Volvo S40 Steering shakes while driving at highway speeds?

Question

I am starting to really get frustrated here. I have been bouncing back and forth between the tire dealer and Volvo for the better part of today.
Let me back up.. I brought the car to 05/01 for severe shaking and humming noise, they told me I need 4 tires, I bought 4 tires, and the problem didn't stop. Went back they said change the fuel filter and spark plugs. Again to no avail. Went back 3rd time was a charm... I needed new left and right front axles. Got the car back yesterday and still have an issue with shaking. Got tires re-balanced and another alignment. Still didn't fix it. Also noticed that the cotter pin was missing on front axles. Volvo Said they don't use them, sent me on my way back to tire place. Got new tires 2 weeks after 1st set and still the steering wheel shakes at highway speeds. Tire place said it's not the tires its the car.. Volvo Said not the car the tires. Any suggestions here?

Answer 1

Go back to the tire place and insist the test drive your car, or take them for a ride yourself to show them EXACTLY what it's doing.

Answer 2

The initial shaking was probably a problem w/car, not tires.
My S40 had to have left axle replaced, and after the repair had prob/w steering I mean the car veered off into the opposite direction and I almost crashed. I took it back and it turned out that the parts dept. sent a right axle, which looks very similar, but can be a dangerous mistake. I would ask them to make sure they didn't mistake the rt for the lft axle. I also had trouble w/ the dealer and ended up going to another mechanic who is better and cheaper than volvo. Your car is probably under warranty, and if that's why you're going to the dealer I can understand, but I'd suggest having someone else take a look at it even if you have to shell out 75 bucks or so for another assessment. I don't know what else could be causing the shaking. Another idea would be to go online and find a Volvo forum. There are a bunch of them, here's one

Answer 3

Tires out of balance. Doubt it if they just changed them
Bent rim? The tire shop should have caught that when they balanced the tires...So I doubt it.
Worn out steering dampener... attaches from the frame to your steering linkage. When these are bad it doesn't just look like its bad.
The dampener looks like a small shock absorber. Un bolt it"if it's equipped with one" from one side. Then push the rod in and out of the shock looking cylinder while the other end is still attached to the car. If it's easy to slide it in and out that's your problem. It should be hard to push in and out! It won't look like it's bad. You have to check it like I just described. Half off the car or fully removed. I'm pretty sure your car has one of these steering dampeners on it. And I bet this is what all those mechanics are over looking if your car has one. It's a cheap part too in comparison to tires and other components.

Answer 4

Go back to the tire place and insist the test drive your car, or take them for a ride yourself to show them EXACTLY what it's doing.

Answer 5

considering which you have an older motor vehicle so it is possible which you have some suspension injury. broken strut, broken tie rod,,,,,,etc. the motor vehicle pulling to the perfect suited shows that motor vehicle ought to be realigned. additionally, verify for tire and wheel injury. A wheel-weight could have come off between the wheels. solid success.

Answer 6

1st it's time to take it somewhere else, it seem like your tire are not blanced correctly or you have a supension problem, i would take it to some who knows what they are doing..