V70 TRACS/ABS: - tracking wander

larryc · Jan 24th, 2011, 17:47

I purchased a 2006 XC70 for my wife new. It now has 72,000 on it, and is in excellent condition, never wrecked, with four high quality new snow tires at proper inflation. I have not driven it much until recently and it has a driving characteristic I do not understand. When driving down a straight and level plowed paved road (January at 9600 feet elevation in the Rockies) with a hard smooth surface of thin hard snowpack at a steady speed of about 35-40 mph, steering wheel held steady straight ahead, it feels as if there is some force steering the car very slightly weaving back and forth. It is not perceptible in looking straight ahead, but I can feel my upper body slightly swaying as it responds to the slight weaving. It feels as if I were steering left/right/left/right etc. a couple of degrees every several seconds, but in fact the steering wheel is not moving. There are no ruts in the road, there is no wind to account for this. In deeper looser snow of several inches on the roadway there is a similar feeling, but more accentuated, that the long axis of the car doesn't stay aligned with the direction of travel that you are steering. In this situation I end up compensating slightly with the wheel. Again, at a steady reasonable speed not accelerating, and steering as steady as possible on a straight road. My wife describes it as "the car is swimming." She says it has always done this. It is not a stable feeling. Has anyone else had this experience with a XC70? Any comments are welcome.

Clan · Jan 24th, 2011, 18:23

i would get a 4 wheel alignment as a first move ..

Jan 24th, 2011, 17:47	#1
larryc New Member Last Online: Feb 9th, 2011 16:31 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: breckenridge co	tracking wander I purchased a 2006 XC70 for my wife new. It now has 72,000 on it, and is in excellent condition, never wrecked, with four high quality new snow tires at proper inflation. I have not driven it much until recently and it has a driving characteristic I do not understand. When driving down a straight and level plowed paved road (January at 9600 feet elevation in the Rockies) with a hard smooth surface of thin hard snowpack at a steady speed of about 35-40 mph, steering wheel held steady straight ahead, it feels as if there is some force steering the car very slightly weaving back and forth. It is not perceptible in looking straight ahead, but I can feel my upper body slightly swaying as it responds to the slight weaving. It feels as if I were steering left/right/left/right etc. a couple of degrees every several seconds, but in fact the steering wheel is not moving. There are no ruts in the road, there is no wind to account for this. In deeper looser snow of several inches on the roadway there is a similar feeling, but more accentuated, that the long axis of the car doesn't stay aligned with the direction of travel that you are steering. In this situation I end up compensating slightly with the wheel. Again, at a steady reasonable speed not accelerating, and steering as steady as possible on a straight road. My wife describes it as "the car is swimming." She says it has always done this. It is not a stable feeling. Has anyone else had this experience with a XC70? Any comments are welcome.

Jan 24th, 2011, 18:23	#2
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 11:14 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	i would get a 4 wheel alignment as a first move .. __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

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