V70 Pulling me off the road - like driving through a wind storm

mminniefield · Post by **mminniefield** » 22 Feb 2019, 14:37

Firstly, long time reader - first time poster.
I am struggling with a scary suspension problem with my 01 V70. The car pulls to the left under acceleration and to the right under deceleration. This problem is made worse with speed. It is almost impossible to keep it on the road over 45-50 mph. It darts around with the slightest change in speed. I have new tires, alignment has been checked by two different shops, recently replaced lower control arms and bushings. I had a bent rear track bar (foolishly used it as tow point to get unstuck from snow) but that has been replaced and rear full alignment completed afterward. I have had all 4 tires off the ground to check for slop in the steering and for loose and warn bushings. Everything seems tight. Where can I look next? Has anyone had a similar problem? I am at a loss and feel completely defeated. Seems like it should be obvious what is causing the problems. I will have to retire the 'ol girl if I cant find a solution!

Post by **June** » 22 Feb 2019, 14:43

Subframe bushings. June

Post by **abscate** » 22 Feb 2019, 15:06

If they used Lower control arms of low quality, they can be bad out of box.

Recent thread in the XC90 with video - terrifying

mminniefield · Post by **mminniefield** » 22 Feb 2019, 15:14

I actually pulled good OEM control arms off of a donor car. ( I have read its better to go with used OEM over cheap new/reman) The noted problem developed more than 6 months after control arm replacement. and both sides seem to be in good shape.

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Feb 2019, 12:57

Sounds exactly like bad front control arm ball joints.

Scottybee · Post by **Scottybee** » 06 Jun 2019, 02:32

This you ever did this issue my v70 2002 same thing scares the poop outta me

veektor · Post by **veektor** » 11 Jun 2019, 08:38

mminniefield wrote: ↑22 Feb 2019, 15:14 I actually pulled good OEM control arms off of a donor car. ( I have read its better to go with used OEM over cheap new/reman) The noted problem developed more than 6 months after control arm replacement. and both sides seem to be in good shape.

The control arms, especially the steel ones, are quite durable on their own, but the rubber bushings and the ball joints disintegrate over time. Those rubber bits are rarely worth reusing from salvage vehicles, unless you have definitive evidence those parts were new and installed on the donor very recently.

My S60 had 200K miles, and those bushings looked very bad. After considering the individual bushing replacement, the cost and time involved in doing that, I chose to buy new Lemfoerder control arms, which include new bushings, and also replaced the ball joints. It was a physically demanding job, I would hate to have to revisit it any time soon.

If the rubber bushings are as good as you say, could it be the bearings?

Post by **- Pete -** » 12 Jun 2019, 09:33

Sounds like a more extreme version of something I experienced on one of our cars recently.

With the car in the air everything felt tight, just like you say. But your car generates a lot more force than your body can muscling those front wheels around to check for play.

In my case I finally traced it down to a faulty tie rod end on the drivers side.

In your case this may make a lot of sense as well. The play on ours was almost completely imperceptible. But with a new Lemforder part in there our darting symptom is gone. Takes a while to manually get the alignment right on but you’ll get there eventually.

June’s suggestion of subframe bushings is also probable.