C70: Interchangeable steering rack V70 and C70

[simonholland44]

Hi All,

I've sprung a leak on my steering rack on a 2003 C70 and keep hearing that I can use a V70 steering rack in it's place as they're more common.

I thought I'd need to get one from the same year (2003) but it appears, especially from the title of this thread group, that the V70 may have evolved before the C70 meaning I need to get a steering rack for my 2003 C70 from a 96-99 V70 (or S70).

Can anyone confirm if this is correct and also if any rack from these years will work or there are any variants I need to look out for? I have the 2.0 T engine.

Thanks,
Simon

[Cookeh]

Get any rack you can find from a P80, but make sure you get the inner tie rod ends too.

[aaronturbo]

Originally Posted by Cookeh

Get any rack you can find from a P80, but make sure you get the inner tie rod ends too.

You must grab the inner tie rod ends and outer tie rods or at least make sure you know what type they were,

there was 2 different racks one had longer outside tie rods then the other, i have had this issue, and the rack can be a right pita to change.

Put aside a day if you have never done it, the subframe has to be dropped to wiggle it out.

[turboboy]

Originally Posted by aaronturbo

You must grab the inner tie rod ends and outer tie rods or at least make sure you know what type they were,

there was 2 different racks one had longer outside tie rods then the other, i have had this issue, and the rack can be a right pita to change.

Put aside a day if you have never done it, the subframe has to be dropped to wiggle it out.

Not sure about the tie rods being different lengths - may be the reason one of my front tyres rubs on the inner wheel arch even though I fitted new stops, however there were two manufacturers of steering racks and the thread size on the inner joint differs between them. (As me how I know! LOL).

[amazondean]

Surely if your tie rods were the wrong length, your wheels would be either towing in or towing out way too much!

[simonholland44]

Thanks for the guidance. Is the P80 the platform for Volvo 850 / V70(I) / C70 etc?

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by simonholland44

Thanks for the guidance. Is the P80 the platform for Volvo 850 / V70(I) / C70 etc?

Yes it is.

[Cookeh]

Outers are the same, inners are different. The only mechanical difference between them is the inner tie-rod end threadsizes. The SMI is also a mix of steel and alu parts whilst the TRW one is fully alu, but that has no impact on swapping them.

Do please buy new subframe bolts, these are stretch bolts - and they get stretched an awful lot. 90 Nm + 180' is no joke. People do reuse these bolts, but I personally wouldn't dream of it.

[turboboy]

Originally Posted by amazondean

Surely if your tie rods were the wrong length, your wheels would be either towing in or towing out way too much!

I agree, but have had four wheel alignment and there is no problem with alignment in the straight ahead position so trying to think why only one side rubs at full lock.

[PNuT]

Originally Posted by Cookeh

Do please buy new subframe bolts, these are stretch bolts - and they get stretched an awful lot. 90 Nm + 180' is no joke. People do reuse these bolts, but I personally wouldn't dream of it.

I have always reused them, one of my cars I have dropped the subframe about 5 times which would have cost me more in bolts than I paid for the car!

Originally Posted by turboboy

I agree, but have had four wheel alignment and there is no problem with alignment in the straight ahead position so trying to think why only one side rubs at full lock.

The rack is unlikely to be the issue as it should hit the steering stops before the end of its travel.