Engine 850: B5204S/2.0/20v: wandering over uneven surfaces & pull to one side on braking

[reevoanders]

Thanks very much for that, Jimcoted. Inspires me more to get it sorted and also I know exactly WHAT to do - which helps greatly....!!

Reevo

Originally Posted by Jimcoted

I had exactly this problem when I bought my V70 T5 made worse by the fact that the engine stabiliser rubber was shot too. On acceleration the car dived to the right and on decelerating dived to the left. Very scary, specially with a T5. Cured the stabliser but on the way to Evesham to have the LPG system fitted noticed that it still did it but to a lesser degree. Mentioned it to the mechanic who immediately said "control arm bushes" and that was the problem. Now fixed it handles great.

[reevoanders]

Hi ShadeTek

I have not yet installed my new control arms yet (will do this weekend hopefully - silly Nordic only included one set of new bolts, instead of two sets, when I recently ordered BOTH new front control arms...!!).

You say that the Scantech arm bushings failed within 6 months of installing them new: I have done a bit of reading on the www, and noted this: have you tightened the control arm-to-chassis bolts AFTER you “loaded up” the arms, or did you tighten them while they were “hanging”? If you tightened them while they were hanging, the bushings are said to fail prematurely, because once they are “loaded” (i.e. the tyres were down on the ground) the bushings would be over-flexed to one side when the suspension springs compressed, causing this early failure.....

All the best.

Reevo

Originally Posted by ShadeTek

You should be looking for this kind of problem.







This is what I found on my car when I had your symptoms. Six month old Scantech control arms. Avoid.

[ShadeTek]

Hi, I tightened the control arm bolts while under load.

[reevoanders]

OK..... Then those Scantech arms must be bad then... Hope that Nordic stuff that I just bought is better, although I'm still waiting for that one set of pesky bolts from them..!!

Will let you know how I get on.

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Reevo

Originally Posted by ShadeTek

Hi, I tightened the control arm bolts while under load.