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Going straight / 240 steering "wander"

Jack said:
sigh... I have a feeling that "man driven" cars will be outlawed on highways etc when that crap happens
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Well there is no computer controlled car that will ever catch me, so have at it. I don't care if I have to drill for my own fuel/oil and refine it myself. Never going to happen here.
 
Jack said:
sigh... I have a feeling that "man driven" cars will be outlawed on highways etc when that crap happens
Click to expand...

Have you seen the commercial for the car with the collision avoidance system with the woman driving, looking in the mirror imagining herself on The Voice or Idol show? I actually had a woman doing that 3 weeks ago. It took 1/2 mile with my signal on before she looked back at the road and realized I wanted to slow down so I could turn. I was going to go right past the road I wanted to turn on because I already got rear ended by someone texting back in July. I'm still going to a concussion specialist because of that idiot. People think their cars are their living room or cubicle at work.
 
I love TB?s. The combined knowledge and experience with these cars here is simply awesome. If one is willing to work some and spend some, the resulting car can be something special. But mostly for me, it?s the opportunity to hang out and BS. Ideally, these conversations would be had in the garage over a pint of brew. But, on the plus side, I do get to visit with Volvo enthusiasts from around the globe. And that?s pretty cool.

Thanks for all the great input on my dilemma. Nothing a little blood, sweat and tears won?t resolve. Very much looking forward to the upcoming car event season. Hoping to do some fun road trips and make some new friends.


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Jack said:
sigh... I have a feeling that "man driven" cars will be outlawed on highways etc when that crap happens
Click to expand...

Probably more just unfeasibly costly to insure to drive in city limits/certain places than outright illegal.

It'll be a minute to say the least.. America isn't Hong Kong yet where every square inch is built up. Many cites you can be in city limits with lots of traffic control, straight to un-improved cut through gravel roads.
 
Stands under crossmember, front wheels off.

With large Channel Locks, squeezing new PS ball joints top to bottom shows approx 1/8" vertical movement. With a small pry bar lifting bottom of the new lower ball joints against a jack stand fulcrum shows no apparent movement on an unloaded suspension. Small pry bar on front lower control arm bushings: from below with jack stand as fulcrum, no apparent movement (F&R). On front bushings pushing out against the crossmember, no apparent movement. On the rear bushings, pushing against the washer from the mount, the bushings do visibly deflect forward. This does not, in my lay person opinion, appear to be excessive and is the same side to side.

Do wide tires contribute to this condition? I've got 215/55R16's. Not super wide, but bigger than OE.

Corresponded with Ben, to get the caster out in the 3-4 (5*?) range with the camber plates would require the smaller springs, so I probably won't pursue that. I'm at 2* now.

More to come.
 
Soo.

Grasping the front rotors at the top and bottom (I would have popped the calipers off, but the Volvo design requires opening the hydraulic lines.) there is slight play. Grasping at the front and rear of the rotors, one can see the steering pinion turn almost immediately. Took the dust caps off. (Pads are new / rotors recently turned. Not that it matters.) Pulled the pin from the spindle. By hand, I cannot tighten the nut to the next key way. I can with a wrench. Don't have a inch-pound wrench. Always done them hand tight. Hope that is correct. Reassembled as before.

Onward. Loosened the lower ball joint fasteners. Confirmed that the joints are all the way forward. What's the word on oversizing the holes in the lower control arm for the purpose of more caster? Unsafe? Minimal improvement?

Added 1/2 turn of toe-in to the rack. Front tires from 32 psi to 35 (tires are new).

Finally, we are at 25.5 inches to the wheel openings all around. So, yeah, the tail is a bit high compared to stock, but I didn't want to completely hobble the beast. Probably giving up a smidge of caster here though.

If the rain stops, will run her down the road tomorrow for a look see.

Next step, replace the manual rack (sux anyway) with a looped PS unit (because racecar!). After that, stock springs. Then crush it.
 
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Interesting. A perceivable change in steering feel. Maybe an improvement. Not monumental. Though it was a rainy / windy drive. Took the highway for several miles. Still not as nice as a Camry with NuFinish, but hey. Ended up at IPD of all places. Being polite I stopped in to visit and ended up walking out with a new set of sport springs. I told them I knew Billy Mays and they gave me a discount. Who knew? Looking to raise the nose an inch or so and looking forward to the firmer ride.

Fun little cars. Always enjoy driving it. Stopped by the IKEA for some lingon berry jam and ended up giving a blonde babe with a nice rack a jump start. Well, OK, it was a pimple-faced dude. I digress.
 
Glad you're moving in the right direction. Does it still wander? Glad to see you got more Ikea preserves. Wife was up there a couple weeks ago and got me some more too. I haven't heard any techniques about the lower ball joint thing you mentioned. I think once you get the new springs in and it realigned, it should track better.
 
KeizerBrickGuy said:
Glad you're moving in the right direction. Does it still wander? Glad to see you got more Ikea preserves. Wife was up there a couple weeks ago and got me some more too. I haven't heard any techniques about the lower ball joint thing you mentioned. I think once you get the new springs in and it realigned, it should track better.
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It will be most tranquil. Plus the springs are painted blue!
 
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