Dear Fellow Brickboarders,

May this find you well. In November 2003, my '93 940 hit a paving step: the unfeathered edge of new paving (2-3" tall) at highway speeds. The impact wrecked a tire (no blow-out, but slow leak from ripped sidewall) and bent a tie rod. I replaced the tire and the tie rods.

This May, same car hit another highway construction hazard, but driver-side only.

One or both impacts created a steering wheel flutter. This car came from southern Louisiana, where snow/potholes is/are rare, when it had 101K miles.

I can feel the steering wheel flutter at 15 mph, and can actually see it, starting at 45-50 mph. There is a steady, small, side-to-seat steering wheel movement. If you were sitting next to me, you'd see my right forearm quivering.

Since the second (end-May) incident, the following items have been replaced:
(a) Strut rod bushings (all)
(b) steel wheels (all)
(c) tires (all).

The flutter persists.

Could it be slightly:
(a) bent spindle(s)?
(b) bent tie rod(s)?
(c) displaced/loose steering rack?
(d) too little engagement between steering pinion and rack?

The insurer for the road-building company - which firm I warned twice over a few weeks about the hazard - has so far paid up promptly and in full.

While waiting several months to observe wear patterns on the tires might be desirable, I am concerned that the insurance company has an internal time deadline, after which they will argue that whatever malfunctions remain, cannot be blamed on their insured.

Thus, it might make sense to replace all front-end parts now, rather than wait. Even so, I don't want to run up a big bill for the insurance company, as it is not their fault, but their insured's negligence.

I look forward to having the benefit of your advice, for which many thanks.
Yours faithfully,

spook