Volvo AWD 850 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 9/2016 850 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

symptoms=steering rack replacement? 850

posted by  acd483 on  Tue Apr 19 03:41 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
last visit: Sun Jun 3 02:06 CST 2001
[RELATED]

My '94 850 wagon has been exhibiting some annoying symptoms for some time but now that I'm doing a lot of highway driving I want to correct the problem.

8 times out of 10 when braking from high speeds the steering wheel violently chatters. The car seems to brake alright however I suspect the rotors are slightly warped. I brought it in and the mechanic mentioned a little play in the steering rack. It's not leaking however. I'm wondering whether the brakes are exacerbating the steering problem. He also mentioned the brakes not needing replacement.

A few observations: the vibrating doesn't always happen. Sometimes the car will brake without the steering chatter and when I'm braking and turning it seems slightly better. Why doesn't the symptom always happen? Could a sticky caliper cause these issues as well?

The net result is a very unconfident driver. Any ideas? Thanks.
--
'94 855 2.4 Sportwagon

Jet Black/Beige Leather . 5-spd . 16' Meteors . E-code lamps & sidemarkers








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    symptoms=steering rack replacement? 850

    posted by  Rule 308 on  Tue Apr 19 04:20 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Tue May 8 09:20 CST 2012
    [RELATED]

    It is obvious that you need pads and rotors to start. There is little to no duplicate labor between the pads and a steering rack in that car so the money spent will be the same whether you piece meal it or do it all at once. In reality though your rack is probably just fine and all you need are a set of rotors, hang new pads though too while you are in there. Brake rotor can be strange beasts for sure, as they heat up and cool down they can and will do odd things. I have driven plenty of Volvos that were just like yours. The rotors tend to develop a thickness variation that is only obvious under certain conditions. I have never seen a rack cause a shimmy problem, seen them bind, leak, not work at all, but never a shimmy because of a bad rack. That does not mean it isn't possible, just means that I have not seen one in 20 years of working on this product.

    mark








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      symptoms=steering rack replacement? 850

      posted by  acd483 on  Sat Apr 23 12:52 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Sun Jun 3 02:06 CST 2001
      [RELATED]

      Thanks so much. Swapped out the front pads/rotors and the car is happy!
      --
      '94 855 2.4 Sportwagon

      Jet Black/Beige Leather . 5-spd . 16' Meteors . E-code lamps & sidemarkers








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      symptoms=steering rack replacement? 850

      posted by  acd483 on  Tue Apr 19 07:42 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Sun Jun 3 02:06 CST 2001
      [RELATED]

      Do you think the braking problem could worsen the condition of the steering rack?
      --
      '94 855 2.4 Sportwagon

      Jet Black/Beige Leather . 5-spd . 16' Meteors . E-code lamps & sidemarkers








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

        symptoms=steering rack replacement? 850

        posted by  Rule 308 on  Tue Apr 19 09:38 CST 2005
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Tue May 8 09:20 CST 2012
        [RELATED]

        Yes, that is the problem with loose/worn suspension components as they wear they take other things with them. Once you have play in the steering rack it is just going to get worse and if you have some other factor like your high speed shimmy when braking it is just going to accelerate it. How fast it wears is dependent upon all the different factors that come in to driving it. Typically though it is not something that goes bad overnight. I live/work in So. Cal and I just don't see a lot of worn out 850 steering racks. In fact I can't really recall ever doing a set of inner tie rods on one. Outers, link rods, stabilizer mount bushings, wheel bearings, spring plates, ball joints? I do that kind of stuff on a regular basis but the P/S racks and inner steering rods seem to hold up pretty well.

        Mark








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      symptoms=steering rack replacement? 850

      posted by  acd483 on  Tue Apr 19 05:55 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Sun Jun 3 02:06 CST 2001
      [RELATED]

      Thanks Mark. I'll take the car in again. We'll see what the latest diagnosis is.
      --
      '94 855 2.4 Sportwagon

      Jet Black/Beige Leather . 5-spd . 16' Meteors . E-code lamps & sidemarkers







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.