2003 CV axle install.......the easy way!

[02V70]

If you have an autozone near you, you can rent a similar axle popper and get your money refunded on return.

[erikv11]

Our 07 green XC70 seemed to need a driver's side CV axle. My plan was to swap one out of our 07 black XC70 to test but I was unable to get the tester axle out of the black car. This is the first time I have ever been stymied by an axle, P80 or P2. This axle was replaced at some point by the previous owner, it is not a factory axle. Tried chisel, pry bars, axle popper, many, many rotations, came back the next day etc. Gave up! At least this one still seems to be working fine.

Instead bought a new GKN axle from RockAuto, $100 cheaper than from FCP. The factory axle popped right out of the green car, so the swap was fast and easy, 2 hours working casually. Replacement fixed the vibrations.

Rebuilt GKN vs. 195k factory GKN/Volvo axle

[ADent]

If you have an autozone near you, you can rent a similar axle popper and get your money refunded on return.

That's what we did on my 2001. Wasn't much of a fight, so probably would have been easy anyway.
https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and- ... 787763_0_0

It looks like the axle popper kit posted higher - A flat fork and an angled fork..

[jonesg]

$22.

https://www.amazon.com/Popper-Transaxle ... 41&sr=8-13

[abscate]

GKN are the way to go on these. In P80 world the aftermarket’s seem to get the circlip wrong, and you can spend hours trying to get it to seat. One trick, use grease to get the circlip centered in the groove, that seems to help with the reinstall.

[erikv11]

$22.

https://www.amazon.com/Popper-Transaxle ... 41&sr=8-13

That's the same axle popper you can borrow for free from Autozone etc, see post above.

So I did - but it did not help, unfortunately.

[erikv11]

GKN are the way to go on these. In P80 world the aftermarket’s seem to get the circlip wrong, and you can spend hours trying to get it to seat. One trick, use grease to get the circlip centered in the groove, that seems to help with the reinstall.

Based on forum posts it seems circlip issues on disassembly are actually worse with P2, where the transmission end is dry not bathed in ATF.

[scot850]

Wait till you get to P3's with the double 'ears' on the spring clips that dry out and act as barbs! I know of 4 now that have trans swaps as the axle will not remove.

Neil.