Control arm issues.

[John97Tdi]

Thanks for the reply. Weather permitting I'm planning on taking the driveshaft out in the morning so I'll be better able to identify the source of the problem then. From the videos you posted links to I'd best practice some deep breathing excercises because relocating the bearings looks to test your patience!

Cheers

John

[ajm]

Don't worry - the inner joint is nothing like those videos (that's more like the outer joint.) It's like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrPi0Cmh5Pc

[Clan]

Originally Posted by ajm

Don't worry - the inner joint is nothing like those videos (that's more like the outer joint.) It's like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrPi0Cmh5Pc

It is called a Tripod joint as i called it above , It is certainly not a constant Velocity joint as the American called it :-) , the velocity is variable .

[John97Tdi]

Thanks to you both gents! That looks far less troublesome to accomplish. Weather permitting (and if I can get the driveshaft out) I'll be doing that this afternoon.

Thanks again.

John

[John97Tdi]

Quick update - driveshaft out,surprisingly easily,but when I tried, just for interest with the driveshaft out, to fit the old balljoint into the control arm it still would not go. Since I had planned to replace the shocks anyway,due to 'misting' which is more like a flood on inspection, it was no big deal taking off the complete strut/hub assembly. So, awaiting my pleasure in the comfort of my cellar, I now have a driveshaft to re-align,a strut to rebuild,and a balljoint to persuade out of the hub and be replaced. Woopee.http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/images..._Impressed.gif

Cheers

John

[R-P]

Originally Posted by John97Tdi

It went on fairly easily but when it came to locating the balljoint,no matter how I tightened the ratchet strap it would not slip into place and seemed to be about an inch adrift. It didn't help when the ratchet strap stopped ratcheting but even with brute strength and ignorance, and a long bar,I could lever the control arm low enough but the balljoint would not seat.
I suspect that,despite being careful, the driveshaft has come apart and added extra distance hence the problem.
I can't be the first person this has happened to so how do I check and if needed relocate/rebuild the shaft?

No you're not the first person this happens to and it is not because the driveshaft came apart. It is because it cannot, I repeat, CANNOT be done. Probably depends on which control-arm you bought, but I could not get it in there despite a 6ft breakerbar. I was tearing up the newly installed rubber in the controlarms before it would even allign.

I removed the two bolts on the strut to get it to fit again.

I've bitched about youtube vids just skipping this, one moment they're almost fitting it, next shot it is in. So 20ms on the video (one frame) is what took me 6 hours or so.

[petey]

Cannot be done? Which bit? I’ve had a driveshaft come apart on the inner end (the trick is to remove the calliper and it’s bracket, then everything clears.)
Couldn’t get the hub assembly to get close enough to the control arm, took the CV boot off, lined up the shaft abso-bloody-lutely square and it popped back in. Peened over the sharp edge to stop it coming out and 8,000 miles later, all is good.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by R-P

It is because it cannot, I repeat, CANNOT be done. Probably depends on which control-arm you bought, but I could not get it in there despite a 6ft breakerbar..... I've bitched about youtube vids just skipping this, one moment they're almost fitting it, next shot it is in.

On genuine Volvo control arms, they certainly can be levered down to fit as per the instructions in Vida.
My YouTube video doesn't skip this and shows the procedure clearly enough.

OP, in my more recent YouTube videos, I cover the replacement of both shafts, seals, ABS ring replacement and strut replacement/disassembly so hopefully one or more of those will be of some use to you.
Good luck.

[John97Tdi]

Hi cheshired5.
I'm almost certain now the issue I faced was not due initially to a driveshaft that 'popped out'( I think it did later when I was getting more 'assertive') but for some reason the strut, when 'released' extended beyond where it was located by the control arm/balljoint so I could never force the control arm far enough down for it to re-engage. When I reassembled the old components, all volvo original, without the driveshaft, I could force the control arm down to where the metal of the arm near the rear bush was stopped by the subframe so couldn't be forced any further but still could not engage the balljoint in the arm.

Thanks for the pointer to the videos, I'm sure I'll find them informative - and keep up the good work - there must be thousands of Volvo owners by now who owe you a debt of gratitude.

Cheers

John

[John97Tdi]

Tripod joint of the driveshaft was a breeze to realign - took off the boot clip and it was obvious one of the disc shaped bearings had travelled up and stuck. A bit of wriggling and a slight tap and everything went back into the 'cup' where it should be.
One question, what type of grease should be in there? The stuff that came out was thin and runny so I might as well put fresh in while its open

Cheers

John