Constantly flattening tyres and broken steering

[Pappa]

Ever since smashing my 340 against a pavement going 20mph or so it's been pulling to the left making me turn slightly to the right to keep it straight, and the driver side front tyre is constantly flattening out, it doesn't even last 5 minutes in some cases before it flats out (i guess the rim breaks so air leaks out between the rim and the tyre). So i looked it over and the front left wheel points slightly out to the left when the wheel is centered and the passenger side tyre points straight ahead. I tried to nibble and turn the outer tie rod and surely enough there's a lot of play in it - i can turn and wiggle it at least 90 degrees The outer tie rod on the right side can't be wiggled at all, so i assume its fine. I guess hitting the pavement crushed the tie rod internally? But can this alone cause the tyres breaking after driving just for a few minutes (air pressure in tyres is probably wrong)?

Anyway, will an outer tie rod for a Volvo 343 model years 1976 - 1987 fit my 3-door 1987 Volvo 340DL 1.4? I'm looking up parts and i could only find for the 343 and the 345, not the 340.

[jtbo]

That weel is gone bad, you need to replace it and with your new winter tyres empty tyres should be no more of problem.

When you replace broken parts, go somewhere where they check wheel aligment, when aligment is adjusted it should not be pulling anymore and all other weird things should be then ok too.

But sometimes measuring aligment can reveal some other problems too, crossmember could be bend for example, but it is best to start with replacing parts that you know being faulty and then checking and adjusting aligment in garage where they are used to such jobs.

[hatch360]

bent chassis are very dangerous our previous car tyre burst at 100km/h due to it

[filthyjohn]

Yeah, blowouts aren't a good thing at all. I had a similar crash into a kerb once, thought everything was ok, then a piece of the alloy rim broke off at ~80mph in the overtaking lane.

From experience, don't drive with damaged wheels.

[classicswede]

I suggest you get the tracking checked

[Pappa]

Tracking? Will the outer tie rod made for Volvo 343's up to 1987 work?

[classicswede]

I think the tie rods are the same. You need them adjusted so the wheels are correctly in line. This needs to be doen with the correct measuring tool to set the wheels

[jtbo]

I think the tie rods are the same. You need them adjusted so the wheels are correctly in line. This needs to be doen with the correct measuring tool to set the wheels

That is what wheel aligment does + also other bent parts will show up really nicely, I guess it is same procedure anyway

[Pappa]

Okay (I'm gonna use the same terms they use in the Suspension Green Book), I've replaced the steering rod end but it didn't remedy the problem, the old one was completely screwed up though (5mm or more play).

What I've done now is adjust the toe-in as far as it goes in on the broken side. The wheel still points too much to the left but it's very driveable and doesn't blow tires. However I'm a little concerned about going 55++mph on the highway with one wheel pointing several degrees out to the left (I'm sure you guys can understand why), so instead of doing the usual "duct tape till it sticks and WD-40 till it moves" routine I usually do I'm gonna try to fix the steering up as much as possible and then send it to the repair shop for proper toe-in adjustment to keep the safety up and maybe make it handle better (hope so!)

Anyway my concerns is that the wheel isn't in the standard centre position when going straight ahead, it's probably 1/4 turn to the right. This is wierd. It was centered when i bought the veichle 3 weeks ago. When i was changing the steering rod end i was playing around with the steering rod and i found out i can swivel and rotate it very very easily - is this normal?

Also, the wheel on the left side (broken side) grinds against the wheel arch when turning and sometimes just at random (not when turning slightly or driving normally, but it does at parking lot driving etc).

My thoughts:
* Bent steering rod - plausible because of the beating it took when i hit the pavement. Also because the left wheel appears to be closer to the mudflap than it should be (note wheel grinding against wheel arch during parking lot type driving) I guess this could also make the wheel point too much out to the left?

* Broken steering rod ball joint (the inner part) - just a guess, maybe it should be renewed anyway. But since the steering rod rotates and swivels so easily i think it's okay.. and there's no play in it if i push it in or pull it out.



Any thoughts on this? I should be able to see if the steering rod's bent if i remove the dust gaiter right (at least if it's as bent as i think it is)?

[classicswede]

Could be bent bottom arm or bent steering rack.

Best bet is to have it looked at professionaly

[pettaw]

My guess is you've bent the big rod that adjusts the castor, some people call it a tie rod or a reaction rod, I think, either that or the suspension arm itself. Possibly the rack also, but if you say the wheel looks as though its lying in the wrong place, then I reckon its that rod.

You need to really get under it and have a good look around and if not sure then take it somewhere to get it looked at properly and get the measurements checked.

[Pappa]

Okay, thanks for all the suggestions, I'll crawl under tomorrow and have a good look.

Just a small question: The tie rod as you call it, is it normal to be able to rotate this around freely? I mean i can rotate it around and around with no problems. I changed the tie rod end on my Audi today and i wasn't able to rotate the arm at all I could swivel and move it, but not rotate it.. i.e. like when you tighten a screw.