XC70 Middle Propshaft Bearing Replacement

[Tony427]

Guys, I have a 2001 XC70 and have started noticing a bit of a groan or thud coming from under the cabin most noticeable when I reverse and then stop to select a forward gear.

It sounds very similar to loose propshaft bolts.

I got underneath to have a look and I believe the middle propshaft bearing is on its way out by virtue of the fact that I can grasp the propshaft , move it about 5 mm from side to side just by hand pressure and I can see the rubber mounting bush moving and flexing. This would account of the" groan and thud" I presume.

Given the age of the car and that I am a complete skinflint I am looking for the cheapest way to fix this problem but I still want to keep the AWD functional.

What has everyone else done faced with this situation?

Cheers,

Tony

[luggsey]

Originally Posted by Tony427

Guys, I have a 2001 XC70 and have started noticing a bit of a groan or thud coming from under the cabin most noticeable when I reverse and then stop to select a forward gear.

It sounds very similar to loose propshaft bolts.

I got underneath to have a look and I believe the middle propshaft bearing is on its way out by virtue of the fact that I can grasp the propshaft , move it about 5 mm from side to side just by hand pressure and I can see the rubber mounting bush moving and flexing. This would account of the" groan and thud" I presume.

Given the age of the car and that I am a complete skinflint I am looking for the cheapest way to fix this problem but I still want to keep the AWD functional.

What has everyone else done faced with this situation?

Cheers,

Tony

volvo xc70 2001 propshaft bearings on Google.

https://www.google.com/search?q=volv...w=1024&bih=649

ID yours and replace?

[Tony427]

Yes I had seen the bearings on Ebay which are cheap but I have also heard that people buy complete propshaft assemblies.

Why do people do that?

Are there special tools required to split the two halves of the prop?

If its a relatively simple job to swap the bearing I'll grab an ebay bargain and break the socket set out.

Cheers,

Tony

[lynns hubby]

Ive done em on 940s before. Not to bad to do, but then I have a mate with a garage who let me use his press to get the new one on.
Even iif you get the prop off yourself you will hopefully have some garage or engineering works near you who will press the bearing on for you.
Don't forget to match mark everything so as it goes back on the car exaactly where it came from to avoid vibration issues.

[luggsey]

This has a fair bit of info.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/fo...ic.php?t=35820

[Tony427]

Update.

Since taking a look at the centre propshaft bearing I have driven the car about 500 miles or so and theres no vibration, noise or anything else indicating a bearing problem from that department.

There is however still the graunchy grinding sort of noise when reversing , for example, downhill off a driveway.

So I put the car a bit higher on axle stands just now and the centre UJ seems to have recently started leaking grease, as theres fresh grease spun on the transmission tunnel heatshield and leaking on the UJ yokes, so I think this is the actual problem.

Whilst I have the propshaft off the car to replace the centre UJ I'll replace the bearing as a precaution as it would be daft not to.

Now to find a centre propshaft UJ rebuild kit supplier.

Cheers,

Tony

[Tony427]

Well it appears that these propshafts are not available in the aftermarket and there are very few people who can rebuild them.

Could get a secondhand one off ebay but its likely the replacement could be as knackered as mine.

Anyone have any leads on an engineering/ propshaft shop that can do this?

Willing to travel/ post/ exchange etc.

Cheers,

Tony

[Tony427]

Just got the old propshaft off and the front CV joint is knackered, the middle support bearing is noisy and on its way out and the middle UJ is indeed leaking grease and requires replacement.

Anyone know of a propshaft place in the Midlands that can rebuild this one for me.

Chers,

Tony

[lynns hubby]

Gotta ask the obvious it have you Googled it ?
Don't know about the midlands but when my mate had a similar problem on his car I found a place in Norfolk who could sort it for him. Took the propshaft to them and they turned it round same day. I would think you have a far better chance of finding someone in the midlands.

[Tony427]

Originally Posted by lynns hubby

Gotta ask the obvious it have you Googled it ?
Don't know about the midlands but when my mate had a similar problem on his car I found a place in Norfolk who could sort it for him. Took the propshaft to them and they turned it round same day. I would think you have a far better chance of finding someone in the midlands.

Oh yes I have googled it. Many, many times. And I must have made at least 8 phone calls as a result.

I take it that you took your mate's prop to Bailey Morris. Trouble is, it's the back end of beyond and I was hoping to get someone nearer. Hence the question on here looking for personal recommendations.

I have tried everyone near here, and even up the M6 and M1 corridors and think that finally I may have found somewhere that can rebuild it, who came recommended from another prop rebuilder who was having problems finding the right parts. It appears that Germany is the only source for them, and the supply has dried up.

It appears that the aftermarket repair kits on the market are not of the highest quality and he will not put a 12 month warranty on his repair using these parts and no others are available.

He did however put me onto the oem supplier who is getting back to me and who is also quite local.

I did have a tame prop builder who has made the propshafts for all 4 of my kit car builds, 3 of them with reasonable 300bhp plus horsepower, but he wouldn't touch it, again because he cannot get the right parts.

I can now see why others in my situation fit a secondhand unit from a scrappers and cross their fingers. Unfortunately I quite often tow with a trailer up near the maximum weight so a good 4 x4 system is useful for traction and stability reasons so I don't want to trust to luck.

If the OEM guys can sort it I will report back.

Cheers,

Tony