Best brand left cv axle for replacement, 1998 V70

Post by **dalel** » 24 Aug 2026, 20:29

What brand do you recommend to replace left cv axle on 1998 V70? Can't find Volvo, GKN or Loebro. Reviews for every other brand all mention possible vibration. I'm leaning toward DSS but even they are said to often have vibration. Thanks...DaleL

S Carlson · Post by **S Carlson** » 24 Aug 2026, 21:33

Rebuild your old one? Or rebuild one from a junkyard, if yours is too far gone. The OE axles/joints are top notch and I've rebuilt mine quite a few times thanks to CV boot part number snafu and crummy quality modern rubber causing a couple of early failures. If you have the mechanical ability to take the axles out, you can rebuild 'em.

Do be careful to get the right boots. There is some confusion out there, and some parts lists (like FCP's) aren't quite right.

Here's my thread where I suss out some of the confusion surrounding CV boot fitment. There are links to lots of other resources there as well.
viewtopic.php?t=100472

Post by **scot850** » 25 Aug 2026, 10:21

I'm curious if anyone has tried the GSP branded axles at Rock Auto?

I know there is a brand someone recommended from Rock Auto and others but I can't recall the brand name and if it was for P2 car's only.

I had a quick look on their website and the brand name did not jump out at me for P80's or P2

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Aug 2026, 11:51

Get factory Volvo (GKN) axles and re-boot them. I have not heard of any aftermarket P80 axles that are anywhere near the quality of the factory ones.

For P2 cars where replacement GKN axles are still available from the parts suppliers, even these axles are not up to par with the ones originally installed at the factory. Lots of clicking, early boot failure, etc.

Unfortunately it is quite common for people to replace the whole CV axle when the boot tears, even though the axle is completely fine, mechanically.

Post by **dalel** » 25 Aug 2026, 13:34

erikv11 wrote: 25 Aug 2026, 11:51 Get factory Volvo (GKN) axles and re-boot them. I have not heard of any aftermarket P80 axles that are anywhere near the quality of the factory ones.

For P2 cars where replacement GKN axles are still available from the parts suppliers, even these axles are not up to par with the ones originally installed at the factory. Lots of clicking, early boot failure, etc.

Unfortunately it is quite common for people to replace the whole CV axle when the boot tears, even though the axle is completely fine, mechanically.

There is a lot of noise coming from that wheel. I got end links since they are cheap. Got a genuine Volvo control arm on Clearance $134. Couldn't pass that up.

So guys. Do you think I can get away with just re-booting? I can see the old boot is badly torn. I don't have a place to leave it up on jacks so I just might get something from IPD and take a good look at the old axle when its off... DaleL

aeg · Post by **aeg** » 25 Aug 2026, 16:50

If it's not clicking on turns, you can 100% get away with pulling the axle, repacking the bearings, and putting new boots on.

I have to admit I replaced one of mine using a split boot, without pulling the axle or properly repacking the bearings. This was fairly recent, so I don't know how well it will hold up.

If someone is up for a science experiment... I believe the GKN manual transmission P80 axles are still available new, but not sold on the North American market. My understanding is these axles will fit in the automatic transmission, but the joints are bigger so you can't rebuild an automatic axle with parts from a manual axle. It might be possible to import a manual axle and put that in. On the other hand, erikv11 just said that even the GKN axles are not so hot any more...

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Aug 2026, 20:15

GKNs are not so hot these days but probably still much better than everything else, that's my thinking anyway.

Putting in a cheap axle while you rebuild the good one is definitely a fair solution if its in the budget. Hard for me to judge if the old one is gone without hearing it myself, but in general I agree with aegis comments on that.

Also you'll want to make sure the one you are working on is actually a Volvo/GKN axle. It could be a failing aftermarket one.

VolvoOwl98 · Post by **VolvoOwl98** » 06 Sep 2026, 00:35

There’s a company called ProTech that I purchased CV axles from (off IPD’s website) that seem to be made very well/with good materials. Been running them for several thousand miles and so far no problem, even with some harsher conditions. Link here for their page, and a quick search on IPD will bring them up

Link: https://motorprotech.com/

Post by **misha** » 07 Sep 2026, 16:30

scot850 wrote: 25 Aug 2026, 10:21 I'm curious if anyone has tried the GSP branded axles at Rock Auto?

Neil.

GSP is pure Chinese brand.
I once had a chance to check out their CV boots since Gkn wasn't available and as soon as i opened the box i was disappointed.

In comparison with GKN cv boot kit,GSP clamps were so thin and strange looking that i gave up immediately.
The boot...looking at it ,was a bit harder on touch than GKN.

If there is a choice...i would avoid them.

V50M66 · Post by **V50M66** » 09 Sep 2026, 15:25

Another vote for rebooting your Genuine axle. Every aftermarket option is garbage from my experience. Get a set of EMPI or GKN boot kits off FCP and reboot what you have. Just make sure to clean out all the old grease really well so there's no dirt in there before regreasing/rebooting.

Trakmotive is the only Chinese Rockauto brand that isn't horrific from a CV joint perspective, but the axle nut on the -98 axles is the wrong size and therefore doesn't torque up nicely and kills your wheel bearing over time. Good enough to run in the meantime while you reboot a genuine one though.