1998 V70 Excessive play in steering

[abscate]

Set up the CV joint in a small container of gas and let it soak overnight. No flames nearby of course.If it isn't full of grit and dirt, just leave what is left in there and pack with fresh grease and it will be good.

The next step is to actually take the CV joint apart and clean the cage, race, balls, individually. On the old VWs, it was possible to assemble the CV joint incorrectly, which would lock it up and end rather spectacularly. I don't know about taking apart a Volvo CV joint.

(5rivers - you do mean the outer CV joint and not the wheel bearing, right?) Bearing is sealed and you don't want to try to clean and repack that.

[5rivers]

Yes, the CV joint. Do I need to remove the outer part of the axle to clean up the race, cage, balls, etc? (I have bookmarked a link on how to clean these parts, but how does one remove that joint?) I have not seen much in the way of contamination, but I want to be sure its clean before re-assembling - and given the amount of time I have spent on this, it would be a shame to not spend a few extra hours cleaning everything up.

[JimBee]

I agree with you on going the distance with it, certainly if the boot has been open for some time as there will be some grit in there.

There's a keeper holding the cage in that can be removed. Check out rspi's post on this if you can.

I think it's a lock ring, but don't remember exactly. With the balls out, you can clean everything, repack it and if it wasn't clicking before you took it apart, with a new boot and new grease that joint will last a long time.

I try never to accelerate hard from a stop with the front wheels turning a corner, which might give the joints a little more life.

[erikv11]

Here are some pics showing the clip and how to unhook it to remove the CV joint from the axle, plus this thread has a lot of relevant info including additional useful links:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 6&start=14

[5rivers]

I am having difficulty getting the clip to remain open long enough to use a punch and hammer (on the CV joint). Does the entire axle need to be extracted for this procedure?

[erikv11]

I have only removed the CV joint with the axle pulled from the car and held in a vise on the work bench. Might be pretty tough otherwise but maybe other folks have done it.

[5rivers]

OK. So to remove the axle (from passenger side), it looks like there are two bolts holding the axle close to the transmission housing that need to be removed. Is that correct? Otherwise, I am pulling on the axle and stretching the inner boot which is what I do NOT want to do.

[kahl]

Yes, there are 2 12 mm bolts that hold the carrier bearing. remove those 2 bolts then pull the axle down out of the other half of the carrier. You can then pull the axle out. Try to pull as straight as possible.

[5rivers]

An update...I managed to tap the joint off the shaft (hip-hip-horray!!) without taking off the entire axle and am now cleaning the balls, cage, and race! The cir-clip was spread apart enough so that a few taps with a hammer and nail punch got it to come off.

[abscate]

Nicely done. Easy to clean now!!!!