V70 Steering: Intermittent severe steering wheel vibration

[volvo2]

Volvo V70, 2002, manual, petrol, 180k miles

I have a very intermittent severe steering wheel vibration / shimmy / shake / wobble. I have a 120mile commute (60 miles each way), mostly on the motorway. Twice now at about halfway back a vibration builds up in the steering. It stays for about five minutes then gradually fades away (without any additional steering input or brake/throttle input).

What on earth could be causing this? I can imagine many reasons but none that would be so intermittent. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Here are some further details. Seems to be there from 50 to 60 mph while driving in a straight line. Not linked with a particular road speed, engine speed (no change on disengaging clutch), braking, steering direction, or road surface. Wheel nuts are not loose. Tires and rims look fine. Power steering reservoir full (I changed the fluid last year). Brakes are not getting hot. Handbrake is not stuck on. No ABS fault (I don’t have traction control). I hear nothing when on full steering lock. Car does not pull either way, including under braking. Suspension has all Volvo components. I have replaced drop links about four years back. Lower control arms also replaced but that was around 10 years ago.

This does not feel like wheel imbalance. When not there steering feels fine, and car drives well.

I’ll get the front wheels off at the weekend to see if I can spot anything. I’ll also switch the front wheels to the rear while I’m at it.

[Simmy]

after 10 years its possible that the lower arms bushes have failed again check for any tearing on the round part as this is where they fail most often. dose the vibration start at the same part of repeat journeys it may be triggered by road surface changes.

[volvo2]

Thanks for that. It occurred about 20 miles apart on the M5 on two different journeys (only once per journey), so not the same place.

I think / hope I've discovered what it is. The righthand front disc is blue, indicating overheating. This is weird as when I got home all wheels were cool to the touch (and did not smell hot – as I’ve experienced in the past), but that was 30 miles later on. So, I'm thinking that the caliper must randomly partly be jamming on during light braking, causing this horrible vibration, and then releasing all at motorway speeds. I am guessing this could be the caliper itself or the flexible brake hose collapsing inside (which are all original – front and back). Anyway, I'll get the caliper off at the weekend. I know disconnecting old and corroded brake hoses can be a nightmare, so I'm not looking forward to that.

[Simmy]

check for any indentations where the pads sit on the caliper carrier as these can cause the pads to stick hoses usually come loose easily use a good brake line spanner to avoid any rounding of the nut on the line.you will more than likely need new discs if damaged by excessive heat.

[Scootersp]

I think with it being intermittent the brake hose internal collapse seems most likely?

[Georgeandkira]

I had a 2002 petrol of about the same mileage, and I can report that on a gentle, downhill curve to the left on a state road, an anachronistic term for motorway, I experienced a wobble which rocked my world.

Visions of shot inner tie rods...outer tie rod ends...control arm bushings....and other fancy stuff, danced through my head.
All are legit concerns.

However, this deep shake didn't appear otherwise. It was easy to compartmentalize...aka ignore.

In the meantime, my fronts wore down and were replaced. The brand and model wouldn't apply to you as you're 'on the other side', but the phenomenon disappeared.
FYI: The new "miracle tires" were Cooper CS-4's; again, N/A to you.

So, I tell you; put on your x-ray glasses and peer into your tires.
It wouldn't be the first time on Planet Earth that bashed/worn tyers caused zizzbo.

Also, worn dampers are the pits. I refreshed mine before "180k miles" and I'd recommend that too.
Your car is at the age for some 'broad brush work'.

[mcfe]

The problem is that the P2 series are notorious for leaking rack, rattling rack etc and even the coupler going bad, tie rods. So you have to check wheel alignment, cv axles, the rack itself and the loading bearing devices, which are your control arms, while there the end links and tie rods.
As well as warped rotors. But those won't explain why it's intermittent and fades and comes back.

[stuart bowes]

you do have a somewhat negative view of these cars dont you lol

last month it was 'all v70's have dodgy head gaskets' (not that anyone else was aware of...)
https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=339197

and now it's all v70's have leaky racks, dodgy track rod ends and warped brakes

I must be really lucky because although I've admittedly got a reasonably low mileage car I haven't had any of these supposed common issues

the rack can be a pain from what I've read on here but most of the discussions seem to be more about how there are a number of different types and you can end up with the wrong one very easily

poor maintenance and using the wrong fluid could cause seals to break down I suppose..

discs and track rods are just consumable items as they are on any car

[stuart bowes]

OP.. you said it's about halfway along a certain part of your journey..

is it always in the same place exactly ? It couldn't just be the road surface I suppose.. there are sections of the M25 that match that description fairly accurately

[Clan]

Originally Posted by volvo2

Volvo V70, 2002, manual, petrol, 180k miles

I have a very intermittent severe steering wheel vibration / shimmy / shake / wobble. I have a 120mile commute (60 miles each way), mostly on the motorway. Twice now at about halfway back a vibration builds up in the steering. It stays for about five minutes then gradually fades away (without any additional steering input or brake/throttle input).

What on earth could be causing this? I can imagine many reasons but none that would be so intermittent. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Here are some further details. Seems to be there from 50 to 60 mph while driving in a straight line. Not linked with a particular road speed, engine speed (no change on disengaging clutch), braking, steering direction, or road surface. Wheel nuts are not loose. Tires and rims look fine. Power steering reservoir full (I changed the fluid last year). Brakes are not getting hot. Handbrake is not stuck on. No ABS fault (I don’t have traction control). I hear nothing when on full steering lock. Car does not pull either way, including under braking. Suspension has all Volvo components. I have replaced drop links about four years back. Lower control arms also replaced but that was around 10 years ago.

This does not feel like wheel imbalance. When not there steering feels fine, and car drives well.

I’ll get the front wheels off at the weekend to see if I can spot anything. I’ll also switch the front wheels to the rear while I’m at it.

You might find that BOTH front wheels are out of balance and as you drive they rotate at slightly different speeds and sometimes the 2 heavy parts add and make it worse and Subtract to cancel each other out.. I have come across that a few times.