Issue with FEQ axles

[j-dawg]

What's the deal on 99-00 axle quality from the aftermarket? Mine are fine but it's a recurring nightmare on mine that I break one and end up swapping aftermarket axles every six months for the rest of my life. Will Raxles rebuild a 99 manual axle if I mail it to them?

[scot850]

I think I read Raxles are out of the P80 axle business as they can no longer get quality parts. Worth checking with them to be sure.

Neil.

[abscate]

I’ve got a 99 driver side T5 OEM axle in the spares pile IF anyone needs it.

[June]

I think it is worth noting compressed/broken engine mounts destroy axles. My factory axles were replaced by Volvo in March of 2016 and 15K later I had shakes on the interstate. My engine mounts were compressed due to age lowering the engine and transmission a couple inches. This causes the angle of the shaft to be different than spec causing premature death of joints according to my dealer. In my cars case both inner joints were worn out causing the vibration. Volvo happily replaced both axles under warranty and the engine mounts were replaced. Over 30K later those axles were just fine.

Last month during the replacement of the rear main seal new axles were installed due to a boot getting damaged on the right side. Volvo's lifetime warranty kicked in again and my car got two more installed. Set two and three were completely free to me! Boy I am glad Volvo honors their warranty no problem!

So I suggest those going through axles check the mounts. Keep in mind mine were not broken, but compressed from age of all that weight. Before the mounts were replaced the transmission pan bottom was below the subframe one row of bolts almost resting on the edge of the frame, and after new mounts the pan is above the bottom of the subframe with several inches of space to remove those same pan bolts if necessary. It is worth checking if you cant keep axles in your car. June