Aftermarket drive Axles experience anyone?

jmallie · Post by **jmallie** » 15 Mar 2011, 08:27

I have a moderate vibration that I think is an issue with one or both drive axles. I have done the alignment, wheels, tires, ball joints, control arm bushings, inner tie rods, upper motor mount & plugs. The shocks are fine (about 40k on all new hardware and koni FSDs). The transmission mount looks ok ,but I could try that. It is a vibration when accelerating, particularly up hill. It is some what intermitent & ceases immediatly when you take your foot off the gas. The CV boots look good. They axles & boots are originals. I have asked my mechanic to check for play where the axle & trans connect.

Anyone have experience with after market drive axles? They are about $100 each which if you replace both will save you about $400 compared to VOLVO brand. I would also look into rebuilt VOLVO Axles. At $200 plus labor or DIY if I have time, I am thinking it is worth a shot to solve the vibration, but at $600 plus labor I may just wait and see if it gets clearer with time.

The car is at 122,000 miles, and otherwise runs fine. All service except PCV has been done. I still have a strong negative pressure at the oil fill so I think a life on synthetic oil may have avoided a plugged up breather box.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 15 Mar 2011, 08:58

I replaced my front axles and it did get rid of a vibration/shaking when accelerating. Like you, I was appalled by the $400+ price tag for ONE axle. Instead, I bought re-manufactured Volvo axles from Axles Unlimited. They have very reasonable prices, and I have had no problems with their product. Raxles is also a well-known company on these boards for excellent axles.

These two companies' customer service is very good; call them up for quotes and information. I'm glad I didn't just buy el-cheapo axles from Autozone or something.

You should do the work yourself and save on labor too! Axle replacement is a good day's work for the average DIYer, but I managed and there are plenty of good write-ups here.

jmallie · Post by **jmallie** » 15 Mar 2011, 13:41

Mechanic says its not the axles & there is no play in them. When he got it up on the lift and had some one rev the engine he notice a lower motor mount that otherwise looked ok was actually broken. The reving caused the mount to open up and the engine to shift. His advise is fix the broken mount as it is likely the cause of the vibration.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 15 Mar 2011, 15:17

That will certainly do it! Vibration while accelerating is often a sign of a bad axle, but a collapsed motor mount will definitely cause some rough stuff.

jmallie · Post by **jmallie** » 17 Mar 2011, 22:26

Side lower mount replaced & no more vibration!