low speed wheel wobble.

[Pliskin]

Hi all,
I have recently bought an 80K miles 2001 C70 T5 cab from one of our brethren. Overall I love the car, I knew I was looking at tyres when I bought it, but the steering rack throwing it's hand in on the journey home was a bit of a disappointment.

I am not saying for a minute that the seller knew there was a fault, I think that is the chance you take when buying a car that has been unused very infrequently.

The tyres and new rack are now on and it is a major improvement, unfortunately there is quite a noticeable wheel wobble from the FNS which disappears when I get up to thirty and reappears when slowing down and turning, particularly left turns.

The car drives straight with no knocks or bangs. When the tyre fitter had the wheel off he suggested that there was play in the cv joint and/or the driveshaft.

Has anyone got any ideas/experience of this and am I looking at big bills because what started out as a reasonable purchase is quickly emptying my pocket.

As a point of interest the fitter stated that two days after me a guy brought in an identical car of the same mileage with exactly the same problem.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Regards to all

[M-R-P]

It's gonna be something simple like the wheel not balanced properly or a dodgy wishbone bush. It's not gonna be a wallet-burner imo.

[ExternalError]

wishbone bushes or drop links or the wheel not balanced would be where id start looking once they have been confirmed as good id then look into 4 wheel alignment or strut tower bushes

[Pliskin]

Cheers guys the tyres have been checked twice and they are running true. It's going in tomorrow so it can hopefully be sorted.

[JamesT5]

Worst case scenario would be wheel bearings or even CV Joints/Driveshafts although these would continue at higher speeds too. Also check lower ball joints for play and for warped brake discs. If the discs are warped they've overheated and will go a terracotta colour on the outside edge.

You've ruled a wheel balancing issue out, I tend to find the wheel balancing tends to show it's symptoms at around 60mph + although you do feel it at lower speeds to a lesser extent.

[claymore]

had exactly the same symptoms early in mt t5 ownership, it was the outer cv joint.

[JamesT5]

had exactly the same symptoms early in mt t5 ownership, it was the outer cv joint.

They normally click on full lock don't they?

[JUDGENINJA]

Yes and no... Mine currently clicks when I plant the accelerator in a straight line, but yes I've often found first symptoms are low speed full lock.. At speed round corners would lead me to a bearing..

you have checked that the wheel nuts are done up tight?

[Pliskin]

Worst case scenario would be wheel bearings or even CV Joints/Driveshafts although these would continue at higher speeds too. Also check lower ball joints for play and for warped brake discs. If the discs are warped they've overheated and will go a terracotta colour on the outside edge.

You've ruled a wheel balancing issue out, I tend to find the wheel balancing tends to show it's symptoms at around 60mph + although you do feel it at lower speeds to a lesser extent.

The guy at the tyre fitting place expressed the opinion that it was most likely either CV joint or the driveshaft. As I said earlier, it is going in to a Volvo specialist in the morning so hopefully we will get to the bottom of it.

[Pliskin]

Just got it back the mechanic reckons the fns disc may be warped. If it is, wouldn't I have the wobble all the time, because as I said it is fine at 30mph and above.

Anyway it is academic they needed changing because they are badly fitted and he reckons the rns one is stuck in the calliper.

Deep joy. Note to self, don't buy anything that has done 2,400 in the last 4 years unless it has been wizzed around the block a few times to keep things moving.

[Pliskin]

Should have read "badly pitted".

[JamesT5]

Thanks for the update, please let us know whether it solves your problem as well.

[Pliskin]

Thanks for the update, please let us know whether it solves your problem as well.

Well I had the front discs and pads done and there has been some improvement, but unfortunately the wobbling and "vagueness" is still there.

Although I am now familiar with how the scuttle-shake feels I am not convinced the garage has sorted it out.

I mentioned all of your kind suggestions to the mechanic who did the job and he reckons all the other components are fine.

The "symptoms" also manifest themselves when turning. I have got a V70 to compare it to and I know something isn't right but not sure where to go with it other than to get a second opinion.

[LeeT5]

A month later......

So, have you sorted it yet?

I was going to mention that 'warped discs' won't cause wheel wobble. You will only experience vibration under braking and felt through the pedal, if the discs were warped.

Possible causes and list not exhaustive:

Seized or slightly binding brake caliper (common)
Bulge in tyre (try swapping front to rear)
Wheel alignment not correct (common)
Binding strut top mount bearing (common)
Wishbone bushes worn (common)
Stick on wheel weight missing

One thing I will say is have the garage correctly balanced the wheel? There are alot of garages that don't know how to balance wheels correctly and you clearly have a centrifugal vibration because it disappears after 30mph!
I have known garages to incorrectly balance wheels and it takes a good garage with the correct knowledge to do it properly.

[Pliskin]

A month later......

So, have you sorted it yet?

I was going to mention that 'warped discs' won't cause wheel wobble. You will only experience vibration under braking and felt through the pedal, if the discs were warped.

Possible causes and list not exhaustive:

Seized or slightly binding brake caliper (common)
Bulge in tyre (try swapping front to rear)
Wheel alignment not correct (common)
Binding strut top mount bearing (common)
Wishbone bushes worn (common)
Stick on wheel weight missing

One thing I will say is have the garage correctly balanced the wheel? There are alot of garages that don't know how to balance wheels correctly and you clearly have a centrifugal vibration because it disappears after 30mph!
I have known garages to incorrectly balance wheels and it takes a good garage with the correct knowledge to do it properly.

Hi Lee,
Sorry for not replying earlier, domestic problems with a drug addicted son-in-law bringing down doom gloom debt and despair on my daughter has focussed my attention elsewhere.

The garage that fitted the tyres for me, which were brand new, have checked them twice and reckon they are OK. The car was exhibiting the "symptoms" when I initially picked it up and I put it down to the dreaded scuttle shake.

There is a local Volvo specialist opened up not far from me that I will take it to them. Thankfully it not my daily driver, although the V70 that is has recently started to show signs of ETM failure so the fun continues.

Regards.