Strange whining noise

[jdavis]

Morning all,
My 850 has started to whine when turning right but I can't put my finger on what it is.
It is only from the passenger side
It is only when I turn right
It doesn't do it when stationary
I only notice it at low speeds (although other noises may drown it out at speed)
If I press the brake the pitch changes slightly
The pitch doesn't change with speed.

Any ideas please as I can't figure it out. Part of me is pointing to steering rack but I'm not sure. Was hoping to strip the full suspension/brakes off today and refit to make sure everything is ok in that aspect but rain has stopped play.
Car is an 855 T5 with coil overs and 18" wheels

[Nealevo]

Is your wife in the car? As that was my whining noise from passenger side.

[jdavis]

Ruled that out as that tends to get louder with speed, this doesn't

[Shinsplintz 101]

Wheel bearing? or Power steering? They would be my first two guesses - my PS system used to whine at low speeds but a full flush with new fluid sorted it out.

AS for the wife issue - wouldn't know, she refuses to go in the 850 :)

[jdavis]

Wheel bearing? or Power steering? They would be my first two guesses - my PS system used to whine at low speeds but a full flush with new fluid sorted it out.

AS for the wife issue - wouldn't know, she refuses to go in the 850 :)

I'd best describe it as an hydraulic noise so possibly PS. going to get it raised up this week at some point with wheels off so I can lock to lock it a few times. I do have to top the fluid up occasionally so there is a leak somewhere.
Didn't think of bearing but the noise doesn't sound mechanical if you know what I mean

[Shinsplintz 101]

Does sound like you've got a leak if your having to top the PAS system up - remember if fluid can get out then air can get in, which will probably be what's causing your whine. As you said, get it up off the deck & have a good inspection to see if its an easy fix - could just be a hose not the rack itself. The rack itself is a bit of a pain as you have to drop the sub-frame at the rear to get it out but reconditioned units are quite reasonable on the wallet.

[Dangerous Dave]

As above, I'd expect a dodgy wheel bearing to change pitch the faster you go (from experience).

[jdavis]

Thanks guys. Still not had an opportunity to get it in the air yet, had to pop to chemists this evening and managed to get this video clip where you can hear the noise. It's coming from the drivers side not passenger side.

https://youtu.be/HlziyVcJ9Hs

[jdavis]

Update:

Power steering rack failure
Managed to get it up in the air today to have a good looknowledge around the rack. Clearly some type of leak at the drivers side. Put everything back together, and went to price up a new rack. Set off to work later and has a total loss of power assistance. God I'd forgotten how difficult it is to drive a low speed with no PAS. Parked it up and walked to work. Best price so far for a new rack £360 fitted

[Dangerous Dave]

You can get a rebuild kit for the racks, I did the one on my Blue AWD not long ago (as it was going through a litre of fluid each week).

Kit I got off ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-850-S70-V70-C70-99-Power-Steering-Rack-Repair-Rebuild-Kit-/291789569813?fits=Car+Make%3AVolvo%7CModel%3A850&hash=item43f0037f15:m:msJyPbrPJA8G18ismrDrGnQ

As long as it is the original TRW rack and not the later SMI rack (fitted from around 1998, my Green AWD has an SMI rack, I'm guessing it had a new one fitted at some time in its history and they used the newer type)

[jdavis]

Unfortunately having read up the how-to's online I don't think i have the facilities to do this myself.

[jdavis]

Well, bit of a blast from the past. Took the car for it's test yesterday thinking all was well and it failed on, you guessed it, steering rack amongst other things. It's currently back at the garage that replaced the rack.