2000 v70xc Play in the front CV Axle?

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 28 Jun 2015, 17:26

When I was replacing my front struts I noticed that there was quite a bit of in and out play in the front CV axle when it was unloaded... about 2-3 mm. Is this normal? After I got everything back together I am now hearing some scraping noise from the right front wheel area and the ABS light is on. I'm not willing to drive it that way. Any ideas?

I'm wondering if the axle is now pushed in so that the ABS tone ring is no longer aligned with the sensor on that wheel, giving me the ABS light and the scraping noise. I'm going to take it all apart again in the morning (too hot now) and would like some ideas on what to look for. Thanks in advance.

I can get a rebuilt passenger side CV axle for about $80, so it would not be terrible to replace it if that is the issue.

Post by **kahl** » 28 Jun 2015, 17:49

The scraping sound has a very good chance to be the dust shield rubbing against the rotor. Did you correctly tighten the axle bolt? If your axle bolt is tightened correctly the tone ring will be in the correct place. I would pull the abs sensor out of the spindle and clean then reinstall. Is there any damage to the ABs wires when they were attached to the new strut, loose enough for the rotation of the strut when turning the wheel?

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 28 Jun 2015, 18:50

Well, I didn't remove the axle bolt to replace the strut, but I suppose I might have whacked the shield when I was wrestling the strut in. I'll check it in the morning, thanks. And good point - the axle bolt would hold the outermost part of the axle in the correct position. I may simply have broken a sensor wire, codes will help there.

I may be making it all too complicated - the two symptoms cropping up at the same time may have mislead me to think they were related.

Post by **abscate** » 29 Jun 2015, 03:29

1-2 mm axial play in a CV joint is actually too little...they move more than this, but there are lots of factors controlling what one might see testing this with some suspension attached.

Don't worry about either your CV or ABS ring if you didn't touch the axle bolt.

Either the brake shield is rubbing or even perhaps you hit a little chaff in the brakes which will go away.

Check the ABS sensor wire and plug, if that is okay then give Mattymoo a call about a repaired module. On this year, it's a guaranteed failure item

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 29 Jun 2015, 11:28

Just thought I would resolve this issue. I took everything apart again and it turns out I had not completely tightened the cross-shaped retaining nut at the top of the strut. It still had 1.5 turns to tight. Oddly, this also solved the ABS fault-light problem. My stupid mistake with the nut, but not hard to fix.

Post by **abscate** » 29 Jun 2015, 12:26

You might find the ABS problem comes back. I don't think the cross nut fixed it.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 29 Jun 2015, 18:06

Neither do I, lol - but I can't argue with success. Sometimes cars are more witchcraft than engineering and logic.