Steering flex shaft is "Unobtainium" 9485812 9485808

[RayF]

2000 V70 base model. Too much play in steering wheel to take a sticker, or to be safe. So I set out to replace the "lower steering shaft," a short length of shaft that passes through the rubber seal at firewall, then has a u-joint and a splined clamp onto the shaft into the rack.
It's now destroyed and mostly off, but now I find that you can't get one anywhere.

The correct Volvo part number is 9485812, which superseded 9485808. "No Longer Available," says Volvo. Everyone else says, "Out Of Stock".

I thought I had one, ready to go, ordered off that big web site that rhymes with block-otto. Turns out what they sold me, Dorman Part 425-700, is way too long, 9 5/8" vs around 7" for original, and has a different-profile upper shaft that can't be just cut down.

I can't move my car, and since I hacksawed thru the aluminum end of the original where it clamped to the steering rack shaft, I can't reinstall the old one, it's in pieces.

I have always thought there was someone in China making every possible part for every make of car, no matter how old or obscure. But it doesn't seem to be so for this part.

What do I do? Ideas, anyone?

[scot850]

I can only suggest junkyards. As you are on the East coast, have you tried Erie Vo-Vo?

Neil.

[levalexi]

This piece? This is for my 2000 v70xc. I'm keeping it on my shelf when my shaft shits the bed. The guy I got it from ordered it from Germany and it was one of the last ones in stock

[ZionXIX]

Maybe someone could fabricate a new one?

[FireFox31]

The non-XC part is similar to the XC one but looks a little more complex. They still show 9485812 at Volvo. I bought one new in 2018 because mine was too rusty.

I think it can be removed from a junkyard with the car on the ground (assuming they all are). Requires some careful bending in the driver's footwell. Would require hacking a hole in the sheet metal to disconnect it from the rack. Otherwise, you'd need to get under the car.

I had a junkyard pull a rack for me in late 2021. They didn't want to disconnect the steering shaft so asked me where they wanted me to cut it. I still kick myself for having them cut this universal joint right in half. I knew it was NLA at that point too. So I've got the bottom half of the joint if that's any help.

[abscate]

We had better start harvesting those pinch clamp bolts too. I bet those will go NLA soon, and they won’t be easy to fab

[RayF]

Thanks for the ideas all. What Levalexi shows is NOT my part, rather equals the Dorman 425-700 which seems widely available; I paid $60 plus shipping from raw cotto. Erie Vo-Vo doesn't list the steering shaft as among parts it offers. The U-joint to rack pinch fitting is aluminum which in any rustbelt cars, mine included, will have corroded onto the steering rack shaft and onto its own pinch bolt, to the point of unremovability. So junkyard isn't the answer I fear.

Most likely option I see is pull the entire steering column, from a V70 XC, to replace mine. Then I can use the Dorman part.

It can actually be got at only from above, not from under the car. I removed the upper engine mount to firewall link, a ground wire, the paper and foil tube off the exhaust manifold, and drained coolant and took off both heater hoses. The pinch bolt was totally corroded in. I got an air impact gun and 1/2" 10 mm six point socket onto the impossibly small pinch bolt head (for an M8 bolt?). But that only sheared the bolt head off. Then I used a nifty Lenox handle I have that takes Sawzall blades, and reaching down, after 300-400 strokes, cut down thru the fitting just inside the pinch bolt and cracked that side of it off.

I emailed Dorman urging them to make and sell 9485812 style steering shafts. I remain mystified, and disappointed, at the part's unavailability.

Getting something fabbed is another possibility. Getting the stub shaft from my old part welded onto a cut-down Dorman shaft might work, if you can trust the weld, and if it can be aligned correctly and clocked to match the original.

[levalexi]

American used Auto parts over in Rochester nh got all of royalty automotives parts cars a month or so back. It might be worth giving them a call to see what they have left.

I'd also let you come steal the steering shaft off of my 98 XC if it would work for you. I'm in Lebanon ME.

[FireFox31]

I replaced the U joint on a 2000 V70 base without disconnecting anything or draining any fluids. However, it's probably because it was a manual that I was able to access the connection to the rack from below. I disconnected it from the steering shaft in the driver's foot well (carefully folding myself into the space). Thus I wonder if you could visit a junkyard, use a Sawzall to cut open that hole in the sheet metal, then access the pinch screw from there.

When I tried to remove the U joint from the rack shaft, I beat on it with a hammer and chisel from below. But that was entirely unnecessary because all I needed to do was remove the pin from the pinch point. The pin sat in a dent in the rack shaft locking the U joint to the shaft. Removing the nut wasn't enough. I'm recalling this from memory from five years ago but I think this is how it happened.

American used Auto parts over in Rochester nh got all of royalty automotives parts cars a month or so back.

That's a great tip. No wonder they have four P80s on their lot right now. Royalty also has a decent amount of parts left in stock. Call and ask for Paul and he can let you know if they have any of these.

[levalexi]

They had a bunch last I was there. A number of V70 wagons, and a few s70s. They'll let you walk the yard and see what they have, but they won't let you pull it.

And royalty is slowly getting rid of most of their used parts, but I'd give them a call first for sure. I'm there so much when I call they say "hey Ted, what are you looking for this time?" And they give me full access to their parts room when I need to find something