and Model: S70 T5 SE 1998
Location:

Post by peacock »

its likely the bushings the round ones on the end. if its in more interior ones as well let me know i have a pair i never used from fcp groton
1998 S70 T5 SE 214,001
1999 v70R 126,000

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