Problem after replacing control arms

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 21 Jul 2017, 08:14

I replaced both control arms on my 2001 V70 T5 and I thought I reassembled it by the book. But when I took it for a test drive, under 3/4 acceleration the car pulled hard to the left. Scary as hell. Driven carefully, the car doesn't pull. I am guessing that I did something wrong with where the ball joint attaches to the control arm, and I'm going to put the car back up on stands and take a look at it.

Could someone tell me what I did wrong, and maybe save me some labor and guesswork?

Thanks

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 21 Jul 2017, 09:39

All I can do is guess.
1) Any description of the control arms you omitted? Both new? Bushings in good and identical shape?
2) Can we somehow effect our CV joints during such an operation? I wouldn't think so. They'd make sounds if that happened(?)
3) When I did mine the steering was quite stiff. They broke in predictably. Could unmatched torque on 'em effect steering?
4) Did you land both front bushings' pins uniformly to the frame?

Post by **abscate** » 21 Jul 2017, 09:57

I would guess something really bad on the strut geometry would give you steering forces under load.

Thats too dangerous to diagnose without pictures, certainly.

CVs won't do this, they would just break or crunch. Remember if you lose drivetrain connectivity to one side, you lose all power, so no torque steer.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 21 Jul 2017, 10:01

very dangerous. What sort of pix? Everything looks right and bolted up right, but I can go take some pix right now....

Volvo S80 · Post by **Volvo S80** » 21 Jul 2017, 10:14

If you can`t see anything wrong, and you say that the car pulls in one side check you brake calipers, they could block causing the pads to touch constantly on rotor and when you accelerate harder cause it to steer on one side.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 21 Jul 2017, 10:18

I know it's not the pads. I tested them before I took the car out, and lower speeds. The problem happens under moderately hard acceleration. I know what a pad grab feels like, and this is more like somebody yanking the steering wheel to the left..

Volvo S80 · Post by **Volvo S80** » 21 Jul 2017, 10:27

Did you undo the inner and outer steering tie rods, if so you need to send it for wheel alignment because you change the steering geometry.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 21 Jul 2017, 10:37

no I didn't undo the tie rods. Everything is fine at lower speeds and the problem goes away when the car slows back down. It could also have occurred when a went through a small pothole while accelerating. I sort of remember that.

Post by **JRL** » 21 Jul 2017, 12:29

You DID align it, right?

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 21 Jul 2017, 13:21

No I didn't do an alignment, and taking loose the tie rods is not necessary for this job. I replaced the control arms because the bushings were going. A misalignment wouldn't come on all of a sudden and only under power, then go away when the power is backed down - it would be a steady pull to one side.

I did the right side a few days ago and drove the car and didn't have the problem,but it started after I did the left side. I haven't rechecked the right side yet, but I will shortly. Maybe the problem is on the right side, but I kind of doubt it.

I got some pix of the left side, but I didn't see a thing that didn't look textbook. I shook and pried, looked closely at everything, and it all looks fine and tight. I checked the ball joint nut, too and it was on tight too. The new control arm bushings look right, and I compared them to the originals before I put them. I've worked on my cars for a long time and this is weird. Like what is the difference in the suspension geometry under top power vs. just cruising?