Strange steering sensation (850 1993)

[Lars E. Pettersson]

I have a strange steering sensation in my Volvo 850 1993. The feeling
is that I have to steer more than usual to get the car to turn. From
what I can tell there is no apparent play in the steering wheel, just this
strange sensation. It is most apparent at slow speeds. It is a
bit nerving to drive into parking lots etc. as I have to steer more than
I think I have to steer.

Anyone have a clue on this? Is it me or the car acting up?

I know that the sway bar links in the front need to be change. The
car also feel a bit wobbly (side to side) It has new suspension (but
the strange steering sensation could be felt even before the putting in
the new suspension.)

Lars

 

[Michael Cerkowski]

I have a strange steering sensation in my Volvo 850 1993. The feeling
is that I have to steer more than usual to get the car to turn. From
what I can tell there is no apparent play in the steering wheel, just this
strange sensation. It is most apparent at slow speeds. It is a
bit nerving to drive into parking lots etc. as I have to steer more than
I think I have to steer.

Anyone have a clue on this? Is it me or the car acting up?

I know that the sway bar links in the front need to be change. The
car also feel a bit wobbly (side to side) It has new suspension (but
the strange steering sensation could be felt even before the putting in
the new suspension.)

Lars

The first thing to check is tire pressure. Aftre that, check for play
in the tie rods.
--






http://www.albany.net/~mjc1/index.html

 

[Michael Pardee]

I have a strange steering sensation in my Volvo 850 1993. The feeling
is that I have to steer more than usual to get the car to turn. From
what I can tell there is no apparent play in the steering wheel, just this
strange sensation. It is most apparent at slow speeds. It is a
bit nerving to drive into parking lots etc. as I have to steer more than
I think I have to steer.

Anyone have a clue on this? Is it me or the car acting up?

I know that the sway bar links in the front need to be change. The
car also feel a bit wobbly (side to side) It has new suspension (but
the strange steering sensation could be felt even before the putting in
the new suspension.)

Lars

It could be the front tires, also. (Or your brain - the first sign of Mad
Volvo Driver disease.) If the pressure is okay, a visit to a competent and
honest tire dealer would be worthwhile.

My favorite spot check for alignment problems is to put a strip of masking
tape across each front tire, sidewall to sidewall, and drive a mile or so on
fairly straight road. If the tape wears unevenly, there is something that
needs to be corrected.

Mike

 

[Mike F]

It could be the front tires, also. (Or your brain - the first sign of Mad
Volvo Driver disease.) If the pressure is okay, a visit to a competent and
honest tire dealer would be worthwhile.

My favorite spot check for alignment problems is to put a strip of masking
tape across each front tire, sidewall to sidewall, and drive a mile or so on
fairly straight road. If the tape wears unevenly, there is something that
needs to be corrected.

Mike

Loose sway bar links won't cause any problems other than noise (at least
until they get bad enough to break). Maybe whoever put on the "new
suspension" left a bolt or 2 loose, or perhaps an alignment is needed.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

[L David Matheny]

I have a strange steering sensation in my Volvo 850 1993. The feeling
is that I have to steer more than usual to get the car to turn. From
what I can tell there is no apparent play in the steering wheel, just this
strange sensation. It is most apparent at slow speeds. It is a
bit nerving to drive into parking lots etc. as I have to steer more
than I think I have to steer.

Anyone have a clue on this? Is it me or the car acting up?

I know that the sway bar links in the front need to be change. The
car also feel a bit wobbly (side to side) It has new suspension (but
the strange steering sensation could be felt even before the putting
in the new suspension.)

Lars

Horribly misadjusted toe-in could probably cause that sensation.
But the other suggestions given are probably a lot more likely.

 

[Ian Mac Donald]

This happened to my brother in law, if you open the hood and look for the
steering linkage, there is a universal joint on the steering shaft that
needs to be lubricated. Just squirt some oil on it and it clears up. You
will see exactly what I mean when you look at the linkage.
Let me know if this helps. Post here.
Ian'
Canada