340 and crosswinds

[srtames]

When driving on fiarly open roads, my 1.4, 340 steering is very sensitive to crosswinds esp gusts . It feels like it is the front wheels rather than the body beeing affected as the steering wheel tugs.
Has any oher owner suffered this before I check my rack. It was MOTed very recently with no reported defects on the steering .

Thanks, Steve

[migrator]

Steve,

Welcome to the Crab Club.

My 360 reacts in a similar manner. The car is gusted sideways but the wheels are still grabbing the road so the whole effect feels funny.

Previous 340 also affected in similar way so I suspect that your car is OK mechanically as regards this issue.

It does tend to make you more aware of potential sidewind attacks.

Hi!

My 1.4 340 used to do the same thing.

It was especially noticable on windy days when travelling over a viaduct on a dual-carriageway! Very scary the first few times, but you get used to it.

The feeling I got was when I turned the wheel to try and correct the turning effect of the wind and go back on course, the car seemed to want to (exaggerated) tip forwards in the direction of the wind!?!

Hope this helps.

Regards

Karl

[srtames]

Thats useful to know the 360 also does suffer from crosswinds as I would have thought Volvo would have sorted it with the extra power.
I wonder if the 740 also has the same problem as it has a similar slab side but I am sure it is the wheels responding as watching Transit vans pass they seem less affected!

Steve

It must be a Volvo thing. My 340CVT does it, and my old 240GL was very sensitive to crosswinds as well!!
Regards,
Garry

[foggyjames]

its most likely the terrible aerodynamics.

i noticed on a recent motorway trip that the bonnet on our 360 dips down during gusts, and i had to work very hard when overtaking lorries not to loose it totally (but it was at 80 on a very windy day - i calmed it down a bit after that!!)

cheers

james

[sheerwater]

My 940 used to suffer until I fitted new shocks. Seeed to solve half the problem. Cheers Nigel

I felt this with my 340 but have found that the car is far more stable and handles better with the 14 in wheels.

This is one of the few things that I don't like about my beloved Flying Wedge. It still scares me from time to time, even after four years :o. I had a new steering rack fitted last December after the old one gave up the ghost and it hasn't helped the crosswind problem.

My 340 saloon and my dads 340 CVT were/are awful for it, but my 360 GLT, with the alloys (15in? maybe 14), was so much better. Only really strong winds or fast speeds (you need not worry about the latter as it was fine up to the legal limit and no one here goes over that, obviously) had any effect on it. I'm not so hot with physics but I think it could be because the tyres are wider. Dunno though.