Creaky steering

[trabitom99]

My power-assisted GLTs got "creaky steering". Whenever the steering is on more than, say half lock, all these creaks & groans start coming from the front of the car. I only get the noise when parking, or doing three-point turns, you don't notice otherwise it in normal driving. Going over bumps doesn't make it any worse for example.

I read in an earlier post that some of you have the same problem, but has anyone managed to cure it?
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=2818

Tom

[bogbasic]

Hello, you probably need to tighten the power steering belt, or get a new one. Should cure it no problem. Cheers, bogbasic.

[petefarrell360]

Hi Tom, funny you should mention this today! I'm literally half way though a complete overhaul of the front suspension. My front n/s has creaked on and off for ages, sometimes making a clunk as though tension was building, then releasing. We suspected the top bearing was binding or not working properly, and I still believe that to be pretty much the case. However, that cured itself over time and settled down, went as quickly as it came!

What has got worse was a knocking noise on bumps and a rattling, not too dissimilar to that of a worn out ARB link rod. It turns out the top strut cup above the coil spring had broken into three pieces........ Pictures to follow.

Back to your question. Most PAS'd cars have made creaky noises of some sort that I've had experience of. Most are probably the top bearings, as it seems to me as though there should be a some sort of washer or part in there, that has completely disintergrated in all the struts I've had apart, so then it's possibly moving slightly, or binding.

As you know, dry steering when the vehicle is not in motion won't help and will put extra strain on any steering parts, but as you say, low speed turns are when you hear it, so strain should be kept to a minimum as it's still moving. Mine wouldn't do it with the weight off the front wheels, as in the comedy 4x4 pic in the thread you posted a link to! So to me that suggests it is the top bearings making the noise and it's sticking somewhere slightly in the strut, when the weight is on it.

If you happen to have it apart, a dab of grease might help....... Otherwise, I'd not be overly worried unless it gets a lot louder, or starts rattling like mine to suggest the top cup is broken!

Pete

[trabitom99]

I've had a look at the PAS belt, I don't thing it's that, the belt's fairly fresh and seems taut enough as far as I can tell.

sometimes making a clunk as though tension was building, then releasing

That's a very good description of the noise I'm experiencing.

As with your car, the noise is both temperature sensitive and load-dependent. As I set off this morning, at around 15°C the noise was fairly evident, back in the same parking spot this evening at 25°C it wasn't quite so bad. I parked in a multi storey car park today with a very slippery, painted surface (the tyres squealing really easily) and the noise wasn't to be heard at all - the steering wasn't under as much strain as on tarmac.

Thinking about it, the noise could well be coming from one of the struts. Unfortunately I hadn't planned on having them apart in the near future (the ones on my red GLi are a bit more tired, but no noises there ...)

Nevertheless, it's good to know it's nothing to be too worried about!

Tom

[petefarrell360]

Update time! When I was insulting Haynes, I noticed their diagram of the front struts showed something that wasn't present in any of the ones I had taken apart, either from my car, or the spares. It sits between the top bearing and the large rubber mount that bolts to the cup within the inner wing, with the three holes in it. It's basically a rubberised/hard plastic bush with some ridges on it, and what seems to be a large metal washer in the middle. And Volvo relieved me of £25 for these pathetic items!

What is curious is why the washer wasn't still knocking about in there? Maybe they've updated the design to have a metal middle to it. There were fragements of rubber which made me think something was missing. Anyway, my point is, that it may be a common problem, where this bush disintergrates, bits of the rubber seemed to be within the bearing too, so that combined with the fact it is then the bearing onto the top mount, could make for something binding and making the noise.

Anyway, they're all back together now. I can't see these bushes lasting that long to be honest, they didn't seem all that heavy duty, but I wasn't going to put it all back together without them after having spent the time and effort on the job that I have!

Cheers Foggy for confirming the part existed and Haynes wasn't lying and getting me a part number too!

Pete

(I'll get some pics of the parts posted up too)

[redline]

Pete ,I was just wondering ( given the specifications of the part ) if this is something Dai could reproduce using more heavy duty materials ?