AWD propshaft centre bearings

[stimperley]

Could I ask what the symptoms are? Our XC70 is whining and ended up changing both front wheel bearings to no avail. The whine varies with the load on the engine/transmission - lift off the throttle and it goes almost quiet. I wondered why it didn't vary going round corners if it was a wheel bearing ... Could this be the propshaft bearing, or front diff/gearbox, given the rears are not driven fulltime?

By bearings do you mean the universal joint?

A propshaft specialist almost certainly will be able to replace these even if Volvo will not supply the parts separately.

[grubby mits]

Hi Stimperley

The shaft has a CV joint at either end, a traditional "spider" UJ part way down and two intermediate bearings in rubber mounts bonded to brackets which are then bolted to the underside of the car. It is one of these rubber mounted bearings that has failed on mine. The symptoms are a metal to metal squeal on shaft rotation - if you raise the car off the ground and rotate the road wheels (and therefore the shaft) by hand you will hear it. What you describe is nothing like the issue I had - yours sound more like a gearbox or diff issue. The input shaft bearing on the diff is a weakness on some AWD models - the symptoms of that are a whine - I had my diff bearings replaced not long ago.

My shaft has been with Propshaft Services Ltd of Feltham for nearly a week now whilst they decide whether or not they can replace the bearings - they are specialists with a good reputation and if anyone can fix it I expect they can.

Good luck with tracking down the source of your whine.

GM

[stimperley]

Thanks for the reply GM

How did you diagnose your diff bearings and get them replaced - and how much ...?

[Tannaton]

Have you had a look on eBay? There are numerous sellers offering new and refurbished whole shafts and individual components. I’m just about to rebuild my XC90 shaft this way. As you have removed the shaft yourself, you will be able to do it.

And yes you can drive the car with the prop removed, but be aware that some parts of the DTSC system may not function correctly.

[grubby mits]

How did you diagnose your diff bearings and get them replaced - and how much ...?

There is a thread on this topic under "V70 General - Transmission Whine" which will tell you all about it (last post date November 3rd 2017). The cost to take out and refit the subframe, dismantle and repair the diff was, if memory serves, about £1,000.

Have you had a look on eBay? There are numerous sellers offering new and refurbished whole shafts and individual components. I’m just about to rebuild my XC90 shaft this way.

Yes, I have Tannaton, but the correct shafts and bearings for the 2007/8 V70 AWD seem to be as rare as hens teeth and, if I am correct, not the same as the XC shafts. I have been searching by part number (30787840). I have found only two others which I will follow up if Propshaft Services can't come up with an answer soon. As a matter of interest they say that only one of the two bearings is replaceable anyway - the rear of the two simply cannot be replaced due to the way it is welded into position in the factory. If you have information to the contrary on this specific part I would love to hear it - I'm beginning to get a bit frustrated with it all!!!!

GM

[stimperley]

Thanks again GM, food for thought there. At the moment I am convinced the whine is coming from the front - must try travelling in the back and see if it sounds different there.

[Peter86]

Have you tried places like eurocarparts, carpartsforless etc?
I had a new drive shaft, osf one, on special order from them, about 1/4 of Main dealer price, slightly different but did the job perfectly.
Might add my nearest shop just said we can't get one, my brother called one by his and they ordered it no problem. Ordered sat and in Monday.
No harm in asking.

[grubby mits]

Heard back from prop shaft Services today - who are part of Bailey Morris who manufacture prop shafts and bearings, UJs etc. for most makes of vehicle. They say they can't match the centre bearings for my shaft (and they are N/A from Volvo) so its either a salvaged unit or an eye watering price for a new one from Mr V. Would like to get the car back on the road with full AWD (snow forecast!!) so have set myself a deadline.

Will post a conclusion when its all done.

GM

[Tannaton]

Oh dear - not good - I can't imaging the Volvo used a weird size....

There's a few on e-bay - I wonder if the slightly different length one you had was from a manual car?

Also - it's a long shot but have a look for parts for the Ford Kuga - it shares many parts of the AWD system.

[grubby mits]

Well, today I went to a salvage yard in Southampton who said they had a shaft and even quoted the correct part number. When I got there, not only didn't they have a shaft, but the car they were going to take it off was a 2.4 D5 FWD!

I think I must be jinxed!

I have tried all the usual outlets - Euro Car Parts, Camberley Auto Factors (sorry - Andrew Page) etc with no luck.

Had an other helpful chat with my main dealer parts department - only to hear that this shaft was fitted to a limited number of AWD V70's; new ones from Volvo have to be ordered from Sweden, but are still available.

I will search on line again once more before breaking open the piggy bank - thanks for your Ford Kuga suggestion Tannaton - that is worth a follow up.

GM