Steering: - XC90 Pulling to left

Millo · Sep 11th, 2008, 09:54

I have a 55-plate 163bhp D5 which pulls to the left really badly. The dealer has had it in twice now and has, in theory, done a full 4-wheel alignment and checked all steering and suspension. They claim it is now OK but it is worse than ever - requiring at least a 10 degree steering angle to the right to keep it straight. If I let go of the wheel on the motorway it is dangerous!

I've seen some threads about this but no firm conclusion as to what it might be. Any new ideas?

Note - I've had a full remap on the car to uplift the torque and bhp. Is there a chance the extra torque is the culprit if the driveshafts are not of equal length?

Thanks!

bircham · Sep 11th, 2008, 20:09

I had this recently on my 56 plate car. I took it to the dealer for an alignment but it kept coming back worse, or exactly the same - I had to keep the wheel off to the right to keep going straight. Eventuallythey solved it - they had not been aligning the back wheels, just the front!. It now drives perfectly at long last. Make sure that they really are doing a full 4 wheel alignment for you.

Jon

sjl71 · Aug 17th, 2009, 21:25

Hi all

I have owned 06 plate se for 3 months and love the car apart from this current recurring issue.

Car has been at dealerships now two times......

1st time fixed steering wheel centering.... car came back worse with greater pulling to left

2nd time completed full 4wheel alignment....... car came back with same problem.....

Does anyone else have any suggestions as I am now losing faith and patience with the dealers. I am also continuing to drive a car that is becoming dangerous and unenjoyable to drive.

Thanks

Scott

Clan · Aug 17th, 2009, 23:00

In 9 times out of 10 pulling or gentle drifting to one side is tyres ... try swapping the front wheels left to right or trying the rear on the front ... Tyres have a built in bias which causes them to pull one way or another , thats what the coloured bands indicate on a new tyre , Ask any tyre dealer , You MAY get an answer ;-)

WrathOfKain · Nov 11th, 2019, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clan

In 9 times out of 10 pulling or gentle drifting to one side is tyres ... try swapping the front wheels left to right or trying the rear on the front ... Tyres have a built in bias which causes them to pull one way or another , thats what the coloured bands indicate on a new tyre , Ask any tyre dealer , You MAY get an answer ;-)

I think mine has been pulling to the left ..... good point this might be an easy fix ?

Tannaton · Nov 12th, 2019, 02:32

Many cars have a slight pull to the left because of the camber in the road to drain water away, you can’t always see it.

If you do decide to swap wheels about, it needs to be fronts to back (swapping the front sides over doesn’t always make a difference as a wheel causing the pull is the rotating in the opposite direction so some faults remain...)

Clan · Nov 12th, 2019, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Many cars have a slight pull to the left because of the camber in the road to drain water away, you can’t always see it.

If you do decide to swap wheels about, it needs to be fronts to back (swapping the front sides over doesn’t always make a difference as a wheel causing the pull is the rotating in the opposite direction so some faults remain...)

with my 45 years volvo technical experience it more often than not cures it ... swapping front to back is a last resort ..

Clan · Nov 12th, 2019, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

I think mine has been pulling to the left ..... good point this might be an easy fix ?

yes if it is actually pulling.. there are many roads with a camber and that will have the same effect , you need a dead flat surface to test for pulling .

WrathOfKain · Nov 12th, 2019, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clan

yes if it is actually pulling.. there are many roads with a camber and that will have the same effect , you need a dead flat surface to test for pulling .

Dont think its road camber as i think that would be more a drift than a pull.

S60D5-185 · Nov 12th, 2019, 13:00

I had a similar issue and cured it by putting the N/S tyres at 72 psi and the O/S at 8 psi.Straight as an arrow.

It worked for me but do it at your own peril.

Sep 11th, 2008, 09:54	#1
Millo New Member Last Online: Sep 11th, 2008 09:58 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Banbury	XC90 Pulling to left I have a 55-plate 163bhp D5 which pulls to the left really badly. The dealer has had it in twice now and has, in theory, done a full 4-wheel alignment and checked all steering and suspension. They claim it is now OK but it is worse than ever - requiring at least a 10 degree steering angle to the right to keep it straight. If I let go of the wheel on the motorway it is dangerous! I've seen some threads about this but no firm conclusion as to what it might be. Any new ideas? Note - I've had a full remap on the car to uplift the torque and bhp. Is there a chance the extra torque is the culprit if the driveshafts are not of equal length? Thanks!

Sep 11th, 2008, 20:09	#2
bircham Member Last Online: Sep 26th, 2014 03:40 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: forfar	I had this recently on my 56 plate car. I took it to the dealer for an alignment but it kept coming back worse, or exactly the same - I had to keep the wheel off to the right to keep going straight. Eventuallythey solved it - they had not been aligning the back wheels, just the front!. It now drives perfectly at long last. Make sure that they really are doing a full 4 wheel alignment for you. Jon __________________ 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 SE manual, Electric silver, Calcite leather, privacy glass & 2006 Volvo V50 2.0dSE, silver, quartz leather.

Aug 17th, 2009, 21:25	#3
sjl71 New Member Last Online: Sep 29th, 2009 20:48 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: GLASGOW	xc90 pulling to left Hi all I have owned 06 plate se for 3 months and love the car apart from this current recurring issue. Car has been at dealerships now two times...... 1st time fixed steering wheel centering.... car came back worse with greater pulling to left 2nd time completed full 4wheel alignment....... car came back with same problem..... Does anyone else have any suggestions as I am now losing faith and patience with the dealers. I am also continuing to drive a car that is becoming dangerous and unenjoyable to drive. Thanks Scott

Aug 17th, 2009, 23:00	#4
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:31 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	In 9 times out of 10 pulling or gentle drifting to one side is tyres ... try swapping the front wheels left to right or trying the rear on the front ... Tyres have a built in bias which causes them to pull one way or another , thats what the coloured bands indicate on a new tyre , Ask any tyre dealer , You MAY get an answer ;-) __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Nov 12th, 2019, 02:32	#6
Tannaton Bungling Amateur Last Online: Today 08:44 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Beverley, East Yorks	Many cars have a slight pull to the left because of the camber in the road to drain water away, you can’t always see it. If you do decide to swap wheels about, it needs to be fronts to back (swapping the front sides over doesn’t always make a difference as a wheel causing the pull is the rotating in the opposite direction so some faults remain...) __________________ 2011 XC90 D5 Executive 2003 C70 T5 GT 2012 Ford Ranger XL SC 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 1976 Massey Ferguson 135

Nov 12th, 2019, 13:00	#10
S60D5-185 Me ? Surely Not! Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 16:23 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 Geartronic. South of Hadrians Wall.	I had a similar issue and cured it by putting the N/S tyres at 72 psi and the O/S at 8 psi.Straight as an arrow. It worked for me but do it at your own peril. __________________ “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain 😊 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 SE Geartronic Last edited by S60D5-185; Nov 12th, 2019 at 13:03.

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