'99 V70R Front end clanking

RMatey · Post by **RMatey** » 15 Jun 2018, 23:10

Hey, folks,

A few months ago my ETM failed, but after the ol' turn it off and back on again, I was able to limp home. And while limping, I started noticing a clanking sound from the front driver's side. I replaced and reprogrammed the ETM and drove it for a bit, but the clanking continued, so I've kept it off the road for a while. The clanking does not happen when in neutral and revving, so I don't think it's motor-related. It does seem to do one mini-clank when shifting from park into reverse sometimes.

I've done the lower torque rod, which was shot, and also noticed the driver's side sway bar link was done for so replaced that. But it's still clanking. I checked all CV boots and they are all intact (although from what I've read CV joints can still go bad even when the boot looks fine). I had someone drive it and walked along and recorded the sound in the hopes that someone can help diagnose it. It seems to happen frequently when wheel is at full turn, but it doesn't always do it when turned and sometimes does it going straight (the recording is actually when it was just going straight at a couple MPH).

Here is a link to the recording (You can hear my steps a bit but the clanking is quite obvious)

I would love to hear any thoughts you have. Thanks much!

Post by **oragex** » 15 Jun 2018, 23:56

Surely not the CV joints. Could it be an endlink kicking into the control arm from a worn out anti-roll bar to subframe bushing? There's also a more faint sound, like a tapping, that's more suspicious I would say because it sounds constant as the wheel is rotating.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 16 Jun 2018, 08:54

Does it happen on bumps or even on smooth road?

...Lee

RMatey · Post by **RMatey** » 16 Jun 2018, 15:35

oragex wrote: ↑15 Jun 2018, 23:56 Surely not the CV joints. Could it be an endlink kicking into the control arm from a worn out anti-roll bar to subframe bushing?

I haven't looked at that. Good thought!

oragex wrote: ↑15 Jun 2018, 23:56 There's also a more faint sound, like a tapping, that's more suspicious I would say because it sounds constant as the wheel is rotating.

I think that is the sound of my footsteps as I walked next to the car.

Ozark Lee wrote: ↑16 Jun 2018, 08:54 Does it happen on bumps or even on smooth road?

Bumps don't seem to effect the sound. It does it on smooth, flat surfaces too. The recording was just in my level, nicely paved driveway.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 16 Jun 2018, 17:14

Sounds almost like something hitting a heat shield or brake dust shield to me.

Post by **FLXC90** » 17 Jun 2018, 14:39

check the rate of occurrence, does it coincide with a revolution of the wheel? Check with car on stands, look at inside lip of the rim for contact, check the backing plate, check the brake caliper bolts, check the end-link and strut body etc... look for the rub marks. Maybe remove the wheel with car on stands and look for abnormalities.

Post by **j-dawg** » 18 Jun 2018, 23:55

Check the bolt holding the CV axle into each hub. You can get to it by removing the dust cap from the center of the wheel. These can work their way loose. A revised bolt from Volvo uses a squishy washer to keep everything tensioned up...i guess.

Google "axle ping" for more info. It's a noted problem with later Volvos that use the same axle and hub setup, but I haven't heard much about the 99-00 cars doing it. Note also that it usually occurs when switching between reverse and drive, rather than continuously while driving.

RMatey · Post by **RMatey** » 20 Jun 2018, 21:00

wizechatmgr wrote: ↑16 Jun 2018, 17:14 Sounds almost like something hitting a heat shield or brake dust shield to me.

That was my first thought too, but I can't see anything bent or rubbing or anything.

FLXC90 wrote: ↑17 Jun 2018, 14:39 check the rate of occurrence, does it coincide with a revolution of the wheel? Check with car on stands, look at inside lip of the rim for contact, check the backing plate, check the brake caliper bolts, check the end-link and strut body etc... look for the rub marks. Maybe remove the wheel with car on stands and look for abnormalities.

I'll get it back up on stands in the next few days and have another look, but I just haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.

j-dawg wrote: ↑18 Jun 2018, 23:55 Check the bolt holding the CV axle into each hub. You can get to it by removing the dust cap from the center of the wheel. These can work their way loose. A revised bolt from Volvo uses a squishy washer to keep everything tensioned up...i guess.

Google "axle ping" for more info. It's a noted problem with later Volvos that use the same axle and hub setup, but I haven't heard much about the 99-00 cars doing it. Note also that it usually occurs when switching between reverse and drive, rather than continuously while driving.

I did see an IPD blog post on axle ping when researching, but like you said, it sounded like it applied mostly to the P2 cars. But It's definitely worth a look!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

RMatey · Post by **RMatey** » 07 Aug 2018, 18:40

Just a little follow up...
I ended up taking it to a suspension/tire shop, but they couldn't figure out what was causing it (luckily they didn't charge me anything). So I ended up doing some more searching and found this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGc1U2QhH68
It's the exact same noise. So I pulled the prop-shaft, and the problem is gone. I've got a FWD V70R now.