Rear Axle Replacement on '02 XC70

JeffHicks · Post by **JeffHicks** » 26 May 2017, 13:56

So I just replaced the driver's side rear axle on my 2002 XC70. Wow - what a royal pain in the butt!

In retrospect, were I to do it again (which I most definitely will not) I would probably do both sides, accept the fact that I'm going to have to completely disassemble the entire rear suspension system, and drop the differential.

For what it's worth, I ordered the axle from PartsGeek (USA Industries AX-1155) for a little over $100. I fully realize it's not OEM, and won't run 400,000 miles, but on a car with over 230,000 miles, I don't plan to run it forever.

To sum up: This job is not for the faint of heart!

Post by **vtl** » 26 May 2017, 17:15

You may very likely have 230k miles original axle run smoother than USA Industries in just 20k miles.

JeffHicks · Post by **JeffHicks** » 26 May 2017, 17:33

vtl wrote: 26 May 2017, 17:15 You may very likely have 230k miles original axle run smoother than USA Industries in just 20k miles.

That could be. But I'm not going to pay over $600 for an OEM axle, to put under a car that my wife drives 1/2 mile each way to work each day. We put about 2,500 miles per year on this car, so I don't think the off-brand axle is going to be its demise.

Post by **abscate** » 27 May 2017, 04:26

That's the right call Jeff. That's brutal miles on a car by the way. Try to blow it up to 55 for even just 20 minutes each weekend

JeffHicks · Post by **JeffHicks** » 27 May 2017, 07:56

abscate wrote: 27 May 2017, 04:26 That's the right call Jeff. That's brutal miles on a car by the way. Try to blow it up to 55 for even just 20 minutes each weekend

There was no 55 mph before I replaced that rear axle!