98' V70 XC AWD CV Axle Assembly!

Torino1991 · Post by **Torino1991** » 14 Sep 2017, 19:27

Hey! So my V70 desperately needs a new set of CV axle assemblies. Does anybody know the best budget site to get a pair? PLEASE HELP!

Thanks

Post by **shaker_chi** » 14 Sep 2017, 21:23

Hate to tell you this, but do NOT skimp on axles. Take the old ones out and rebuild them yourself. Pretty easy and straight forward. Robert has a good video on youtube that helped me out. Anything other than O/E will fail in less than a year (don't ask me how I know).

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 14 Sep 2017, 22:46

shaker_chi wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 21:23 Hate to tell you this, but do NOT skimp on axles. Take the old ones out and rebuild them yourself. Pretty easy and straight forward. Robert has a good video on youtube that helped me out. Anything other than O/E will fail in less than a year (don't ask me how I know).

That's a pretty broad statement. My passenger-side axle has been operating fine for 2 years and it is aftermarket. My personal guidelines for aftermarket parts are how easy or hard they are to replace if they do go bad, and axles are pretty easy. Parts sites like Rock Auto have good prices and the merchants at the top of the page are more expensive but still less than Volvo, but for my axles I just went to a local parts dealer and got them for $100 each. I did splurge on Volvo seals though.

Post by **shaker_chi** » 16 Sep 2017, 16:09

Your are a better man than me instarx. Axles are a pretty easy, but the time and parts I have to remove to get to it are what spur me to go with rebuilt O/E. I don't remember exactly what brand aftermarket I bought that went south on me in less than a year. If aftermarket works for you, then stick with it by all means.

Post by **scot850** » 16 Sep 2017, 21:04

There is the option of good used lifetime warranted items from Erie Vo-Vo. With the exception of the idiots at UPS who managed to damage one of the CV boots in transit, it has run well. I have used, used Volvo axles from Chapman motors here in Canada and although they don't have the lifetime warranty like Erie Vo-Vo, I have never had a bad one from them.

I did use an aftermarket (FEQ?) on the 850 project last year due to time constraints. Drove the car close to 1700 miles to California from here and it ran great. Maybe sometimes you ca get lucky with an aftermarket part too. I got the part from a friend with a Worldpac account and they supply many repair shops, so have to believe the parts have to be reasonably good or repair shops won't buy them. I think the LH axle was about $100 US maybe less.

Neil.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 19 Apr 2020, 09:46

shaker_chi wrote: ↑16 Sep 2017, 16:09 Your are a better man than me instarx. Axles are a pretty easy, but the time and parts I have to remove to get to it are what spur me to go with rebuilt O/E. I don't remember exactly what brand aftermarket I bought that went south on me in less than a year. If aftermarket works for you, then stick with it by all means.

I know it has been three years, but I just wanted to let people know you were right. The 3rd party passenger-side axle failed within a year (the driver-side is still going strong). It had a lifetime warranty so I got another one but I would have been better off had I taken your advice. In the end, chosing OEM or 3rd party parts is just a crap-shoot. You roll the dice and take your chances.

Post by **scot850** » 19 Apr 2020, 12:03

It often comes down to your expectations and needs. If you just need the car for a while and then plan to move on I can see how the cheap aftermarket units can be attractive. If you want to keep the car for a longer time (several years) then it makes sense to buy the best you can.

I personally hate do-over repairs, so will buy the OE part (used or new) where I can. If a part is easy to replace then the lifetime warranty does have it's attractions.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 19 Apr 2020, 18:38

instarx wrote: ↑19 Apr 2020, 09:46
shaker_chi wrote: ↑16 Sep 2017, 16:09 Your are a better man than me instarx. Axles are a pretty easy, but the time and parts I have to remove to get to it are what spur me to go with rebuilt O/E. I don't remember exactly what brand aftermarket I bought that went south on me in less than a year. If aftermarket works for you, then stick with it by all means.
I know it has been three years, but I just wanted to let people know you were right. The 3rd party passenger-side axle failed within a year (the driver-side is still going strong). It had a lifetime warranty so I got another one but I would have been better off had I taken your advice. In the end, chosing OEM or 3rd party parts is just a crap-shoot. You roll the dice and take your chances.

Thanks for the follow up, instarx.

Love that avatar, too.