Volvo 850 GLT - Complete steering failure

Jack_Inaboxx · Post by **Jack_Inaboxx** » 23 Feb 2012, 06:26

So... sigh. Yesterday speedometer stopped working, ordered ABS module from Matty Moo, and it drove fine till back home. I drive back to work this morning, and on the last turn, again, something happens - I almost lose control as there was complete failure of my steering.

For the last 3 months, my car veered left slightly, so I'd have to turn the wheel at around 12:30 while I was driving it, but I thought it was because of a misalignment or the wheels, or because the driver side rear shock was a bit lower (which I was planning on changing asap).

Now, 1,500 km later, I get this.

I turn left and it felt like I slipped on ice, but veered fast enough to get in the parking lot of the place where I work. I park and see that my wheels are turned left at around 10, but my steering wheel is dead center.

Now I don't know if its a fluid leak (never seemed like it leaked anything), a whole rack and pinion change, or something else (pressure hose, tie rod ends)?

Notably, there is no noise at all when I turn, and no problems at all (100% power on the power steering) except that slight tendency to go left mentionned above.

I bought the car for 1,5k 3 months agao, and invested over 1,5k on it since. I need the car for work, and live in Canada, so everything is more expensive. Should I repair it myself (no time, and lifting the engine? Damn.), pay someone to fix it (probably 1,200$ and up), or ditch the car to the first guy around? I have approx. one week to decide. Too bad because I really liked that car, and was able to replace most things myself. It only has 167,000 km on it too.

Anyway, just trying to figure out what is the problem with the car right now.

Thanks,
-Jack-

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 Feb 2012, 06:54

I turn left and it felt like I slipped on ice, but veered fast enough to get in the parking lot of the place where I work.

Something came loose, but I don't think it's the steering rack. I'd start with a jack and looking at the tie rod ends - maybe one side popped out.

Post by **bronxnativ** » 23 Feb 2012, 07:48

Could be that your CV joint finally gave out; but more than likely a tie rod end as Justin said, there's no way of knowing until you get down their and check.

Jack_Inaboxx · Post by **Jack_Inaboxx** » 23 Feb 2012, 08:14

Just checked on the car during break - the inner side of the front driver's tire is completely worn out (I mean steel mesh poking through), never realized until now (damn). Wear on the right driver's side looks normal, but there is more wear on both sides of the tires than the middle per se.

Any ideas what kind of problem that would point to? Didn't have the chance to jack it up yet, I will take a look at it at lunch. Either way, I'll have to put the spare tire on, the tire on it is completely kaputt.

Post by **Xilikon** » 23 Feb 2012, 08:27

With those signs, I guess that's a tie rod failure on that side which caused it to get out of alignment. Better to tow and get it fixed before it snap and cause more suspension/drivetrain parts damage.

Jack_Inaboxx · Post by **Jack_Inaboxx** » 23 Feb 2012, 09:05

EDIT: Forget about this last post, found how to determine that.

So looking for some new inner and outer tie rods. One question - what is the difference between TRW and SMI rods, and which one am I supposed to have? Or can I just buy either?

Thanks again guys.

Post by **Xilikon** » 23 Feb 2012, 10:07

Jack_Inaboxx wrote:EDIT: Forget about this last post, found how to determine that.

So looking for some new inner and outer tie rods. One question - what is the difference between TRW and SMI rods, and which one am I supposed to have? Or can I just buy either?

Thanks again guys.

You can't buy either. Most would be using SMI rack and the only way is to check the chassis code (plate on the driver side close to the battery).

On FCP Groton about tie rods, that description will help you identify which :

Code: Select all

To determine the rack, you will need to locate the product ID plate which is under the hood by the drivers side wheel well. You are going to look at the 5th line on the bottom right and you are looking for the last digit. If it is a 4, you have the TRW rack and these are the correct tie rods. If it is marked with a 5, then you have the SMI rack and you need part number 9191410.

Jack_Inaboxx · Post by **Jack_Inaboxx** » 23 Feb 2012, 10:47

Just called the dealership armed with my SN, because there wasn't any numbers on the 5th row of the ID plate, and found out that I am in fact TRW. Ordering the part from eEuroparts, then I'll keep you posted on the repairs as soon as they arrive.

By the way... any experience on the manufacturers of the pieces? Here's the link:

http://www.eeuroparts.com/main/partsres ... egory=1032&

Just wondering if anyone tried out the cheaper pieces and experienced catastrophic failure... the bilsteins are on a 10-14 day backorder.

Thanks!

-Jack-

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 Feb 2012, 16:08

I used the Federal Mogul ones on mine last summer, and no complaints.

However, stay really far away from the URO or super cheap ones - their parts are knockoff, terrible quality stuff. You'll just be throwing away your money on an alignment and new tires.

Jack_Inaboxx · Post by **Jack_Inaboxx** » 05 Mar 2012, 14:59

Just came back from the shop as I handed them the tie rods and asked for new front tires, but they told me that it would be useless to change the tie rods as my ball joints are completely worn out. So he just put new tires on, no alignment, and asked me to come back for an alignment once I worked on that.

Anyone has an article that tells you how to change those? And just to be sure, I'm posting the three parts that I am going to buy to get that front part back to normal. I'm also going to replace that ABS module by one of Matt's as soon as I come back from Eastern Canada... jetting there for the job.

http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDetail.aspx?id=A410
http://www.eeuroparts.com/main/PartDeta ... id=271901F
http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... id=271902F

Thanks a lot,

-Jack-