Rear axle snapped!
 

Just had a call from the garage after it went in this morning to investigate noise from the passenger side going over bumps etc..

They've called me back to say err... the rear axle is snapped and it's unsafe to drive! I believe it's the torsion bar itself :(

I've been advised to see if I can source a 2nd hand rear axle that they could fit.. what do people think is the best plan of action here? Would any S70/V70/C70 do the job or are they specific to the C70?

The car is fine in every other way, everything works except the aircon and I enjoy driving it - but I have 2 other cars and 2 motorbikes I can use so it's not essential in that regard.

Thoughts about the labour cost involved fitting a rear axle too? Is this going to be a crazy expensive job?

Thanks.

First off, unbelievable and sorry for the predicament you find yourself in.

To answer your questions:

I would be down at the garage to find out exactly what has broken - there are so many separate components it could be anything. Most probably it could just be a bush that has collapsed. Once you have determined what is wrong you can source a second hand part or new as appropriate. The garage will be able to estimate the costs as they are standing there looking at it so no excuse not to.

Hope you get it sorted.

Cheers, I have found a complete rear axle for £100, maybe another £70 to pallet it to the garage. I'm just worried once it gets there of a huge bill. Normally the garage are good, they're a Volvo specialist I've taken my cars to before, so I hope they're not trying it on.

I have tomorrow afternoon off work so I might ask if I can go down there and take a look myself.

Any chance you could get a photo of the damaged part, someone here may be able to give advice

I'll try and get down there tomorrow.

The C70 delta link system is wider than v/s70/850s

The entire thing isn't that difficult to remove as a complete unit but it depends on what you are buying!

If you start adding the removal and replacement of all the wheel hubs and braking system it will start adding up.

It also makes sense to start considering delta link bushes at the same time and then a full alignment.

I am also somewhat intrigued as to what has broken as the trailing arms are fairly sturdy units!

I think it must have been that pothole... Im about to call them to check it's OK to go down and look then ill see for myself this afternoon hopefully. Yeah someone else advised me it would be worth getting the bushings done at the same time.

After seeing the car today I'm a lot less worried, the garage have said it will be about £200 in labour and I've managed to secure a new axle and postage of it for about £170.

Here's some photos of the rear axle, you can see the delta link arm has sheared off where it goes into the bushing.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...18e60f9b_n.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a1198f3a_n.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5ee658b7_n.jpg

I'm just thinking now, to go with the new rear axle should I be buying new bushes for it (2x inner and 2x outer) it would add about £100 to the parts bill, or do you think it will be fine? I'm worried it might also increase the labour bill if the old ones are a pain to get out.

Hi

I have never done those bushings myself, but are you sure you need to change anything except the bushings? (Do both sides).

I am not convinced that you need to buy any large parts.
The bushings are not expensive

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363158530953

Did you say they were volvo specialists?

Steve

Yes I believe it's sheared at the point it would go into the bushing and a lot of the bushing itself is missing. So if you put in a new bushing the actual delta link is damaged, it would be sitting in there loose.

What I'm talking about is it worth £100 to get bushings for the new axle that will be arriving, or do you think they'd be OK? This is a big bill for a car that isn't worth a lot of money so I'd rather save £100 if I can unless it's deemed very important.