V70 Steering: v70 turning circle

[Colin37]

I had the same rubbing problem with my 2002 V70 T5, which had the sports pack with 18" alloys. Volvo tried to fix it without success by adjusting the tracking and fitting limiters, which made the steering even worse. To their credit, they eventually swapped the wheels for 17s and that cured the rubbing problem but not the turning circle, which was appalling.

Anyway, I have just changed the T5 for a 2007 D5 and the improvement is amazing. Its just like parking a normal car. Is this because it is a different engine or have Volvo redesigned the steering geometry?

[wowbanger2000]

Originally Posted by Graeme Catnach

Well, it is if you've got a couple of acres in which to park it! And if you're comparing it with the QM2. And that breeze is Hurricane Dean.

Having served aboard QM2, I can vouch it is easier to park than my V70!! Azimuthing pods astern and side thrusters in the bow mean you can move the ship sideways to 'park' it.

Chris

Chris Shaw
Senior Nursing Officer
Cunard Line

[Bob Bridge]

Originally Posted by RobbieH

Aye, I find the same. Used to have a 940SE 2.0T Estate, now V70 D5SE. Chalk 'n cheese! When I went for a test drive in the V70 I had to go round one of those nasty mini-roundabouts, the small painted humps in the road, in the middle of a housing estate. Embarrassingly, I ended up running up the kerb, even on full lock. I was terrified of kurbing the wheels and I hadn't agreed to buy the thing at the time.
Even the BMW 320d "estate" I had to drive between the Volvos had a better tc than the V70.
Just have to plan ahead but it's still a bit embarrassing getting in and out of tight spots when there's a crowd around.

Don't forget the sticky at the top of this topic about wheels touching the arches. I've printed off the pdf file mentioned in bigtree's post and put in the service book just in case I need to refer to it future (and the first MOT is due next month).

I once had to reverse off one of those nasty mini roundabouts and have another bite at it, I could not do it one smooth move in my S60 so now I take a different route, the 740 estate flies round it though no problem. There is a rumour that BMW want to buy Volvo which may mean a return to rear wheel drive and better turning circles if it happens.

[GavinT5]

Originally Posted by Clan

The whole point of volvo fitting the metal plate under the arch for the tyre to rub is to pass the MOT because this is detailed in the Testers manual .

"Note: Some vehicles have lock stops comprising soft metal pads on the body for the front tyres to rub against. These are acceptable if they are properly maintained so that they do not damage the tyres."

If there is a plate designed for the tyre to rub on than thats passable, same with the Morgan sportscar with an alloy block fitted to the chassis exactly for this reason , to pass the MOT ... so light rubbing on the plate on full lock will pass the MOT ... If it fails then appeal !

if you have this problem then swap over the steering stops on the suspension arms it will present an unworn part of the stop and reduce the lock enough to not touch ..

Exactly... when my car was in the MOT I asked the tester (perhaps ill-timed!) if the tyre rubbing would fail it. He pointed his lamp into the wheen arch, pointed to the metal plate and said "Thats why that plates there".

With regards to cr** turning circle.... it is shoddy compared to my old 240 but you get used to it. I still love the refinements of the V70 over the 240.

[DownundeR]

I am glad that other people find the turning circle of the V70 like a battleship.
I thought it was just me. I think the turning circle for my V70R is something like 13.2 metres. And that’s with the 18” Pegasus and the steering stops adjusted to stop tyre rub on full lock.
As mentioned previously, with some planning you get used to it – but unexpected U-turns usually ends up with you looking like a complete tool who doesn’t know how to drive!

+1 on the refinements over the 240!

[DieselDoNicely]

Originally Posted by Viper_7

Ford will probably fix it, this was here long before FORD!

My 850 turning circle is like a London Taxi, The D5 is like a Fiesta, 10 point turn job.

DDN

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by b1g1an

Yep, it's because it's a big five cylinder engine mounted across the car with the
gearbox on the end so there is no room for the wheels to go without making the car even wider, nothing to do with CV joint or anything else.

Hmmm... FIAT managed it in the little Coupe without any rubbing so why do S60's have the issue ? I don't follow this one.
That car didn't suffer rubbing even on 18" wheels.