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Hi folks.
I took my wife's car ('93, with 203K miles) for a fuel fill-up, and I can feel a "chatter" feedback (shaky or vibration feel) in the steering wheel when I take a fast, sharp cornering (90 degree) turn, both right and left.
The car had a 4-wheel alignment 1-1/2 years ago at our local Volvo dealer -- with are nonexistant "winter", there's no reason to blame potholes, etc. all of a sudden. It's been fitted with Michelin Exalto 205/55-15 tires on Virgo wheels for many years, without any unusual wear (rears are flat across, fronts have a very minimal rounding on edge) with lots of tread depth left. This chatter symptom is very sudden -- it wasn't there two weeks ago when I last filled her tank.
When I turn the wheel lock to lock with the car stationary (engine running, front on the ground), there are no symptoms of this. With the front jacked up off the ground, likewise no symptoms whether the engine is off or running. Absolutely no noises -- everything moves whisper quiet. The chatter only occurs when the car is being driven fast around a sharp corner (slow turns are OK, which obviously is why my wife never noticed this).
The belts (crank-A/C, and A/C-P/S) are properly tensioned, and there's the correct level of fluid in the P/S pump. The vibration dampener is fairly new (20K miles), so I doubt it's separating or slipping. The amount of assist feels normal, too, but it's just chattering (the steering vibrating). Going ahead on a straight road, the steering feels very precise and direct, with absolutely no wandering -- I can lift hands off the wheel and the car will not wander to either side.
Other than the Virgo wheels and larger tires, the only other non-OEM parts are IPD front (and rear) antisways, with poly bushings, of course, and IPD's (top of shock) tower-to-firewall struts. No other mods on this car.
Any suggestions? In advance, thanks to all of you.
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