04 XC70 front wheel scrubbing, tight turns

[BlackBart]

Y’know, I think they were stored, who knows how. They came free on a spare set of wheels I bought. I didn’t realize I had two different brands. The Hankooks “look” pretty good, but probably the same age. I could put them on the front for what, a month and a half? I was buying new in the spring anyway. You could have an early storm in Wyoming with blowing rain or sleet.

Alignment first, see if something is out of whack.

[BlackBart]

OK, the results are in!

Quality local chain tire store with a really experienced front end and alignment guy. I always go there.

Left toe went from .04º to .10º
Right toe went from .03º to .10º

Positive = toe IN

Front camber both at about -.60º, only changed a couple of hundredths.

He said the front end is tight, components all look good.

They checked the rear as well -
Left camber -.18º
Right camber -.84º Now this is interesting. Within the -1.30 to -.70 range it should be, but why so different side to side? Left is out of that range.

Left rear toe stayed at .07º toe IN
Right rear toe moved a bit from .18º to .12º

Thrust angle set at .03º
I read that "thrust angle is the rear axle centerline angle measurement - "Any value other than 0 will affect the relationship between the front and rear wheels and cause “crabbing”, making the steering wheel pull either left or right. In this instance, the front toe values would be changed to compensate for this, referred to as Thrust Angle Compensation.

Under Secondary Angles, they list something I'm not familiar with, "Setback" front and rear. What is this measuring?
Front went from .23" to .14"
Rear went from -.07" to -.05"
"Setback is when one front wheel is set further back than the other wheel. With alignment equipment that measures toe by using only the front instruments, any setback will cause an uncentered steering wheel. Any good 4-wheel aligner will reference the rear wheels when setting toe in order to eliminate this problem.

"Wheelbase difference" went from .30" to .19" SO... my car got shorter and will handle better!

Today I'll bump up the tire pressures in case the fronts are low and wearing at the sides, and I'll swap front to back to use the much better tread depth of the Bridgestones in front. Funny that these tires had about the same tread depth when I put them on in the spring. Then I think I'll order the spring replacement Vredsteins now.

[scot850]

I know the owner of the 02XC70 said the rear tires on this car wear on the insides. I have suspicions it is possibly worn bushes in the rear suspension. I will as a mechanic friend with Volvo experience to check and confirm is there is an issue before having an alignment done on the car. Mind you is this car's case, worn out and leaking shocks won't help it either!

Neil.

[BlackBart]

Installed new Vredestein Hitrac tires OE size. Very short sampling time so far but it’s really solid, no pulling, no odd wobble in the steering - I think a lot of it was toe adjustment and crappy “Arizonian” tires on their last legs.

Now I’m ready for a downpour.