V70, 98, 125,000 KM Steering is harder to turn

[yvesyvesb]

Hi,

The steering wheel of my V70 non-turbo 2.5 has started to get harder to turn. This started when the weather condition became colder (like -25C). After driving it for a while, it gets better and on occasion all in perfect. we have had a few days above freezing and the steering was almaost back to normal.

At times, it feels like the steering wheel is uneven when I turn it. While I am turning the wheel, it goes from being easy to hard and back to easy again. As if the pump pressure was uneven ...or something was not even in the rack.

I have visually inspected the pump, rack and steering column and found nothing obviously wrong. No unusual noise from the pump, the accesories belt has less than 25,000 km. No leaks anywhere. Power steering liquid clear. No play in the steering or steering colum U-joints. No unusual wear on the tires.

Any idea?

Thanks

Yves

[Da' Moose]

Does Volvo have a morning sickness problem?
Is your problem just the first thing in the morning or does it happen though the day?

On some rack and pinion cars there is a problem in the valve of the rack. The disks in the valve that control how much help is needed with turning have a sticky problem when cold. This problem goes away in just a few minutes after the first start up of the day. I have experienced it on GM cars of the late 80

[Guest]

Hi and thanks for the help.

It's not a morning sickness problem ...it's on-going. It's also present after a lenghty drive.

Because the problem started about the time the weather became cold, I associated it to the cold. But when the weather came back above freezing point, the problem persisted even if a little less obvious.

The only piece information I can add is the problem was intermittent when it started to happen. More constant today but it has not gooten worst over the last few weeks.

thanks again