S90 - intermittent rub/grind noise at front right?

[MattRS]

Hi all - long time ‘lurker’ on the forum with an issue that someone may be able to help with.

I have a 2019 S90 T4 R-Design, picked up in March 2019 and it is superb - the car had a couple of niggling rattles early on (around mesh trim and front seat), but managed to track those down myself. With around 6,000 miles on the car now, I have a developing problem:

Background given to Volvo Shrewsbury in Nov ’19

- A rubbing / scraping noise lasting a few seconds, only at low speeds (never noticed above 20mph).
- Noticed it happens where there is a small amount of 'left lock ' (i.e. just off centre) on the steering and weight / load is shifted onto the front right wheel.
- Best situation found to cause the noise is when going straight across smaller roundabouts (so a little right lock as you follow the curve of an island, followed by acceleration and momentary left lock to straighten up).
- Road conditions dry.
- No noise over rough roads, speedbumps, etc so seems to be more drivetrain related.
- Almost sounds like a plastic guard hitting the road surface briefly but can't see anything underneath.
- Feels / sounds like it is emanating from front right.
- Only under acceleration, definitely not on the brakes when it occurs (to try to rule out the anti-lock brake ‘grind’ you may occasionally hear)
- Quite intermittent.


Volvo Shrewsbury notes in response

Road tested, cannot reproduce. Checked tightness of OSF top mount. No play in steering/suspension. Inner arch liner secure. Spring blocks removed, brake pads OK.



The noise is becoming more regular and apparent at low speeds in recent weeks – I’m really waiting until it becomes reliably reproduceable before going back in, but would appreciate any thoughts on focus areas or similar faults?

I’ll also try to capture sound / video shortly..


Thanks in advance

Matt

[MattRS]

OK - managed to capture it.

The below is a few seconds long, ignore the first couple of ‘pops’ on the microphone and you’ll hear a double rub or scrape noise a couple or seconds in. Volume will need to be right up.

+ YouTube Video

Thanks

Matt

[MattRS]

A slightly better one:

+ YouTube Video

[nu11eaf]

Have you got mudflaps fitted, on low cars these can scrape on the road in certain situations. If you have check the bottom edges, my (original 1998) v90 used to do this and it was the mudflaps.

[MattRS]

Hi - thanks.

No mudflaps fitted. The sound started out as a rubbing or catching noise, but has changed to something stronger in recent days - so it’s obviously developing...

Starting to get pretty annoying


Matt

[Maccmike]

Sounds bearing/pulley to my ears.

[weemark]

I've found the Shrewsbury guys to be pretty good - given that you know precisely the conditions at which the noise occurs have you taken one of the service guys out to demonstrate? Suggest not the service reception staff, take one of the mechanics out

[ASt85]

It could be caused by small piece of grit trapped by the disc cover plate or a shard/ small strip of rust from the plate itself.

[MattRS]

Originally Posted by weemark

I've found the Shrewsbury guys to be pretty good - given that you know precisely the conditions at which the noise occurs have you taken one of the service guys out to demonstrate? Suggest not the service reception staff, take one of the mechanics out

Thanks - this may be the next step now. Also noticing it fades away when the car is warm, so may end up having to leave it with them to run up from cold..



Matt

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by MattRS

Thanks - this may be the next step now. Also noticing it fades away when the car is warm, so may end up having to leave it with them to run up from cold..
Matt

Matt.
Suggest you ask for their Super Tech - John - to take the car out with you. John has been around Volvo’s for all his (long) life & being old school can often use his time served knowledge to identify the strangest of problems.