2001 V70 2.3 T5 Signs of failure for VVT hub?

[cstallman76]

Hi All,

I've have no experience with VVT but am concerned with some end-play in the exhaust vvt hub on my v70.

This past weekend I replaced a leaking front intake cam seal and decided to replace the exhaust at the same time. Everything went smooth and the car is buttoned back up and running like a dream. However while the timing belt was off and the cam lock tool was still anchoring the rear end of the shafts I noticed that the VVT hub had a sort of movement that I wasn't expecting. Besides the expected 3-4 tooth spring action in-line it seems to have some end-play. I have no idea if this is normal or not.

All the reading I've done around the VVT describes failure accompanied by a resonating noise coming from vibration. from bearing failure i presume? I don't have this. the car runs smooth and quiet.

I've taken a video that shows the end-play in the hub:

The big questions are:
1) is this lateral play in the gear normal?
2) if it is not normal, is it indicative of a failing hub?
3) if it's a failing hub what can I expect from the hub failing? will it just get noisy? do these ever fail catastrophically?
4) can they be rebuilt? new bearing race?

given that prices run in the $250 range and I just went through the wringer with the ETM, and associated 120k fall upkeep, I'd like to put off further "large" repairs for a couple months; plus, winter has arrived in MN so I'd rather stay inside sipping whiskey then wrenching in a blizzard…though wrenching in a blizzard with a sip close at hand may be doable…

Thanks for any thoughts or pointing me to any threads I might have failed to run down myself.

[vtl]

I think it's worn. I can try to find my old hub and check how much play it has.

In my experience the whole engine resonates, because the timing gets out of sync just a bit, and it gets undetected by ECU, so it can't correct the problem. Though it was on N/A engine with VVT on intake.

[cstallman76]

Thanks for the reply...

"Wear" sounds better than imminent failure.

With VVT failing I would have assumed I'd get error codes related to exhaust bank cam...but it sounds like that is t true. Any mechanical test I can run on the hub? Or is the end play I'm experiencing test enough??

I'd love to know if these things can fail catastrophically. Last thing I want is a bricked engine.

[iRenaissanceMan]

Hi All,

I've have no experience with VVT but am concerned with some end-play in the exhaust vvt hub on my v70.

This past weekend I replaced a leaking front intake cam seal and decided to replace the exhaust at the same time. Everything went smooth and the car is buttoned back up and running like a dream. However while the timing belt was off and the cam lock tool was still anchoring the rear end of the shafts I noticed that the VVT hub had a sort of movement that I wasn't expecting. Besides the expected 3-4 tooth spring action in-line it seems to have some end-play. I have no idea if this is normal or not.

All the reading I've done around the VVT describes failure accompanied by a resonating noise coming from vibration. from bearing failure i presume? I don't have this. the car runs smooth and quiet.

I've taken a video that shows the end-play in the hub:

The big questions are:
1) is this lateral play in the gear normal?
2) if it is not normal, is it indicative of a failing hub?
3) if it's a failing hub what can I expect from the hub failing? will it just get noisy? do these ever fail catastrophically?
4) can they be rebuilt? new bearing race?

given that prices run in the $250 range and I just went through the wringer with the ETM, and associated 120k fall upkeep, I'd like to put off further "large" repairs for a couple months; plus, winter has arrived in MN so I'd rather stay inside sipping whiskey then wrenching in a blizzard…though wrenching in a blizzard with a sip close at hand may be doable…

Thanks for any thoughts or pointing me to any threads I might have failed to run down myself.

I have the same exact play on my xc90. Did you end up replacing? My exhaust cam js doing the same. Lookingto see if I must simply suck it up and buy a new cvvt hub. Thanks.

[abscate]

My 1999 has run about 20000 miles on a growling VVT HUB. IT just got worse so I'm dealing with it now

New hubs are expensive, like $360 so Im going used.

[vtl]

My 1999 has run about 20000 miles on a growling VVT HUB. IT just got worse so I'm dealing with it now

New hubs are expensive, like $360 so Im going used.

1999 with like 200k or so, that's the quality! Nothing like VANOS in BMW

[F250]

I replaced both CVVT hubs on my daughter's '07 S60. The amount of play you have is worse than on my daughters, but not terribly. Her's was at 165K miles when I did the replacement this summer, BTW.

Here's the interesting thing. The new hubs had similar play, but it was 100% axial (in line with the shaft) and zero radial play (side-to-side at right angles with the shaft). My daughter's used hubs had virtually zero radial play, but they felt gritty when spinning the inner bushing with my finger while the hubs were off the cams. The new hubs were butter smooth, even though they did have about 0.002" axial play.

Hope the above context will help your decision-making process.

[darrylrobert]

My 2001 has this also, i think its design not wear. i was also shocked when i noticed it while i had the belt off about a year ago. Have you noticed any issues like "walking timing belt" or starting issues "timing"when hot?

Also i notice you have an old style VVT valve solenoid, i recently changed mine and have noticed a huge improvement to fuel economy and idling smooth.

How is the car running in 2020??

[dono]

Video shows a worn hub in need of replacement. My 2004 v70 253k mi had similar axial play and was starting to leak oil. The new hub had ~2ml play. My only symptom was the oil leak.