98 v70 xc drive shaft removal

johngrant67 · Post by **johngrant67** » 24 May 2009, 11:16

This isn't a new topic, but I couldn't find the thread...

I need to replace the drive shaft (bad center bearing) and I need to know if it's safe to drive without the shaft assembly in place, and, if need to cap the mounting points front and rear.

Thanks,

John G.
Maine

Post by **holler1** » 24 May 2009, 13:17

From reading this and other forums, lots of people are running former AWD cars w/o the driveshaft. The actual driveshaft unbolts from the angle gear and the viscous coupling at two flexible couplings. Here is a picture of mine at the rear. The front coupling is identical. I have also heard that it's important to mark which bolts are which so they can be put back in the same place for balance. I haven't read anything about the need to cap the shafts after removing the driveshaft. I have never had mine out but did replace the front flex coupling. I'm not familiar with what is needed to replace the center bearing. It might be possible to fix the bearing w/o a complete new shaft.

: back of driveshaft.jpg (86.02 KiB) Viewed 22321 times

johngrant67 · Post by **johngrant67** » 24 May 2009, 14:12

very helpful... Thanks, and I've been reading a little about rebuild kits for the center bearing. I'll let you know...

John G.
Maine

johngrant67 · Post by **johngrant67** » 25 May 2009, 18:24

Got it apart, kind of. How do I remove the drive shaft from the rear? I removed the "flange" only to expose a bearing that the shaft won't come out of. The front is on the ground, out no prob.

Ideas?

John G.

Post by **holler1** » 25 May 2009, 19:09

Here is a file on the AWD that has a small section on the prop shaft removal.

volvo v70 EARLY AWD FINAL DRIVE REPLACE.pdf: (945.35 KiB) Downloaded 8225 times

johngrant67 · Post by **johngrant67** » 25 May 2009, 19:55

You saved my bacon. I was thinking about it too much. All it needed was a solid rap with a ball-peen hammer to separate the end of the drive shaft (which houses a really cool omni-directional bearing assembly) from the housing.

Nice! Thanks, I can hit the sack now.

John G.
Maine

Post by **holler1** » 25 May 2009, 20:03

Yes, that roller-ball-bearing thing is cool. I remember taking the front one apart- 3 years or so ago. I couldn't find any pictures of it.

johngrant67 · Post by **johngrant67** » 26 May 2009, 13:51

To wrap this topic up:

Jack stands required, this isn't worth killing yourself over.

1. Remove two bolts from center exhaust hanger that hold the center bearing support in place. You may have to loosen (or remove) the support itself from the body, four bolts.

2. Remove six 6mm allen-head cap screws from the front and rear "flanges" of the drive shaft.

3. Sharp raps on the rear flange (the rusty part in the image previous to this post) until the rear of the shaft falls free.

4. Remove shaft to the rear of the vehicle.

That exhaust hanger / bearing support may give you trouble at this point, it's no big deal to remove it or at least unbolt it and let it hang on the exhaust pipe while you extract the shaft.

The car handles and runs fine without the drive shaft, but in Maine it makes sense to get a replacement before the snow flies.

Thanks, holler1, I appreciate your help.

John G.
Maine

Post by **holler1** » 26 May 2009, 20:30

Welcome, and thanks for documenting the removal info.

terrencekeenan · Post by **terrencekeenan** » 03 Jun 2009, 13:46

How did you determine it was a bad drive shaft bearing.
It looks like these guys were torn over that or a wheel bearing issue:
http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20326