Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > AWD Discussion

Notices

AWD Discussion A forum dedicated to the AWD systems fitted to Volvo cars.

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

XC60 Rear Drive Unit

Views : 3631

Replies : 8

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Mar 5th, 2017, 21:31   #1
redxc60
New Member
 

Last Online: Nov 19th, 2023 21:05
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Leeds
Default XC60 Rear Drive Unit

We have a 2010 XC60 D5 AWD Manual, roughly 70k miles. There is a drone from the rear that starts at 50mph. At first I thought it was a failing wheel bearing but it doesn't get louder with increased speed but does get change slightly with more power.

The local dealer had a look and diagnosed a problem with the rear drive. They have quoted £5k to change the primary and secondary "final drive units". After picking myself off the showroom floor, I thought I'd do some research.

What has really surprised me is that there is barely a mention on the internet of an XC60 AWD rear drive failing. You can usually find discussion about any fault on any car somewhere so clearly this one is not a common fault. There's just one other thread on this forum => http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=221154

Does anyone know anything about how these units fail? Is it reasonable to change both units or is the dealer just doing a blind replacement instead of identifying the cause of the problem?

ps We've not had any warning messages about AWD.

Last edited by redxc60; Mar 5th, 2017 at 23:28.
redxc60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 5th, 2017, 22:01   #2
Clan
Experienced Member
 
Clan's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 01:00
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: L/H side
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by redxc60 View Post
We have a 2010 XC60 D5 AWD Manual, roughly 70k miles. There is a drone from the rear that starts at 50mph. At first I thought it was a failing wheel bearing but it doesn't get louder with increased speed but does get change slightly with more power.

The local dealer had a look and diagnosed a problem with the rear drive. They have quoted £5k to change the primary and secondary "final drive units". After picking myself off the showroom floor, I thought I'd do some research.

What has really surprised me is that there is barely a mention on the internet of an XC60 AWD rear drive failing. You can usually find about any fault on any car discussed somewhere so clearly this one is not a common fault. There's just one other thread on this forum => http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=221154

Does anyone know anything about how these units fail? Is it reasonable to change both units or is the dealer just doing a blind replacement instead of identifying the cause of the problem?

ps We've not had any warning messages about AWD.
Firstly there are TWO separate units with bearings and their own oil supplies, the rear final drive which most rear wheel drive cars have , then there is the Haldex clutch unit on the front of the final drive which also has a bearing ... Yes they are being very wrong in not diagnosing which is causing the noise , It should be straightforward running it on the lift and listening underneath to the unit .

The bearing in the Haldex is fairly straightforward to change and the final drive can be repaired too . But a dealer will not go that far . parts will be well under £100 ...
__________________
My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .
Clan is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Clan For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 6th, 2017, 01:09   #3
Tannaton
Bungling Amateur
 
Tannaton's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 12:43
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Beverley, East Yorks
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by redxc60 View Post
We have a 2010 XC60 D5 AWD Manual, roughly 70k miles. There is a drone from the rear that starts at 50mph. At first I thought it was a failing wheel bearing but it doesn't get louder with increased speed but does get change slightly with more power.

The local dealer had a look and diagnosed a problem with the rear drive. They have quoted £5k to change the primary and secondary "final drive units". After picking myself off the showroom floor, I thought I'd do some research.

What has really surprised me is that there is barely a mention on the internet of an XC60 AWD rear drive failing. You can usually find discussion about any fault on any car somewhere so clearly this one is not a common fault. There's just one other thread on this forum => http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=221154

Does anyone know anything about how these units fail? Is it reasonable to change both units or is the dealer just doing a blind replacement instead of identifying the cause of the problem?

ps We've not had any warning messages about AWD.
If you get the noise suddenly at around 50 mph and not before it's because that's when the torque converter locks in top gear - do you see the rev counter needle drop a bit as the noise arises and does the noise disappear if you come off throttle? If so could be propshaft joints, bearing etc. Suggest do a search on XC90 forum also - -a few people have had similar issues.
__________________
2011 XC90 D5 Executive
2003 C70 T5 GT
2012 Ford Ranger XL SC
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
1976 Massey Ferguson 135
Tannaton is online now   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Tannaton For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 6th, 2017, 14:41   #4
tangey
Member
 

Last Online: Jan 13th, 2020 17:43
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: belfast
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by redxc60 View Post
We have a 2010 XC60 D5 AWD Manual, roughly 70k miles. There is a drone from the rear that starts at 50mph. At first I thought it was a failing wheel bearing but it doesn't get louder with increased speed but does get change slightly with more power.

The local dealer had a look and diagnosed a problem with the rear drive. They have quoted £5k to change the primary and secondary "final drive units". After picking myself off the showroom floor, I thought I'd do some research.

What has really surprised me is that there is barely a mention on the internet of an XC60 AWD rear drive failing. You can usually find discussion about any fault on any car somewhere so clearly this one is not a common fault. There's just one other thread on this forum => http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=221154

Does anyone know anything about how these units fail? Is it reasonable to change both units or is the dealer just doing a blind replacement instead of identifying the cause of the problem?

ps We've not had any warning messages about AWD.

Yes, that's my thread.

I had pretty much similar experience as you, my (then) 6 year old XC60 has just 32K miles on the clock. Sounded similar to a wheel bearing. The dealership pretty much laughed at me on the phone when I told them a local engineer had suggested it wasn't a wheel bearing but a rear diff issue "never heard of that with an XC60". But a failure it was.

Given mine was £2700, I can't see how it would now be £5K, so it sounds like they are replacing more than is necessary. It might be worth asking your dealer for an extraordinary contribution. I might have been "lucky" in that mine was really pretty low mileage.
__________________
My blog charting how to use loyalty programmes to get premium holidays very cheaply.
http://www.goingonrewards.com

Last edited by tangey; Mar 6th, 2017 at 14:50.
tangey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 6th, 2017, 18:55   #5
redxc60
New Member
 

Last Online: Nov 19th, 2023 21:05
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Leeds
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tangey View Post
Given mine was £2700, I can't see how it would now be £5K, so it sounds like they are replacing more than is necessary.
The dealer quote is:
Primary final drive unit - £2,900
Secondary final drive unit - £2,300

It's booked into a specialist indie to see if they can be more sensible about what needs to be done.
redxc60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 6th, 2017, 20:37   #6
Clan
Experienced Member
 
Clan's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 01:00
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: L/H side
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by redxc60 View Post
The dealer quote is:
Primary final drive unit - £2,900
Secondary final drive unit - £2,300

It's booked into a specialist indie to see if they can be more sensible about what needs to be done.
what is their explanation for changing both units ? It is like changing the engine and gearbox because there is a vibration somewhere . I explained above how to fix it for a reasonable price ... if you cant do it yourself a gearbox/axle specialist will be able to .
__________________
My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .
Clan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 8th, 2017, 18:31   #7
redxc60
New Member
 

Last Online: Nov 19th, 2023 21:05
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Leeds
Default

The indie has come back to me after 2 road tests and time on the lift. The noise can't be detected on the lift because there's no load through the transmission. They've checked the wheel bearings as well as the AWD transmission.

He has seen failed AWD before but says it needs to be a louder noise to diagnose where it is coming from when the car is on the lift. He also said that he sends problematic AWD boxes to a specialist Haldex chap to get the relevant bearing fixed.

So I've found the right person, but I just need to get some more miles on the car!

I'll phone the dealer to give them a piece of my mind.

Last edited by redxc60; Mar 8th, 2017 at 18:46.
redxc60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 10th, 2017, 22:34   #8
Quacker
Premier Member
 
Quacker's Avatar
 

Last Online: Nov 22nd, 2021 01:53
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: West of Carmarthen
Default

If the oil is original, get it changed. That may be all that's needed. Also make sure that the tread depth is roughly equal on all four wheels. Some tyres drone like crazy at certain speeds as they wear down, especially for the last third of tread, so make sure its none of those.

I haven't read the other thread, so forgive me if that has already been covered.

Last edited by Quacker; Mar 10th, 2017 at 22:37.
Quacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Nov 30th, 2019, 00:03   #9
redxc60
New Member
 

Last Online: Nov 19th, 2023 21:05
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Leeds
Default

Admittedly an old thread, but it's worth posting an update :

@Tannaton got it right about the noise kicking in at 50mph and the sound dropping with reduced power.

I lived rhythm it for about 6 months expecting it to get worse but it then faded away to nothing. Very odd.

Now at 99k and 9 years old this month but refuses to show any signs of age.
redxc60 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to redxc60 For This Useful Post:
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:15.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.