How to diagnose bad wheel bearings and axles

Weirs · Post by **Weirs** » 19 Apr 2011, 07:20

Our '06 V70, 187k miles, has a high speed vibration that has gotten worse with a heavier tire/wheel setup (236/45X17 vs the 205/50X16).

Rebalancing the old tire/wheel setup and rotating 2X didn't do much. Searching here shows the issue might be bad wheel bearings and/or axles.

What's the best way to diagnose suspect parts?

JetMechGAC · Post by **JetMechGAC** » 19 Apr 2011, 10:55

Can you feel the vibration in the steering wheel (eg a slight side to side shimmy)? If you can then it is a wheel tire balance issue. If you can't and it is more of a buzzing type of vibration then it is a wheel bearing. If it is neither of those then it might be an axle. If this started after hitting a major pot hole or curb then it is more than likely a bent wheel. You might try going to the place the mounted the tires and have them dismount the tires from the wheels and put the on the balance machine to see if they are bent or not true. If they are out of true then there is not much balancing will do to fit the issue.

Weirs · Post by **Weirs** » 19 Apr 2011, 12:44

JetMechGAC wrote:Can you feel the vibration in the steering wheel (eg a slight side to side shimmy)? If you can then it is a wheel tire balance issue. If you can't and it is more of a buzzing type of vibration then it is a wheel bearing. If it is neither of those then it might be an axle. If this started after hitting a major pot hole or curb then it is more than likely a bent wheel. You might try going to the place the mounted the tires and have them dismount the tires from the wheels and put the on the balance machine to see if they are bent or not true. If they are out of true then there is not much balancing will do to fit the issue.

These are known straight wheels and they just got the new tires Sunday. I will give them a few hundred miles to break in and then find a shop with the Hunter Road Force balancer. Seeing how the car has had this issue since day one of purchase CPO from dealer, I'm thinking car parts issue, especially since issue got worse with the new tires/wheels. Vibration was in the steering wheel. With the old tires/wheels it was more a body vibration with the head rests trembling slightly (at high speed as previously mentioned).

Upper spring mounts are new (XC 90) and ditto shocks (Koni yellows). Car is otherwise stock. The old tires (16") wore mostly on the inside and outside shoulders even though I ran 35 psi F/R and rotated often.

JetMechGAC · Post by **JetMechGAC** » 19 Apr 2011, 21:50

Did you try to have Volvo fix the issue under CPO? I must say the 187k is impressive for an '07!

Weirs · Post by **Weirs** » 20 Apr 2011, 07:01

JetMechGAC wrote:Did you try to have Volvo fix the issue under CPO? I must say the 187k is impressive for an '07!

Whoops, that was a mis-type. 87k is the mileage. I'm used to quoting my 240's mileage

Yes, it was in last summer and the dealer balanced the tires, test drove, said ok but I doubt they had it up to 80 mph due to their locale. It was slightly improved.