Volvo V70 2005.Steering Rack Damage

blackrabbit · Dec 5th, 2019, 20:12

Hello
We had a new front tyre fitted and the wheels aligned,at a local Tyre and Exhaust centre.
When we received the car back,the steering was notchy and the steering wheel would now flick back and forth at the 10 o clock and two o'clock points,whilst driving.Directly prior to this the car was driving perfectly,with no steering issues.
The car has now failed it's MOT on the steering rack and it needs replacing.
Would any know as to what this garage could possibly done to our car,to cause this issue.
Many thanks.

Brendan W · Dec 5th, 2019, 21:43

What exactly did the tester say or write?
Fails come under generic headings and what appears to be a big job may in fact be a sub component of that system.
The closest the tyre fitters should have come to the rack is opening the steering tie rods that connect the rack to the wheels. They can be hard to open and if abused could lead to damage to the rod or, if extreme force was used, the ends of the rack itself.
Racks do fail but the co-incidence is improbable.

blackrabbit · Dec 5th, 2019, 22:18

Hello Brendan
Thanks for your response.
Yes,our thoughts were that they may have been heavy handed,with releasing the tie rods.
The MOT fail sheet reads....
Fail..Repair Immediately.(Major Defects)
Power steering malfunctioning
Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel.

Prior to this there has been no issue with the steering and there has not been any fails or advisories for the steering,in previous MOTs.

Brendan W · Dec 5th, 2019, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackrabbit

Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel.

The feel from the wheel was enough to fail. The tester may or may not have bothered to go any further. More curious types might and consider it part of the job, however.
Someone needs to have a close look at the tie rods. An experienced head could tell in seconds what has happened.

barrybritcher · Dec 5th, 2019, 23:21

sounds like the didnt counter hold the rack when undo the tie rod end

BarryCambs · Dec 6th, 2019, 09:45

I stupidly left mine with a chain garage to have a ball joint changed after it failed the MOT last year. They manged to dislocate the CV joint and then said it 'it must have been like that before - goodbye'

My advice would be to get an independent vehicle inspection immediately! I think I paid £35. I then had an official and independent report which said "Vehicle is dangerous and must not be moved" inspite of the fact it had been given a clean MOT.

Their help line and head office refused to respond to my complaint, so I went to small claims. I suspect they have a policy of shredding any letters sent registered post before they are opened, so they didn't respond to the court either and I got a default judgement in my favour. I asked for 2.5k as an apology, so after I'd changed the driveshaft and ball joint, I still had enough left for a holiday in France :-)

I also reported them to the MOT inspectorate. First time I've ever paid for work on one of my vehicles and realistically the last.

Dec 5th, 2019, 20:12	#1
blackrabbit Junior Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 07:42 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: norwich	Volvo V70 2005.Steering Rack Damage Hello We had a new front tyre fitted and the wheels aligned,at a local Tyre and Exhaust centre. When we received the car back,the steering was notchy and the steering wheel would now flick back and forth at the 10 o clock and two o'clock points,whilst driving.Directly prior to this the car was driving perfectly,with no steering issues. The car has now failed it's MOT on the steering rack and it needs replacing. Would any know as to what this garage could possibly done to our car,to cause this issue. Many thanks.

Dec 5th, 2019, 22:18	#3
blackrabbit Junior Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 07:42 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: norwich	Volvo V70 Steering Rack Damage Hello Brendan Thanks for your response. Yes,our thoughts were that they may have been heavy handed,with releasing the tie rods. The MOT fail sheet reads.... Fail..Repair Immediately.(Major Defects) Power steering malfunctioning Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel. Prior to this there has been no issue with the steering and there has not been any fails or advisories for the steering,in previous MOTs.

Dec 5th, 2019, 23:21	#5
barrybritcher Flaccid Member Last Online: Apr 15th, 2024 16:09 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Norwich	sounds like the didnt counter hold the rack when undo the tie rod end __________________ 2001 Volvo S60 T5 SE 2.3 Geartronic (Scrapped) 2007 Volvo S60 T5 SE 2.4 Geartronic (Sold) 2008 Volvo V70 D5 SE Sport Geartronic (Current)

Dec 5th, 2019, 21:43	#2
Brendan W Premier Member Last Online: Apr 2nd, 2024 19:50 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wexford	What exactly did the tester say or write? Fails come under generic headings and what appears to be a big job may in fact be a sub component of that system. The closest the tyre fitters should have come to the rack is opening the steering tie rods that connect the rack to the wheels. They can be hard to open and if abused could lead to damage to the rod or, if extreme force was used, the ends of the rack itself. Racks do fail but the co-incidence is improbable.

Dec 6th, 2019, 09:45	#6
BarryCambs Senior Member Last Online: Aug 17th, 2023 14:13 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cambridge	I stupidly left mine with a chain garage to have a ball joint changed after it failed the MOT last year. They manged to dislocate the CV joint and then said it 'it must have been like that before - goodbye' My advice would be to get an independent vehicle inspection immediately! I think I paid £35. I then had an official and independent report which said "Vehicle is dangerous and must not be moved" inspite of the fact it had been given a clean MOT. Their help line and head office refused to respond to my complaint, so I went to small claims. I suspect they have a policy of shredding any letters sent registered post before they are opened, so they didn't respond to the court either and I got a default judgement in my favour. I asked for 2.5k as an apology, so after I'd changed the driveshaft and ball joint, I still had enough left for a holiday in France :-) I also reported them to the MOT inspectorate. First time I've ever paid for work on one of my vehicles and realistically the last.

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