V70 Body/Trim: Bracket of Death

[100K+]

Just been reading on the AWD part of this siite (first time I've read it) and I come across a post about this Bracket of Death.
If you run a AWD I suggest you read it and ACT.
I was made aware of the BOD over three years ago and did nothing - it cost me over £ 1000 for a new prop.
Basically the this bracket spans the the transmission tunnel just under the the 1st resonator box. Catch it on a bit of raised ground or HARD SNOW and the likely hood is the front edge of the bracket will be dragged down, it will pivot on the two bolts and the rear part of the bracket is rammed up into the resonator box which is then smashed into the prop, at best scoring it or in my case kinking it. (see pic.)
Removal of said bracket is easy, and can be done without raising the car, remove the bracket and replace the two bolts (see pic)

If you run a AWD be warned and do something....


Cheers

Bob

[John Brennand]

Originally Posted by 100K+

Just been reading on the AWD part of this siite (first time I've read it) and I come across a post about this Bracket of Death.
If you run a AWD I suggest you read it and ACT.
I was made aware of the BOD over three years ago and did nothing - it cost me over £ 1000 for a new prop.
Basically the this bracket spans the the transmission tunnel just under the the 1st resonator box.
Cheers

Bob

Why did Volvo put this bracket on the car - i.e what function does it perform?

John

[Clan]

There are two reasons for these , It stops the car turning over if the propshaft becomes detached and digs into the ground , ie it retains the propshaft if damaged . It also stops the exhaust dropping down on the road and doing the same if that snaps off due to vibration etc .. It could well have a function in a side impact as well .

[John Brennand]

Originally Posted by Clan

There are two reasons for these , It stops the car turning over if the propshaft becomes detached and digs into the ground , ie it retains the propshaft if damaged . It also stops the exhaust dropping down on the road and doing the same if that snaps off due to vibration etc .. It could well have a function in a side impact as well .

Thanks Cian - on balance I think I will keep mine on :-)

John

[Clan]

Originally Posted by John Brennand

Thanks Cian - on balance I think I will keep mine on :-)

John

If your car isnt ultra low then you will be ok , even if you have a low car you know where not to drive regarding scraping the underside hopefully . Perhaps make up a skid plate if it is a problem ..

[harveys]

Or look at this thread
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...55272958,d.d2k
Last photo stainless steel wire simple fix to problem.

[100K+]

Originally Posted by harveys

Or look at this thread
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...55272958,d.d2k
Last photo stainless steel wire simple fix to problem.

Can't see how the prop shaft breaking could cause a car to flip, they are hollow and not all that strong to lateral strain. Not sure about the reason the bracket was fitted claim in the above link either.

On a balance of probability think the brackets removal would cause less problems than it would cause. Mine is staying off.

Like the idea of the tie wire if you are really concerned

Cheers

Bob

[harveys]

Originally Posted by 100K+

Can't see how the prop shaft breaking could cause a car to flip, they are hollow and not all that strong to lateral strain. Not sure about the reason the bracket was fitted claim in the above link either.

On a balance of probability think the brackets removal would cause less problems than it would cause. Mine is staying off.

Like the idea of the tie wire if you are really concerned

Cheers

Bob

I did read a while back the bracket was about crash damage,big front end crash.
My one was removed along time ago,I think if volvo USA ok the removal can't be to bad.

[SourDiesel]

There us no way Volvo would fit a bracket if it wasn't required - even it only cost £10 that would be well over a million over the life of the platform. I'd keep it if it was me.

[Jim314]

It seems to me that Volvo have a tendency to overthink and overengineer. For example, the ignition switch deters theft but fails too often in normal use.

It would seem that this bracket might theoretically contain certain types of failure of the propshaft, but create another failure mode that may be more likely in ordinary use, at least on rougher roads.