Front LH axle difference - Turbo v's NA? Help needed

Post by **scot850** » 06 Jan 2025, 14:23

I have a buddy who has a FWD axle that a mechanic 'broke' the cage for the outer LH axle bearing. I have an old axle which is not going to be rebuilt as there was some issue I can no longer recall with it.

The cage and bearing are fine so if he can use it he is welcome to save the money on a new aftermarket axle.

I am no longer sure what the axle I have was fitted to when removed. I'm fairly certain it was for a 97 850 NA that went to my brother about 9-10 years ago.

The part number on the box is for a Turbo axle, but I don't recall fitting an axle to a turbo. The only one I have owned was a 98 V70XC.

There is no Volvo part number label on the axle any longer.

Is there anyway to tell if the axle is an NA or turbo?

What I recall is you can fit a turbo axle to an NA but not the other way around. What I don't know is if the axle cage is the same for both.
Anyone have any idea on this one?

Neil.

surfbug1 · Post by **surfbug1** » 06 Jan 2025, 15:05

Thanks MVS team! Its me the guy with the broken cage.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide advice/guidence.

Al with the 98 volvo FWD turbo wagon

Post by **Sveedy** » 06 Jan 2025, 15:41

I thought that the only axle that was turbo specific was the right hand side. A bit larger diameter.

Post by **erikv11** » 06 Jan 2025, 15:48

The turbo has a larger outer CV than the NA axle, both sides. Some pics here for driver's side: viewtopic.php?t=78777

Lots of good info in this thread but you may have to dig for it: viewtopic.php?t=64252

Post by **scot850** » 06 Jan 2025, 19:16

Wow! Thanks guys.

I was reading one of the threads, and the last entry was a very useful one from Abscate:

viewtopic.php?t=64252&start=40

Shame that all the images have been deleted from the thread. They would have been useful.

I seem to recall the issue of the outer CV being different diameters, even though both will still fit in an NA.

I'm going to assume then that the outer CV bearing cages are therefore different sizes to give a stronger out CV joint with the higher power?

That would mean the cage is likely different but no 100% sure fire closure on this... yet!

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 06 Jan 2025, 19:19

Anyone got a good Volvo LHF axle for a turbo 98 V70 GLT? Surfbug is looking for one.

I looked on Erie Vo-Vo website and did not find any P80 axles listed at all. I wonder if you need to call them for this older stuff:

https://www.erievovo.com/

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Jan 2025, 19:21

scot850 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2025, 19:16 Wow! Thanks guys.

I was reading one of the threads, and the last entry was a very useful one from Abscate:

viewtopic.php?t=64252&start=40

Shame that all the images have been deleted from the thread. They would have been useful.

I seem to recall the issue of the outer CV being different diameters, even though both will still fit in an NA.

I'm going to assume then that the outer CV bearing cages are therefore different sizes to give a stronger out CV joint with the higher power?

That would mean the cage is likely different but no 100% sure fire closure on this... yet!

Neil.

The images are present in the first post, my cut and paste did not capture them

surfbug1 · Post by **surfbug1** » 08 Jan 2025, 09:10

Hi. Found this in the linked thread.

Says that the bearings in the cage are different diameters.

So is the cage different specs? ( I will try to measure this, and my guess ....its different from na to turbo )

And can I interchange them if the cages are the same? ( Prolly not, the 1mm makes a difference is my guess )

****
Cut from other thread
****
cannot be interchanged on a given axle because the inner spline size is different. Even though they all have 26 splines at the hub, the NA CV joint has 25 splines inside while the turbo has 28 splines. This means the actual axle shafts are different from NA to turbo.

Other easy to measure differences:
The OD of the turbo unit is about 98mm while the NA is 90mm.
The CV balls in the turbo are 19 mm compared to 18 mm for the NA.
I do not know how strong either axle is, but it appears that at least you get something bigger with the OEM turbo axles.

****

Pic of my poor axle....the broken bearing cage.

Any one out there have a turbo bearing cage? And bearing? (Can reuse mine if needed )

Post by **scot850** » 08 Jan 2025, 23:32

So it is the RH axle you need, not the LH?

Neil.

surfbug1 · Post by **surfbug1** » 08 Jan 2025, 23:48

scot850 wrote: ↑08 Jan 2025, 23:32 So it is the RH axle you need, not the LH?

Neil.

RH side/passenger side .... Bearing cage for turbo vehicle, with bearings if someone has this

Al