2011 v60 steering shake

[mechakev]

Hi,

Just after some advice for my sister in law's v60.

It's a 2011 d5 se lux geartronic with 83k on the clock. It's a lovely car but suffers from steering wheel shake, getting progressively worse above 50mph. There is also shake through the seat. It seems to swap where it shakes every few seconds.

Here is what has been done so far:
1. The rear wheels were found to be buckled. There have been unbuckled and rebalanced.
2. The front wheels have been rebalanced.
3. 4 wheel tracking.
4. Trusted mechanic has checked suspension components etc.
5. Tested the wheels from my 04 S60 on it.

After all of this, the shaking remained.

Finally, they tried a set of a wheels from a car with 18" alloys, this made the issues vanish. They also said that the 17" alloys on this v60 didn't seem to fit as well as the 18s.

Has anyone had any similar issues?

Many thanks,

Kev

[Deck1ng]

If fitting a set of 18” wheels got rid of the problem, that seems to be the answer. Get a set of 18” rims. But I can’t see a set of 17” rims alone causing the problem unless the centre bore is too small on the 17” rims you already have, and therefore the rims not seating properly. But that would have been apparent from when you first got the car.
Is the wobble a recent problem?

[mechakev]

The car was purchased from a garage who I expect will tell them to bugger off...

It was doing it from the start, assumed it was a wheel balancing issue.

The 17s sat on it currently are Volvo ones and seem to be the factory ones.

[Deck1ng]

Maybe the centre bores are not all the same through the Volvo range. It might be worth a word with Hutton Bros at Shipton by Beningborough, just up the A19, Thirsk Road from York.

[Kev0607]

If the centre bores were too small, the alloys wouldn’t fit on the hub.

What are the tyres like?

[mechakev]

It's funny you guys mention the centre bore...I'm starting to think that these may not be Volvo alloys. The garage mentioned the fitment of the 17s being poor/ loose on the hub compared to the 18s. I'm going to measure the bore and hub and see if I can get a set of hub centric wheel spacers.

The tyres are cheap...but seem okay.

Fingers crossed!

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by mechakev

It's funny you guys mention the centre bore...I'm starting to think that these may not be Volvo alloys. The garage mentioned the fitment of the 17s being poor/ loose on the hub compared to the 18s. I'm going to measure the bore and hub and see if I can get a set of hub centric wheel spacers.

The tyres are cheap...but seem okay.

Fingers crossed!

You should be able to tell fairly easily. Take the wheel off, look on the inside of the alloy & you'll see a Volvo badge with a part number (if they're original ones).

If they aren't fitted snugly on the hub, then that does sound like they might not be the right alloys for the car & that would explain the shaking steering!

I'd also be suspect of the "cheap" tyres on the car now. If there's any bulges for example, that can also cause a shaking steering.

The garage said the alloys were "loose on the hub"... should it be driven like this? Surely not?

The original Volvo alloys/tyres (17") are;

215/50R17 (tyres) with a 7J (width) x 17" alloy = 50mm offset

235/45R17 (tyres) with a 7.5J (width) x17" alloy = 55mm offset

235/45R17 (tyres) with a 8J (width) x 17" alloy = 55mm offset

18"(original fitment)

235/40R18 (tyres) with an 8J (width) x 18 alloy = 55mm offset

Centre bore on all of these is 63.4mm with a 5x108pcd.

Hub centric wheel spacers will be the cheapest option for you (if possible) - Just make sure you get the right ones! Either that, or buy a new/second hand set of Volvo alloys (factory fitment sizes etc listed above) including a set of tyres suitable for those alloys (also listed above). That won't be cheap, so its totally understandable to go down the wheel spacer route, providing you can find a set that will work with your existing alloys.

If you do fit a set of wheel spacers though, this will affect the steering geometry... you'll need another alignment after you've fitted them.

Oh, get rid of the cheap tyres too when you can.

[Zebster]

P3 Volvo wheels have a 63.4mm centre bore, while wheels from older (pre-2010?) models have a centre bore of 65.1mm. This might not be immediately noticeable but could be a problem! The good news is that cheap adaptors are available to allow the older wheels to fit, if that actually is the problem here.

More info in this thread I started when looking for compatible wheels...https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=284224

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Zebster

P3 Volvo wheels have a 63.4mm centre bore, while wheels from older (pre-2010?) models have a centre bore of 65.1mm. This might not be immediately noticeable but could be a problem! The good news is that cheap adaptors are available to allow the older wheels to fit, if that actually is the problem here.

More info in this thread I started when looking for compatible wheels...https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=284224

Pre 2010 would still be P3, depending on how far you go back.

P2 cars have 65.1mm offset, as in the older shape models.

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

Pre 2010 would still be P3, depending on how far you go back.

P2 cars have 65.1mm offset, as in the older shape models.

Let's not quibble over the exact year, I did put a question mark to indicate I wasn't sure! I'll be clearer and say pre-P3.

You may be confusing offset and centre bore there?

I have a cheap eBay centre bore adaptor meeting the dimensions I described which allows an older Volvo wheel to fit my P3 as a spare (although I've since obtained the correct Tempa spare).