Steering wont telescope, rubs after subframe work
-
BONINGERVAG
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: SW Michigan
Steering wont telescope, rubs after subframe work
Did front subframe work, sway bar, bushings, brakes, hoses, control arms, mounts, axles etc. When I reassembled steering was rubbing... squeek squeek, stiff uneven turning and steering wheel will not telescope. Aside from that car was tight, smooth like new. However steering wheel only in extended telescope position. Cannot push to lower position. Wheel tilts fine. Disconnected upper steering shaft. Wheel freely telescopes when disconnected. Ok... did i jam (somewhere) this slides in extended positiin when i dropped the subframe?? I am missing where this section slides back and forth as the column when connected is in highest telescope position. Sure looks like upper shaft is multiple sliding shafts??? Cant find detailed schematic showing where it compresses or slides. Does the upper shaft compress as it looks as if it could.. OR .. does the spline shaft above into steering slide to make up the space? Joints and lower shaft feel solid. Help, having withdraws from not driving my VOLVO.. CLOSE TO 300K MILES
-
BONINGERVAG
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: SW Michigan
Saw this video.. so it slides along the splines when pushing in and out. My whole upper shaft moves towardower shaft link when seperated. I must have jammed the spline when tighening the subframe. When link seperated the wheel moves freely along with upoer shaft. So when attached to lower shaft the wheel sl8des along shaft.
- jonesg
- Posts: 3501
- Joined: 16 January 2008
- Year and Model: 2004 V70
- Location: Northern maine.
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 479 times
I don't understand what you're saying,
but the bearing in the rubber boot might be the problem too.
You could try unseating the boot and sliding it up the shaft out of the way to see how it feels, maybe it will stop squeaking.
Or just unbolt the coupler and re-do it.
but the bearing in the rubber boot might be the problem too.
You could try unseating the boot and sliding it up the shaft out of the way to see how it feels, maybe it will stop squeaking.
Or just unbolt the coupler and re-do it.
-
CallaRedford
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 21 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: Toronto
Thanks for the video, you made my day.
-
BONINGERVAG
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: SW Michigan
jonesg wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025, 23:07 I don't understand what you're saying,
but the bearing in the rubber boot might be the problem too.
You could try unseating the boot and sliding it up the shaft out of the way to see how it feels, maybe it will stop squeaking.
Or just unbolt the coupler and re-do it.
I disconnected like the video, removed boot. Upper shaft will not slide out from wheel housing, even with a little pounding. It appears the shaft spline which he marks to reasssmble is siezed. Also looking at lower shaft the bearing is corroded. I am not sure why thier is bear8ng.their as it only l8ghtly passes.thru firewall boot. I am mechanically inclined just dont want to force anything that can break. Pics..
-
BONINGERVAG
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: SW Michigan
Think upper splines entering wheel housing obviously siezed. In video easily slides out . Need to convince with some penetrant for this to release. This apparently is where the shaft is allowed to slide up down to adjust telescoping. I must have jammed it up their when tightening subframe. Any more input? Appreciate your help. Now to get that upper shaft out.
Lower bearings thru boot are siezed.
Lower bearings thru boot are siezed.
- jonesg
- Posts: 3501
- Joined: 16 January 2008
- Year and Model: 2004 V70
- Location: Northern maine.
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 479 times
ok , it makes sense now.BONINGERVAG wrote: ↑21 Nov 2025, 14:58 Think upper splines entering wheel housing obviously siezed. In video easily slides out . Need to convince with some penetrant for this to release. This apparently is where the shaft is allowed to slide up down to adjust telescoping. I must have jammed it up their when tightening subframe. Any more input? Appreciate your help. Now to get that upper shaft out.
Lower bearings thru boot are siezed.
I didn't touch the upper shaft, dropping the subframe only requires removing that one lower shear bolt.
I'd pull that sleeve bearing off, clean and grease or replace.
The upper splined shaft, worst case, might need removing and cleaning up the splines with a dremel cutoff disk.
But I would try doing it without removing.
It sounds like you jacked the subframe up with the steering shaft connected and it bound up the splines.
Lowering the subframe might pull it free again.
The problem is a lack of room to swing a hammer under there.
Maybe if you grab the shaft with big vice grips, then hit the vice grips with a 4 lb mini sledge....or use an air hammer.
-
BONINGERVAG
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: SW Michigan
DISCOVERY!!!! I got the upper section out. Discovered some type of plastic.. melted covering entire upper spline. Not sure this was protection for the spline before installation. Used chisel to hit lower u joint collar and it came loose and this is what i found. Also shaft it slightly bent. Is this how its supposed to be?? Is it slghtly offset from factory? Its kinda hard to see in photo. Will clean joint space, lube and see if it slides now.
-
BONINGERVAG
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 November 2025
- Year and Model: 2006 XC70
- Location: SW Michigan
I see in part photos their is plastic. May be damper for vibration or protection for shiiping?
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post






