2002 S60 Both front wheels have play.

[daverdfw]

i cant even find that counterhold tool to purchase. From what I have been reading as long as your are torqueing the hell out of the tie rod to get it out, you should be fine. Ill soak it down with PB Blaster and try to make it easy to come off with minimal force on the rack.

[regent]

I don't see the conterhold anywhere else but in the Volvo Procedure (VIDA).
I looked at a few toolkits at an Autozone store this afternoon, they all just grab at the tierod hex itself, so when you apply torque to undo or to tighten, you would always stress the rack.
I'm guessing - since everybody has been doing it this way with no harm done - then my concern has been groundless...
Autozone provides free tool rental: you put down a deposit when you borrow the tool(set) for up to 90 days, and they refund it 100% when you turn it back in. That's what I'm gonna go for.

Thanks for everybody's time and helpful input.

[barbershores]

For these kinds of play issues, I like to put one wheel up in the air at a time with a jack and stand beneath it. I move the wheel holding in the 3 oclock and 9 oclock positions. Then, I look at all the components to see where the play actually is. Sometimes, it works out to being the power steering unit. See if the play goes away when the engine is running. What I have found with my 2 volvo v70 xcs so far, is lower ball joints and the front lower control arm bushings. I replaced both of the lower control arms on my 2002 volvo with parts purchased from buyautoparts.com. It was a bitch getting the lower ball joint disconnected from the wheel assembly. I think the shop that bought this car at auction, put front struts in which are actually 2" too long for the car. I had to modify 2 sets of spring compressors to be able to get the load off of the wheel to be able to lift it off the lower control arm. The control arm was held in the full down position with a 5' long prybar and a friend holding it down. Laying on my back under the car with my chest centered under the strut I could hold and push up the wheel assembly with both arms lifting the ball joint stud up out of the lower control arm. Probably too much information, but this is what one has to go through buying a prevously auctioned volvo from a non volvo shop.

Best of luck,

Steve