AWD issues - Diagonosing bad propshaft in xc70

rico2001 · Post by **rico2001** » 12 Jul 2010, 20:48

Would it be a bad propshaft if the car is not moving? My mother 98 awd, has a vibration/rumble from (seems to be) under the center console. I've changed driver-side front cv axle, changed front bevel gear oil, and power steering fluid, Reason for the ps fluid b/c seems to be concentrated at the rack or bevel gear, but I can't determine which. I've read all the thread regarding removing the drive axle. Before I do so, since I can't think of what else to do, just wondering are people getting the noise/vibration/rumble with the car is in park.

Kuhnman · Post by **Kuhnman** » 12 Jul 2010, 22:38

I talked to A Volvo Specialist and he said there is a chance of the coupler between the tranny and bevil gear assembly rusting and wearing badly enough that the drive splines will strip out causing the car to loose all drive to the axles. If anyone has AWD in their V70, it is a good idea to remove the bevil gear and clean and lube this coupler around the 200000 km mark to prevent this. This coupler is just between the housings so it isn't in any fluid. Also, this Volvo guy believes (and so do I), the front CV joint on the driveshaft fails because of the high heat hardening the rubber grease boot in the joint causing it to crack and come apart. This happened to my car and found you can buy just the front joint. It is splined to the shaft and held on with a snap ring. I plan to pull out my bevil drive soon to do a re-seal and clean up that coupler. I also need to replace my front right CV shaft due to a shake around corners. If I find anything out of the ordinary that might help anyone diagnose their car, I will mention it. I would check the tranny fluid condition too. Check for proper level, color and smell in case it is burnt which can be a sign of tranny failure causing the car to not move and make noise. Hope this helps a bit!

rico2001 · Post by **rico2001** » 18 Jul 2010, 10:48

So does anyone know if a bevel gear would be bad if the car is in park and you have vibrations seemingly coming from center console? I've changed bevel gear oil, replaced passenger side cv and top motor mount. Still have a trac/abs light on. Going to replace the module (with rebuilt) next. Have not tried removing the drive shaft since, since I don't think it's the issue since car is not moving.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 18 Jul 2010, 12:13

rico2001 wrote:So does anyone know if a bevel gear would be bad if the car is in park and you have vibrations seemingly coming from center console? I've changed bevel gear oil, replaced passenger side cv and top motor mount. Still have a trac/abs light on. Going to replace the module (with rebuilt) next. Have not tried removing the drive shaft since, since I don't think it's the issue since car is not moving.

If the car isn't moving and you have vibrations, you can pretty much rule out almost all the drive train including the AWD. Maybe time to inspect your engine mounts?

The ABS/TRACS light is probably your ABS module being dead. Rebuild it for cheap here: http://www.modulemaster.com/en/index.php

rico2001 · Post by **rico2001** » 18 Jul 2010, 12:39

ecbsykes wrote:
rico2001 wrote:So does anyone know if a bevel gear would be bad if the car is in park and you have vibrations seemingly coming from center console? I've changed bevel gear oil, replaced passenger side cv and top motor mount. Still have a trac/abs light on. Going to replace the module (with rebuilt) next. Have not tried removing the drive shaft since, since I don't think it's the issue since car is not moving.
If the car isn't moving and you have vibrations, you can pretty much rule out almost all the drive train including the AWD. Maybe time to inspect your engine mounts?

The ABS/TRACS light is probably your ABS module being dead. Rebuild it for cheap here: http://www.modulemaster.com/en/index.php

Thanks for the reply, I guess I can leave the drive train and look elsewhere.

Check all the mounts I could see (find) and the only one that looked bad was the top mount, which I replaced. According to fcp & eeuroparts, the 98 V70 AWD has this type of lower read engine mount. I'm having trouble locating it and it's the only one I haven't inspected yet.

Anyone have any pic or replacement procedure for the mount on 98-2000 AWD?

I may need to post a new thread since I'm getting off topic with the engine mounts.

Post by **holler1** » 18 Jul 2010, 19:04

Also, this Volvo guy believes (and so do I), the front CV joint on the driveshaft fails because of the high heat hardening the rubber grease boot in the joint causing it to crack and come apart. This happened to my car and found you can buy just the front joint. It is splined to the shaft and held on with a snap ring.

I agree with the Volvo tech that the front CV joint is a weak point due to heat from the exhaust. I replaced the front CV joint once, and it failed again after 3 years or so. The second time, in 2009, I got a rebuilt shaft from Colorado Driveshaft.