Steering 2004 XC70

[goldxc70]

Pulling away from a stop, the steering suddenly feels light and "wants" to pull to left. After a small adjustment/turn to right, everything is fine again. Never seems to happen at other speeds.

Alignment was checked and adjusted during summer and no other issues were reported at that time.

Lifted front end and checked wheels for play but couldn't feel any.

Any ideas?

[BlackBart]

Do you suppose it's something to do with the upward movement of the front as you pull away? A tie rod or ball joint problem? Something is binding until it settles.

[goldxc70]

Do you suppose it's something to do with the upward movement of the front as you pull away? A tie rod or ball joint problem? Something is binding until it settles.

Hadn't thought about upward movement as it doesn't happen immediately as I pull away. It's just a vague feeling that goes away as suddenly as it comes. If I don't correct, car goes very slightly to left. The vague feeling is more frightening that anything else.

[BlackBart]

Or....a component failing, allowing the tire to toe out and pull to the left?

[br0dy519]

i’ve had three steering issues on my xc.

1) notchy steering. Like deadspots kind of that notch back and forth on the wheel if you hold it at a certain position- cause- steering rack
2) binding tough steer-cause-lower u-joint
3) oversteer and erratic steering kind of like you explain- cause- spring seats

I remember an old JRL post (rip) where he mentions that bad spring seats basically cause your vehicle to constantly go out of alignment. I’m wondering if that’s your issue or potentially that upper strut mount bearing

[jonesg]

my front end tended to hunt on acceleration, it was worn control arms allowing torque steer..

[goldxc70]

i’ve had three steering issues on my xc.

1) notchy steering. Like deadspots kind of that notch back and forth on the wheel if you hold it at a certain position- cause- steering rack
2) binding tough steer-cause-lower u-joint
3) oversteer and erratic steering kind of like you explain- cause- spring seats

I remember an old JRL post (rip) where he mentions that bad spring seats basically cause your vehicle to constantly go out of alignment. I’m wondering if that’s your issue or potentially that upper strut mount bearing

It sounds like 1. I'm wondering if this has to do with the speed-dependent power steering assistance that some of these cars have.

Not 2 as there is definitely no binding.

I redid the entire front suspension a few years bad. Initially, I used speedy struts by Sensen (through RockAuto) but they were absolute crap. Replaced them with Sachs OEM.

[br0dy519]

My XC doesn’t have variable assist but you’re in the realm of the symptoms I had. It felt exactly what I would expect of a variable speed system gone bad. But my rack was completely hydraulic. It ended up blowing both a seal at one of the boots and the pinion seal. Easy to see if you have variable assist as theres an electrical connection to the rack near the pinion. I have a feeing jonesg maybe the most correct here, maybe combined with a notchy rack. check your ctrl arm bushings too

[BlackBart]

We had a steering rack fail on an old BMW my son and I rebuilt. It would bind up and pull this way or that. But it was totally binding - you would push against solid resistance in the wheel that felt like the steering had locked, then it would let go. Scary.

Check the fluid in the power steering system? Any whining in the PS pump?

I like jonesg's idea of the lower control arms moving out of their arc which lets the toe change randomly. A bad tie rod end would do that as well.

[chrism]

my front end tended to hunt on acceleration, it was worn control arms allowing torque steer..

My experience also.