V70R drivetrain clanking noise - front CV axles and LCA bushings already replaced

[khnitz]

Our V70R started with a horrific clanking noise from the drivetrain. Prior to that, there was a whine/noise from the front that varied with road speed and that I thought was related to the carrier bearing going bad on the right front CV axle.

Well, I replaced the right front CV axle and still had the noise. Yesterday I finished replacing the left front CV axle and still have the noise.

Here is a video demonstrating the sound:


Ouch!!

I have not driven our Volvo much since the noise started. From the little of moving it around that I've done (to make the video and move it in and out of the garage to work on it) it seems that I don't hear the noise in reverse, and when going forward the clanking starts when I turn a little left or right.

Any BTDT advice or thoughts on the noise are appreciated. I have a 2-post lift that I need to install...I have a feeling it will come in handy to fix this issue.

--

Our V70R has 155k miles, so I'm OK with having installed the new CV axles, even though they didn't solve the problem. The inner boot was torn on the right front axle, anyway. I also replaced the front lower control arm bushings, while I was at it. I've included some pictures for reference below - this was done with a Harbor Freight 20ton press. There was just enough room to fit the LCA in this orientation to press the front bushing. There were a couple of videos and posts online that helped me figure out how to press the front LCA bushing, but I wanted to post a few of my pictures here to hopefully make it clearer to the next person tackling this job and who comes across my post.

Pressing out the old front LCA bushing (that's a 34mm impact socket pushing from the bottom, up)

01_out with the old.jpg (147.89 KiB) Viewed 3101 times

The bushing seat was cleaned and prepped (was that Brett Favre working on this?? )

02_prepped for new.jpg (133.47 KiB) Viewed 3101 times

The new front bushing was aligned for installation

03_aligning the new.jpg (173.84 KiB) Viewed 3101 times

Pressing in the new front bushing. It was best to press the old bushing out and the new bushing in "from the bottom, up", so to speak.

04_pressing in the new.jpg (149.04 KiB) Viewed 3101 times

And another view of pressing the new front bushing in place

05_pressing in the new2.jpg (139.12 KiB) Viewed 3101 times

[khnitz]

I pulled our Volvo back in to the garage this morning and had another look.

Play in the output of the angle gear is the source of the noise. I show the propshaft movement in this video:

[Blacklab467]

You should be able to get a good used one for less than $500. I've heard of people replacing the bearings and rebuilding the old ones but I'd suspect you may have some broken gear teeth or damage on that one.
If you're looking for advise, I'd pull the propshaft, angle gear and leave the collar sleeve on and drive it FWD while you source out a new used one. Is your's 5 speed or automatic? I believe with the 5 speed you may not be able to drive it without the angle gear without it leaking all your transmission fluid, the automatic you can for sure.
good Luck.

[darylrobert]

Ive just swapped mine out with the spare i had, did you say you have a lift?..your so lucky. might be a good idea to replace some seals while its apart and check the turbo oil drain pipe to block for leaks

[abscate]

You guys in AUS AND CAN might get cool AWD cars with standard transmissions but we have cheese in spray cans, so we win.

I’ll keep telling myself that

[KurtL]

I had to have the front transfer case replaced when it sounded like that. I also have a 2005 V70R. It went at 120K or so.
It was the bearing.

[abscate]

Our V70R started with a horrific clanking noise from the drivetrain. Prior to that, there was a whine/noise from the front that varied with road speed and that I thought was related to the carrier bearing going bad on the right front CV axle.

Well, I replaced the right front CV axle and still had the noise. Yesterday I finished replacing the left front CV axle and still have the noise.

Here is a video demonstrating the sound:


Ouch!!

I have not driven our Volvo much since the noise started. From the little of moving it around that I've done (to make the video and move it in and out of the garage to work on it) it seems that I don't hear the noise in reverse, and when going forward the clanking starts when I turn a little left or right.

Any BTDT advice or thoughts on the noise are appreciated. I have a 2-post lift that I need to install...I have a feeling it will come in handy to fix this issue.

--

Our V70R has 155k miles, so I'm OK with having installed the new CV axles, even though they didn't solve the problem. The inner boot was torn on the right front axle, anyway. I also replaced the front lower control arm bushings, while I was at it. I've included some pictures for reference below - this was done with a Harbor Freight 20ton press. There was just enough room to fit the LCA in this orientation to press the front bushing. There were a couple of videos and posts online that helped me figure out how to press the front LCA bushing, but I wanted to post a few of my pictures here to hopefully make it clearer to the next person tackling this job and who comes across my post.

Pressing out the old front LCA bushing (that's a 34mm impact socket pushing from the bottom, up)
01_out with the old.jpg

The bushing seat was cleaned and prepped (was that Brett Favre working on this?? )
02_prepped for new.jpg

The new front bushing was aligned for installation
03_aligning the new.jpg

Pressing in the new front bushing. It was best to press the old bushing out and the new bushing in "from the bottom, up", so to speak.
04_pressing in the new.jpg

And another view of pressing the new front bushing in place
05_pressing in the new2.jpg

Thanks for those great pictures. I’ve got those planned for my 2005 , Catherine, and have the same press.

Sure beats $400 for new control arms.

[khnitz]

Hey, just to close this out - I did find a good used angle gear off of an XC90. By the looks of it (signs of sealant at the seam of the halves), it had been rebuilt already. The output shaft had no play, and it turned smoothly. Not bad for $100.

I changed the fluid in it (and the rear differential, while I was at it), and installed the replacement. It has been running great and I've put over 1k miles on it since the replacement. With the new front LCA bushings in place, the other thing I did was to replace the outer tierod ends - the driver's side was definitely worn and loose. Then I had an alignment done (another one done under the Lifetime alignment from Firestone) and the V70R is happy once more!

[khnitz]

Ive just swapped mine out with the spare i had, did you say you have a lift?..your so lucky. might be a good idea to replace some seals while its apart and check the turbo oil drain pipe to block for leaks

Thanks for the tip on checking the Turbo drain pipe. I'll do that the next time I have the V70R on the lift.

The lift came in very handy for this job for sure. I've wanted one for many years and was glad to finally find and install one last year - more detail on that installation is chronicled here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... ge.467003/


I still need to change out that one large CFL for some flat LED shop lights...then I could get the V70R a few inches higher

Here is one with the old AG removed:



And the old AG and its replacement side-by-side.
NOTE: CRUCIAL DETAIL for those attempting this job...make sure you REALLY have removed all 5 of the bolts that secure the AG before trying to remove it. AND, if it seems like the AG is being stubborn in coming loose - FIRST THING - check if you really have removed all 5 bolts. The transmission mount bolts are VERY similar. I had mistakenly removed one of the transmission mount bolts, and thought it was the 5th AG securing bolt. Once you are SURE all the AG securing bolts are out, then the difficulty may be because of the AG collar. Otherwise, you may actually be fighting that last bolt (see the broken bits of AG mounting flange next to the old AG?). I felt like such a dumba$$ once I realized what I had been actually fighting in trying to remove the AG. Once the last bolt was out, it slid off the AG collar easy-peasy.