Front wheel bind?

Volvo850Racer · Post by **Volvo850Racer** » 15 Nov 2006, 14:39

Hello All,

I am having a strange problem with my 1995 850 wagon. As I was backing out of a parking spot with the wheel turned hard right I felt a thump thump thump. I pulled forward and got out to see if I had a flat. No flat. Pulled out again and the thump was less pronounced. I had the window down the second time and did not hear any noise. I have also noticed at highway speeds it feels like a front wheel is out of round or unbalanced. I get the same at a slow speed while braking. Is this a CV joint problem? I have not been able to reproduce the thump. I tried going in circles forward and back at different speeds to no avail. Also when the thumping occurred it felt like the wheel was binding.

Thanks,
Mark

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 15 Nov 2006, 15:45

Is this a CV joint problem?

Your description certainly seems to point in that direction.

I've read a lot posts from folks with tire rub problems but that would not apply under braking or on the highway. It could also be a hub bearing but I think the highway problems would be more pronounced and the low speed turns less pronounced.

Non destructive (ie: not tearing up the boots) testing of CV joints without removing them is not an exact science but the way I do it is to get the front end on jack stands check for any movement at all at the CV joint when prying on the drive axles. Any movement is too much. Be sure your wheels are aimed straight forward as a hard turn will mask the problem.

Let us know what you find.

...Lee

Post by **pfeener** » 15 Nov 2006, 15:47

I don't believe your problems are related. The "noise and feel" when you cut the wheel hard is the wheel stops needing to be greased. If you look under the car on the front of the control arm you will see a small nylon pad that's rivited onto the arm. On the steering knuckle you will see an arm that hits this pad when the wheel is cut. Grease up the pad and/or the stop and the noise will be gone.

The highway speed issue could be lots of things, but most likely it's not your CV joint.

Volvo850Racer · Post by **Volvo850Racer** » 15 Nov 2006, 16:24

pfeener wrote:I don't believe your problems are related. The "noise and feel" when you cut the wheel hard is the wheel stops needing to be greased. If you look under the car on the front of the control arm you will see a small nylon pad that's rivited onto the arm. On the steering knuckle you will see an arm that hits this pad when the wheel is cut. Grease up the pad and/or the stop and the noise will be gone.

The highway speed issue could be lots of things, but most likely it's not your CV joint.

Thanks for the info. I am aware of the noise you are discribing and unfortunatly for me that is not the noise or the problem.

Volvo850Racer · Post by **Volvo850Racer** » 16 Nov 2006, 18:33

I am going to put front brakes on and will check the status of the CV joint and the barring at the sametime

tca217 · Post by **tca217** » 17 Nov 2006, 04:09

Check your tires for tread separation and/or out of balance or (don't laugh) loose lugnuts. I have seen that before!