Noisy (Plastic?) Left Turn Because of Wheel Well?

OrionVolvo · Post by **OrionVolvo** » 13 Oct 2018, 11:06

Hey there. I am driving a '96 850 base model sedan (no turbo). A short while back I started hearing a strange plastic rubbing noise on left turns and some bumps. The noise was louder if accelerating at the time and if the blower motor is running. The sounds seems isolated to the passenger side (right side from seated inside the car).

I've had the suspension checked. I've removed and examined the blower motor to ensure that the cage didn't show any sign of rubbing or wear. This blower motor is about 6 years old now.

One thing I did notice is the plastic wheel well behind that front was loose, and missing a couple of the plastic nuts that hold it in place. I repositioned and retightened the wheel well into place. That seemed to fix the issue for while. However a couple of days later, after navigating a fairly sharp left turn through a poorly laid out intersection, the noise came back. I checked and sure enough the replacement pieces holding the wheel well in place are missing again.

My question is what could be causing the wheel well to push out of alignment like that? I have the right sized tires on the vehicle and have had this set on for most of a year before the issue started. Could it be the result of engine sway? If so, how would I test that and what would be the potential fixes? Could this be something related to the shocks and struts? And aren't those elements normally part of a suspension inspection? I had a couple of trusted garages (not Volvo specialists) look at the suspension (a lot of which was replaced in the summer of 2017).

The noise does not seem to be getting worse and I do not see any signs of wear on the tire.

Post by **scot850** » 13 Oct 2018, 14:03

Do you have Volvo rims on your car? What size of tires do you have? I know you said you have the correct size but humor me please.

Check the lower control arms on the front face. They should have a white colored rubbing pad on them that helps limit the amount the steering can turn. These are only held on by 2 x aluminum rivets and due to corrosion the rivets break off and the bad disappears.

If these are missing the steering can over turn and the tire will rub on left turns if the one on the RHS is missing and reverse if the LHS is missing. In either case there should be obvious rubbing marks.

Good news is I bought replacement pads not that long ago from Volvo as well as rivets. You can by rivets elsewhere for a lot less. Make sure they are long enough to go through the holes and clear the holes and mounting face before fitting.

Neil.

OrionVolvo · Post by **OrionVolvo** » 15 Oct 2018, 15:22

Thank you, Neil.

I have Volvo rims on the car and the tires are P195/60R15's.

I haven't had time to check the control arm pads yet, but I am hopeful that will pan out. Do you have a part number or link to the control arm pads? I want to make sure that I am looking at the right thing. And are they normally replaced as part of replacing the lower control arm?

I ask because I had that lower control arm (and three other suspension pieces) replaced last summer, but I wasn't able to do the work myself at the time and just paid a mechanic. It would certainly be convenient if it were covered in their warranty.

Post by **scot850** » 15 Oct 2018, 19:54

The pad is part of the lower control arm and is normally part of it and fitted prior to being purchased. Some of the aftermarket control arms the pad (white nylon pad on the front of the control arm) is brittle and just breaks off.

There is an arm that is at the front of the swivel axle assembly and when you turn the steering and it max's out it touches the white pad as a limit stop.

We did have a 93 though that still touched the inner fender on one side occasionally and it had all OE parts fitted. Never could figure it out. Always thought the car may have had a bump at some point and perhaps the sub-frame was out of alignment.

Neil.

OrionVolvo · Post by **OrionVolvo** » 30 Oct 2018, 17:08

So, the lower control arm pad was hanging from one rivet. So I am going to replace that and see where I land then. Thank you Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 30 Oct 2018, 21:04

Drill the old one out and fit a new one. Then slime it with some thick grease on both control arms on the pads and see what happens.

Good Luck!

Neil.