My 87 245 has developed an annoying front-end problem over the past couple weeks. The front end seems to have a mind of its own and sort of wanders down the road, especially when traveling over bumps or dips. Shocks are new, tie rod ends new, tires are pretty new (Dunlop D60A2). Could this be my power steering rack starting to fail. Damn, its got only 250,000miles on it. The nerve. I'm a decent do it yourselfer. Is this a job for the weekend auto mechanics' therapy group? Where can I get a decent price on a rack?

The typical cause for this wandering is worn "locater" bushings, the largeer rear bushings in the control arm.

But with all you have touched, I'd reconsider those items first.

Maybe loose wheel bearings, too.

I agree with the postings below on the alignment. As to the rack, try www.jorgenauto.com. I got one for my '87 745 for $200, lifetime guarantee (including rack boots) and have been happy with it. Install is straightforward. I also replaced the power steering pump. New setup works great!!

Was it all great and wonderful after you did all that work? Once things were touched, an alignment would have been necessary.

If this started after the repairs had proven effective - check the simplest item (but EXTREMELY important to handling and stability)...tire pressure. It takes only one low tire, especially on the rear, to make any car squirrely.

"...tie rod ends new..."

Did you have the front end aligned after this work?

Front end "wandering" could be from toe-out, which causes torque reaction and "squirrelly" steering.

I did similar work to my '86 245 and it was all over the road. I built an alignment jig and lined up the front wheels—and now it tracks straight 'n true, rain or shine. And the steering wheel's straight.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

I have an '81 240 B21F. I had replaced tie rods including the ones inside the boots,lower strut pivots, and both rubber bushings on lower arm. These only helped a little with my wandering problem. I didn't want to replace the rack or struts and upper bearings without being sure they were bad. Alignments with printouts and and two sets of new tires made no change (yes I've had this problem a long time). It was always worst on highways as opposed to around town. Also the alignment technicians couldn't find any looseness in their pre-alignment inspections and neither could I at home.

Recently I replaced theupper joint in the steering shaft and BINGO no more wander, tracks straigt as an arrow and is now a pleasure on the highway. The play in this joint is so small that I think it would take a dial indicator to register it. I did come accoss a technician latter that said he had to change one once because it had almost seased and the customer was complaining of stiff steering. He also mentioned that these joints were not available through the normal suppy sources to professionals and Volvo dealer,s charged over $100. I had got mine by mail order through ads in the back of mags for about $100.

You are correct about the steering u-joints stiffening to the point of making the steering stiff, dificult , even racheting", as mine did on the '84 244GL junkyard car I recently put on the road. I thhrew in a coplete joint/steering shaft assembly I bought from a recycler for $25, all cleaned up! One joint did have some stiffness in one direction, but it was minimal.

Working fine.

It is interesting that you found the opposite case (loosness, not stiffness)

Yes, that can cause indeterminate steering — but not "torque steering." I've had those U-joints fail, though only the lower joint (not a fun job). Foe me, it has been a binding U-joint, which causes "notchy" steering (sorta stick-slip-stick-slip).

Torque steering occurs when you change the loading on the left versus the right side of the car. Toe-out will cause very noticable steering (as when you step on or release the gas). But often toe-out causes "squirrely" tracking—the car continues to weave left-right-left-right.

When you turn to the left, the weight is shifted to the right. The right tire is pointing right, and it steers the car right—and this shifts the weight to the left. The left tire is pointing left, and it steers the car left. So, back and forth, back and forth.

Also, worn rear suspension bushings can allow the differental to "wander" when you add or remove power, which permits "rear end steering."

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Talking about the steering rack...

This summer, I noticed that when I made U-turns, I felt a little clunk in the steering, but it seemed not to be a major problem so I let it go....

But, for the last 2 weeks, I feel a little freeplay in my steering... just enough to running the driver crazy. (my father says that i'm too fastidious (I ask my dictionnary for this one) with my car)

PLEASE tell me that it's just an adjustment!!(joking) but I hope it's not the steering rack!!

thanks!!