Hello all, I'm new here but need help.
My 1995 960 experiences steering wheel harmonic-vibrations at sppeds above 75mph. Wheel balancing and rataing doed not solve the problem.

Any idea, enyone?

Are the tires out of round?
Are the balljoints and tierods ok?

Tires are OK. no round spots. Tie rods have been replaced a few years back. However, the vibration has been there ever since the car was new.
I always wonder if there is something in the rear suspension that's the culprit. I say that because occasionally when I go over a bump, there is a thud noise coming from the rear rt wheel well.

Also, Another request.
The car is swaying qiet a bit, especially in the windy weather. Some thing one would not expect in a Volvo.

Thanks for any help

Will

How about the lower control arm bushings? They are known to go bad and break.

Has the steering coupler ever been replaced?

I am assuming all the rims have been inspected as well for being bent.

The rear is indipendant suspension that usually doesn't carry a vibration to the steering wheel.

I'd go with the lower arm control bushes too, regarding the thump.
My 240 does this at the moment, just not able to do it at the moment, just had knee op'.
It has had an adverse effect on the handling too. Especialy when passing trucks at over 80 MPH and in bad wind.

They are cheap, and as far as the manual (haynes) makes out, it's an easy job.

I don't think this is tied in with your steering vibration though.

If your tyres are true, I'd check the wheels for any slight buckling and your tyre pressures.

Do you have identical tyres on the front, with even and identical wear?

You said it's been doing this from new.
Have you owned it from new so know first hand, or did the guy you bought it off tell you this?

If you've owned it from new, did you take it to the dealers while it was still under warranty, and what did they tell you?

Let us know.

Stu

Tech,

I tend to agree that lower control arm bushings may be the cause for excessive sway in the wind and uneven road surface. Come to think of it, these were replaced a few years ago with noticible improvement in handling. The steering coupling has never been replaced, but there does not appear to be any sloppy;loose feel in the stearing. It's just that one can feel great sway in windy weather. Also, the rear shock obsorbers were replaced a few years back. I would not expect them to be bad as the car is never driven on a rough road.

As for harmonic vibration:
Tires and rims have been ruled out. Tires replaced many times (car has 112000miles); Rotors and Rims also replaced recently. but the harmonic vabration is still there. Very annoying. The Dealer Mechanic said he could not duplicate it-well not surpricing, they drove it around the block at city speed.
The subtle harmonic vibration was there when the car was bought new. The dealer mechanic replaced something under warranty. Still the vibration persisted. It is not something big, but it is annoying.
I'm always concerned with the thud eminating from the rear rt wheel when going over the railroad tracks. Just wodering if some rubber bushing is missing that may be the cause of vibration

Thanks for any help guys
:gitara:
Regards

Will

Steering rack and steering rack bushings? have they ever been checked. is there any slop or play in the steering?
You haven't mentioned alignment. I assume that would have been done after any suspension components were changed.
As for the control arm bushings. an easy way to check them is to put a lug wrench on the right front wheel and try to loosen a nut. if the wheel moves to the rear at all then the bushings need to be rolaced. They should not cause excess sway ( that would be sway bar bushings) but will effect handeling and braking. Any play in the bushing could cause a vibration that could set up a harmonic depending on the frequncy but I am not sure if the movement would be felt in the steering.

try a dynamic wheel balence. its called a hunter 1200-something. theres a locater on the hunter site.
i had the same problem, replaced eveything trying to find it. got the better wheel, balence, gone for good. the volvos are just very sensitive to balence.

the clunk, check the rear sway bar links. very common for those to break on the irsII cars. also check the rear leaf mounts if those are fine.