97 V70 T5 - go left while braking

[taiwan740]

Hello

When accelerating, car wants to go right, and when braking car goes left. I have recently replaced the drop links and the lower control arm on that side, but the issue persists (jobs that needed doing anyway and I had the parts). It hasn't been aligned - is this likely to just be alignment? Camber issue?

Is alignment realistically something I can do myself using my eyeballs or do I have to get it checked in for laser-guided electromatronics?

cheers

Edit: it's not the brakes.

[Luxobarge]

It'll probably be the control arm on the other side, these are the classic symptoms of pivot bush wear/collapse. Try levering it with a long pry-bar, there should be virtually NO movement in any direction.

No point in aligning the wheels until you get two known good control arms on there, as the tracking WILL be out after changing them.

[taiwan740]

Thanks, I'll try that next weekend.

I'm wondering if this car is worth the effort - is the V70 T5 still reasonably desirable? Mine has done 210k miles and had about 17 previous owners, I bought it for very very cheap as a project. I'm not here to fix and flip and make a profit but at the same time I don't want to fix it up and then it end up on the scrap heap. As long as it will sell for whatever in the future when I need to get rid of it then i'm happy to continue.

[Baxlin]

I had exactly the same on my JZR, pulling right when accelerating, pulling left quite violently under braking. The clue was the right front brake getting very hot.

It was the right front calliper having seized, so dragging under acceleration, therefore pulling right, but not working when braking, so pulling left as only that side was braking.

Same symptoms, different cause?

[DaveNP]

Please excuse the basic question, but does it have the same size tyres on both wheels? (and same tyre pressures). You say it's been acquired as a project after 17 different owners so potential for something odd to have happened. I did once drive a work vehicle with these symptoms which after a few miles I knew something was wrong, when I checked and noticed the two brand new tyres on the front axle were different sizes I told the boss who then insisted there could be nothing wrong because they'd just been replaced, literally had to take him into the yard and get him to read the tyre sizes before he could cope with the idea that a simple error had been made.

In terms of how worthwhile it is as a project? the T5 is probably slightly more desirable but currently big Volvo estates are not highly desirable, so you won't make loads if you sell it. There are quite a lot of us who do still use them as daily drivers and they don't generally take too much looking after so for a reasonable amount of money you can have a big comfortable car that seems to just keep going. If I consider mine I paid £800 for it 8 years ago (bargain), over the years other than regular servicing and tyres type costs I've spent £250 replacing the rear brakes and £600 on the front suspension, the suspension cost was a bit challenging and I'll be happier when I've got a couple more years out of it, but overall a capital outlay of £1600 for 8 years motoring (and the car's not dead yet ) is still not bad.

[amazondean]

Originally Posted by DaveNP

If I consider mine I paid £800 for it 8 years ago (bargain), over the years other than regular servicing and tyres type costs I've spent £250 replacing the rear brakes and £600 on the front suspension, the suspension cost was a bit challenging and I'll be happier when I've got a couple more years out of it, but overall a capital outlay of £1600 for 8 years motoring (and the car's not dead yet ) is still not bad.

I bought my 850 TDI twelve years ago for £1200 and have spent around £1000 over this 12 years on maintenance / MOT etc

18 Months ago I bought a parts car and swapped the whole interior including trim that was in leather over to mine. Used a wing, head lining and many other parts, then sold the rest off, keeping some parts for spares and made enough money to replace the cam belt and clutch several Months later. The car is still going strong and quite a rarity nowadays. I hope to get a few more years yet before it finally becomes parts itself!!

[taiwan740]

Issue now fixed, it was indeed the lower control arm on the opposite side. Now just need an alignment!

I think I'm done with this car already though, not sure, we'll see. I do have three cars, i was thinking of cutting down to one (a nice one).

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by taiwan740

Now just need an alignment!

Great! I got one right! Whoohoo.

Before you shell out for an alignment, are you likely to be working on more cars in the coming years, or is this a one-off? If the former, then think about getting a Gunson TrakRite kit and doing it yourself - I got one and used correctly it gets amazing accuracy on wheel alignment, my V70 T5 shows totally even front tyre wear after several years of use, as do several other cars I've used it on. You do have to completely follow the instructions though, especially the bit about doing it on a smooth level surface. Mine has paid for itself many times over.

Just thought I'd mention it as an idea....