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Front end vibration

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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dmk-v70
Posts: 8
Joined: 28 March 2010
Year and Model: V70 1999
Location: Rhode Island

Front end vibration

Post by dmk-v70 »

Hello all, thanks in advance for you help. I have a 99 V70 with 182k. I began getting a shimmy from the front end several weeks ago. It is more pronounced when turning to the left at higher speeds. In researching this problem on this forum, I concluded that it was caused by the front wheel hub. So, I changed the wheel hub and the drive axle. I get back in the car genuinely satisfied that I save a ton of money and rid myself of that annoying vibration/shimmy. Well, not quite so, I still have the same vibration in the front passenger side (can feel the vibration in the steering wheel as well). I am now wondering what other part could be causing this problem. Any advice on what to try next would be much appreciated. Thanks.

jblackburn
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Post by jblackburn »

When turning to the left, so you changed the passenger side hub, right? Just checking :mrgreen:

Control arm bushings? If you floor it from a stop, or come onto the gas hard in 2nd gear, does it dart around like a squirrel trying to cross the road?
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


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dmk-v70
Posts: 8
Joined: 28 March 2010
Year and Model: V70 1999
Location: Rhode Island

Post by dmk-v70 »

Yes I did replace the right front wheel hub (passenger's side). I also replaced the drive axle on that side as well as all four rotors, brake pads and three out of the four calipers (due to not being able to push them all the way back in). It does not dart out when hitting the gas and it seems like I still have all the control as before, just a very annoying shimmy. Could it be the tie rods?

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

If your tie rods and control arms check out OK start looking at motor mounts. When the motor mounts go south the engine and transaxle will shift and put the axles in a bind. It tends to be more pronounced under acceleration or on uphill grades.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

dmk-v70
Posts: 8
Joined: 28 March 2010
Year and Model: V70 1999
Location: Rhode Island

Post by dmk-v70 »

Thanks for the info. The engine top engine mount on the passenger side was replaced within the last year or so. How do i go about checking the control arm and tie rods. I read that I should jack the car up, put my hands at 3 and 9 o'clock and see if there is any back and forth play. Is the correct way or do you recommend another. Thanks again.

confused_al
Posts: 1025
Joined: 4 August 2008
Year and Model: 1996 TLA wagon
Location: NJ

Post by confused_al »

dmk-v70 wrote:I read that I should jack the car up, put my hands at 3 and 9 o'clock and see if there is any back and forth play
Yup, 3 & 9 to check tie rod on that side, and 12 & 6 o'clock to check the control arm.
BTW, you might also want check the front engine mount and trans mount, #1 and #6 in the fig.
lg_a6a27d0b-37d5-4892-9939-2fa29d813e35.gif
lg_a6a27d0b-37d5-4892-9939-2fa29d813e35.gif (39.63 KiB) Viewed 10249 times
96 850 Platinum Wagon
98 MB ML320
06 V70
95 850 GLT(RIP)

outdoor7or24
Posts: 155
Joined: 30 December 2008
Year and Model: SOLD 95 855t,93 945t
Location: S GA

Post by outdoor7or24 »

hope you get this solved. I am experiencing similar issues....

larryh
Posts: 256
Joined: 28 March 2006
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Post by larryh »

did you try rotating the tires to see if that changes anything? could just be a bad or out of balance tire.

dmk-v70
Posts: 8
Joined: 28 March 2010
Year and Model: V70 1999
Location: Rhode Island

Post by dmk-v70 »

Thanks for the all the information. Tonight I am busy building an ark due to the 5 inches of rain we are getting in the next few days but when that is done I will try the suggestions and get back to you all. :lol: I had new tires put on a few months ago so I don't know if they need to be rotated but will try that if it is isn't the mounts, tie rods or control arms. BTW how much play should there be in the tire when I check? Thanks again.

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

BTW how much play should there be in the tire when I check?
So long as you have one wheel on the ground there should be no discernible play either vertically or laterally. If you try to check it with whole front end on jack stands you will get fooled by the slop between the locks on the steering wheel.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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