Replacement CV boots for crenulated retainer? Topic is solved

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 20 Mar 2018, 18:32

OK, so the CV boot on my drivers side subaxle is toast, and I'm looking for a replacement, but in my research it looks like the retaining gasket(?) is incompatable with all the boots on the market? I'm talking about the sleeve that the bearings slide into, that has the toothed pinion that meets the transmission - everything I see online is a circular sleeve .. but mine is weirdly crenulated, like it was crimped to guide the bearings! As much as I like the design, it doesn't leave a circular opening for a new boot to sleeve onto without 3 large gaps..

(Also, I assume my description is inadequate, I'm only passingly educated in the terminology for these components, Attached are some drawings of what I'm talking about - I'd take pictures, but I *JUST* put my wheel back on for the 4th time this weekend, kind of done being under the car for a while! ((But if no one knows what I'm talking about, I'll crawl under there again and take a picture

)) )

Figure 1 is what a normal axle sleeve looks like

Figure 2 is what my axle sleeve looks like

Am I out of luck, and need to buy a new subaxle? Is there any place to buy boots to fit this sleeve?

Post by **gmh** » 21 Mar 2018, 13:47

I found this axle on eEuroparts. Looks like there is a top (lid) that is fitted on the axle before the boot goes on. In any case I've never seen this type of axle on an 850 and as far as I can see this type is fitted to later model Volvos. I assume it is the inner boot on the drivers side axle.

: gkn axle c30,c70, s40, v50.jpg (48.12 KiB) Viewed 3665 times

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 22 Mar 2018, 17:33

yeesh, anyone have any recommendations for a good CV? i'd hate to get another $70 sham, but $500 for FCP's high quality joint is waaay too much.. it's looking like it would be best to rip one off a pick-n-pull and install new boots?

Post by **JimBee** » 22 Mar 2018, 18:00

I found what I needed for my 96 850 turbo at NAPA. There's a writeup somewhere on MVS, but briefly, I think the turbo and manual 5 speed axles are a little heftier than the auto N/A axle version.

One thing to watch for: Notice on the photo above, the circlip at the spline end appears to be loose fitting. If that clip is too loose, it won't easily ride up the bevel and into the receiving part of the transmission.

Some shops will hammer it in, but if the clip is jammed somehow when they do that, it might not properly seat AND, worse, if you ever need to remove the axle it will be as good as welded in. I discovered that when I had to change one on my 96 850 5 speed manual. I could tell the clip was hitting solid metal, instead of yielding to the bevel. I tapped the end of the axle firmly and there it stopped. Since it didn't feel right, I tried to pull it out and it was jammed. I had to buy a special crows foot pry bar to pop it out. That one was from O'Reilly. Autozone had the same axle with the same loose clrclip.
NAPA had the right axle with a circlip that protruded just outside of the axle diameter and it installed easily enough while still locking in. That one has been trouble free. Price was right, too, ~ $70.00 with exchange I believe.

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Mar 2018, 18:17

Pick and pull is by far the way to go. If you can find a Volvo axle with intact boots, it is likely in good shape and will outlast a few aftermarket ones.

Post by **FLXC90** » 25 Mar 2018, 12:37

gmh wrote: ↑21 Mar 2018, 13:47 I found this axle on eEuroparts. Looks like there is a top (lid) that is fitted on the axle before the boot goes on. In any case I've never seen this type of axle on an 850 and as far as I can see this type is fitted to later model Volvos. I assume it is the inner boot on the drivers side axle.

gkn axle c30,c70, s40, v50.jpg

Yes, that is a 99 or later axle, you can tell by the retaining bolt rather than nut. Also it says it's for C30s S40s.

Also, the tripod plunger design (figure 2) is a standard cv joint, there should be a rim at the end that the boot will clamp on to.
Figure 1 is also known as a Rzeppa joint. That is the one that uses a cage and several ball bearings to allow axial movement and still transmit the torque.

JoebobNLacey · Post by **JoebobNLacey** » 06 Jul 2018, 23:12

Very happy I found this posting, recognize it's 3 months old.....I have a 1998 V70 T5 manual. Outer passenger CV boot failed so I've removed & cleaned the axle entirely and want to replace both boots. I have this same crenulated axle design and none of the Volvo boots fit. I ordered from FCP and the inside boot large diameter is round and thus doesn't fit the crenulated cup. The outer boot, large diameter end, is also too large by about 5mm and doesn't fit snug. Have spoken with FCP and they can't find a boot that fits. I've now been working the past week with the nearest Volvo dealer, and their parts guy also is at a loss. I've sent him pictures and he's emailed Volvo HQ in Sweden, waiting for a response. None of their parts books show this axle with the non-circular design on the large end of the large boot. The boot itself is not round--the rubber is molded to fit the wavy shape of the receiver cup that holds the tripod bearing. This axle also had a rubber/metal vibration dampener clamped onto the axle in between the inner and outer boots. Finally, the outer bearing on this axle does not have the inside-facing retainer clip to release the CV joint that I see in all the online videos. There is no visible clip, making me believe it has an interior snap ring on the axle, but I can't get this one to pop off for as hard as I'm willing to hit it with a hammer and punch.
Someone above said this might be a 1999 design, but would it fit my 98?

JoebobNLacey · Post by **JoebobNLacey** » 08 Jul 2018, 10:07

Here's another tidbit of information. IPD strongly suggested to me that I don't bother finding replacement boots to fit my mystery axle in my 98 V70 T5 manual. They said the aftermarket replacements from Autozone are affordable and seem to hold up. The manual replacement axle showed as unavailable but the automatic axle was available for $111. It is a new piece, not rebuilt, so doesn't require a core exchange. I checked again with IPD who said the automatic does work in the manual despite the different part numbers. So I ordered it. Box says made in China so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on quality. Low and behold, the axle I get is identical to the one that was in my car. So that leaves me wondering, what axle design is Autozone's supplier using, so that if I did want to replace a boot in the future, which boot would I need to order? I'm certain that the OEM boots for 1998 do not work on inner or outer CVs, at least on the passenger side.

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 15 Jul 2018, 16:12

What I ended up doing was tossing my old one in favor of an original I ripped off a 43k from pick n pull (Was such a tragedy to see one wrecked so young!)

I've read those china ones are pretty hit and miss, and when I ordered one, it was such poor craftmanship I almost ruined my transmission putting it in / out. You may think there's not a lot of room for failure in making a subaxel, but a quarter-millimeter in either direction on those teeth really does make a difference.

Post by **shaker_chi** » 17 Jul 2018, 14:47

I have a 1994 850 n/a manual and can concur that the clip if not compressed properly will not seat properly. Happened to me and had to use a gear puller to yank the damn thing out. With that, when I had to repair the tear on my 98 S70 T5 manual, I didn't take it out. I followed Robert's video and repacked, resealed and replaced the boot without removing the axle. Here is a link to the video: