Steering: - Will Spacers improve lock?

Trakhat · May 25th, 2015, 06:12

Can anyone advise me please?
My S80 D5 has appaling steering lock and I have seen a few suggestions that wheel spacers may help. I know that they would increase wear on bearings and other related suspension components, but as a very low mileage user (6k pa) I think I can live with the risk.
My question is?
How easy to fit? Do I need to do anything beyond simply bolting them in place?
When I bought the car I did not realise that the bushes had gone and new arms were fitted. Also new front tyres due to inside edge wear. This was due to rubbing to the extent that metal was poking through the sidewall. I had missed this when buying the car as I had checked for tread wear and evenness across the tyre faces, which was totally fine.
Will fitting spacers also prevent recurrence of the damage due to rubbing?
Thanks.

Brendan W · May 25th, 2015, 09:31

What wheels and tyres are you running ?

owyn · May 25th, 2015, 09:48

You'll also need to change the lock limiters.
They are designed to stop the wheels rubbing the arches at full lock, if your wheels don't rub you could just change the limiters to give more lock and have the risk of a rub.

People who fit spacers swear by them as they stop rubbing. I don't have them but mostly drive in straight lines.

100K+ · May 25th, 2015, 12:41

I considered and researched spacers for my AWD V70 R, which on 18" wheels sometimes has needed a 3point turn on roundabouts. Anything more than 5mm spacers should be concentric, if you want to be the bees knees, and my insurance company(Aviva) said I could fit up to 25mm without a premium rise.
I was going to fit 10mm concentric, but they were too expensive, and I decided I could live with doing 5 instead of 3 point turns, and at least Renault V6 Clios had a worse turning circle than me.
I'm used to it, and accept it.

My new P3 V70 has a "London Taxi" turning circle by comparison...

Cheers
Bob

Jim314 · May 25th, 2015, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trakhat

. . .
When I bought the car I did not realise that the bushes had gone and new arms were fitted. Also new front tyres due to inside edge wear. This was due to rubbing to the extent that metal was poking through the sidewall. I had missed this when buying the car as I had checked for tread wear and evenness across the tyre faces, which was totally fine.
Will fitting spacers also prevent recurrence of the damage due to rubbing?
Thanks.

Wear on the inside edges could also be due to misalignment of the front wheels. Have the alignment checked and adjusted as necessary.

Trakhat · May 26th, 2015, 02:13

Thanks for the info..
Wheels and tyres are 225/50V17 - standard fitting.
After having suspension arms replaced the tracking has all been done. I am thinking of 5mm spacers as I am having trouble manouvering when reversing with a caravan.
The Lock Limiters?? Are they adjustable or would I need replacement parts?
Where are they?
Any help gratefully received.
Thanks.

4candles · May 26th, 2015, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trakhat

The Lock Limiters?? Are they adjustable or would I need replacement parts?
Where are they?
Any help gratefully received.
Thanks.

They are fitted to the front edge of the wishbones, and they are made in differing sizes to 'Limit' your steering lock so as to prevent the wheels rubbing on the inner arches, i think there are 3 or 4 different sizes(thicknesses) depending on tyre width. Each size is in a different colour normaly.Easy job to change them, just 2 10mm bolts each side. Basicaly if your wheels rub, buy next size up, myself and others pack them out a bit using washers, this has same effect. But yours may actually be worn, so check. With a bit of modding, its also possible to swap them side to side so the unworn face becomes the new face so to speak...

http://www.charltonvolvocentre.co.uk...top-white-1503

Brendan W · May 26th, 2015, 08:56

The make of tyre can also affect the rubbing. I'm on 205/55/16. Continental Premium Contact rub, Pirelli P6000s don't ? Contis are a far superior tyre though.

Trakhat · May 27th, 2015, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4candles

They are fitted to the front edge of the wishbones, and they are made in differing sizes to 'Limit' your steering lock so as to prevent the wheels rubbing on the inner arches, i think there are 3 or 4 different sizes(thicknesses) depending on tyre width. Each size is in a different colour normaly.Easy job to change them, just 2 10mm bolts each side. Basicaly if your wheels rub, buy next size up, myself and others pack them out a bit using washers, this has same effect. But yours may actually be worn, so check. With a bit of modding, its also possible to swap them side to side so the unworn face becomes the new face so to speak...

http://www.charltonvolvocentre.co.uk...top-white-1503

That sounds like exactly what I need to know and even with my limited tools I may be able to do that job.
Now ...... can you tell me where I can buy some new knee joints.. :-)

jasmith44 · May 27th, 2015, 15:59

http://www.charltonvolvocentre.co.uk...top-white-1503

Out of stock now

May 25th, 2015, 06:12	#1
Trakhat Junior Member Last Online: Jun 9th, 2017 15:39 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Lowestoft	Will Spacers improve lock? Can anyone advise me please? My S80 D5 has appaling steering lock and I have seen a few suggestions that wheel spacers may help. I know that they would increase wear on bearings and other related suspension components, but as a very low mileage user (6k pa) I think I can live with the risk. My question is? How easy to fit? Do I need to do anything beyond simply bolting them in place? When I bought the car I did not realise that the bushes had gone and new arms were fitted. Also new front tyres due to inside edge wear. This was due to rubbing to the extent that metal was poking through the sidewall. I had missed this when buying the car as I had checked for tread wear and evenness across the tyre faces, which was totally fine. Will fitting spacers also prevent recurrence of the damage due to rubbing? Thanks. __________________ 1999 V40 xs 2003 S80 SE D5, 1998 V70 SE T5 est, 1996 C-Class, 2011 Civic type S 2000 Mondeo 2.0, 1992 Saab 9000, 1988 240 1984 245 list goes on and on...

May 25th, 2015, 09:48	#3
owyn Premier Member Last Online: Feb 9th, 2020 20:04 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Doncaster	You'll also need to change the lock limiters. They are designed to stop the wheels rubbing the arches at full lock, if your wheels don't rub you could just change the limiters to give more lock and have the risk of a rub. People who fit spacers swear by them as they stop rubbing. I don't have them but mostly drive in straight lines. __________________ ex police V70 T5 '53' loadsa miles! Now gone ex police V70 T5 '07'. Now gone I have now left the stable and have an Audi

May 26th, 2015, 02:13	#6
Trakhat Junior Member Last Online: Jun 9th, 2017 15:39 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Lowestoft	Thanks for the info.. Wheels and tyres are 225/50V17 - standard fitting. After having suspension arms replaced the tracking has all been done. I am thinking of 5mm spacers as I am having trouble manouvering when reversing with a caravan. The Lock Limiters?? Are they adjustable or would I need replacement parts? Where are they? Any help gratefully received. Thanks. __________________ 1999 V40 xs 2003 S80 SE D5, 1998 V70 SE T5 est, 1996 C-Class, 2011 Civic type S 2000 Mondeo 2.0, 1992 Saab 9000, 1988 240 1984 245 list goes on and on...

May 27th, 2015, 15:59	#10
jasmith44 jasmith44 Last Online: Today 12:03 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: burnley	http://www.charltonvolvocentre.co.uk...top-white-1503 Out of stock now __________________ 244 / 460 / 440 /850x2/ s40x2 / s80 / s60 2.0t/ S60 ES T3. Current 2008 S80 2.5 SE T A.

May 25th, 2015, 09:31	#2
Brendan W Premier Member Last Online: Jun 10th, 2024 09:51 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wexford	What wheels and tyres are you running ?

May 25th, 2015, 12:41	#4
100K+ Premier Member Last Online: Today 14:08 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Newcastle	I considered and researched spacers for my AWD V70 R, which on 18" wheels sometimes has needed a 3point turn on roundabouts. Anything more than 5mm spacers should be concentric, if you want to be the bees knees, and my insurance company(Aviva) said I could fit up to 25mm without a premium rise. I was going to fit 10mm concentric, but they were too expensive, and I decided I could live with doing 5 instead of 3 point turns, and at least Renault V6 Clios had a worse turning circle than me. I'm used to it, and accept it. My new P3 V70 has a "London Taxi" turning circle by comparison... Cheers Bob

May 26th, 2015, 08:56	#8
Brendan W Premier Member Last Online: Jun 10th, 2024 09:51 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wexford	The make of tyre can also affect the rubbing. I'm on 205/55/16. Continental Premium Contact rub, Pirelli P6000s don't ? Contis are a far superior tyre though.

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