I have a 2005 V70 non turbo with automatic transmission. My front right Axle Shaft inner CV boot has a small split and is leaking grease. I am planning on doing the job myself, but after watching some U-Tube videos of the process it appears to be easier to just replace the whole axle.

The axles appear to be working smoothly at this time but the car has 192,000 miles on it. I bought this car used and don’t know if these are the original axles or not, but If I had to guess I would say that they are original.

Has anyone had a good or bad experience using the rebuilt front axle shafts from FCPeuro.com they are rebuilt by a company called USA Industries and only cost $75 each after returning the used core to them?

Or does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably priced replacement axle that they like?

 

My Resolution: I found out I had original Volvo axles in my car so I decided to just replace the boot. The sticker said the axle was manufactured by GKN so I went to GermanAutoparts and ordered the boot made by GKN. It arrived and appears to be a high quality product, just as thick as the O.E. boot. And costs half as much as the Volvo O.E. (but the GKN boot does not come with the axle bolt)
When the axle does finally go bad I will take my axles out and take them to a reputable re-manufacture here in my area, then put the same axles back in the car, because the O.E. axle are so much better than any Chinese maid stuff.

 

I think you went the right way on your repair. I've had mixed luck with aftermarket CV axles in the past (though I've never replaced an axle on a Volvo, which has a very different design than the ball-in-groove designs I've seen before). On the Jetta I did, I went through two Autozone "new" axles which lasted only a couple thousand road miles each. As long as you replaced the boot before the CV joint got contaminated, there should be no problems.

I'd guess that rebuilding the Volvo axles would be a pretty safe option, given the design (since they don't rely on very tight tolerances between ball bearings and the "slot" they ride in, but use a bearing inside the little "donut" inside the CV joint). It seems that if you replaced just those three "donut bearings" you'd have essentially a brand new axle again.

 

I've actually got a left side axle for my '01 V70 i've been meaning to install. I bought an aftermarket knowing it was a gamble, but the results seem to be some work and some don't. Volvo replacement axles are $$$, so it's always best to put new boots on your original volvo axles if you can. Before I purchased mine, I called a company out of Florida (forget the name) that gets rave reviews on the VW sites. If I remember correctly I was speaking to the owner. I told him what Volvo charged for new axles and explained the he could make a lot of money if he charged 1/2 the price for rebuilds. He said that the reason his quality is so good is that he actually replaces the CV contact surfaces with new parts. Most rebuilders just clean them up or may even use a die grinder (ahhh). For the '98 up Volvos, they used a variety of CV joints and he would have to buy a whole shipping container of them he would never use. That's why when you get an aftermarket new, they are of a different design then the original.

So bottom line is this: If you are getting an aftermarket, get new not rebuilt. I picked up a new Surtrack brand left axle for $63.

 

I'll need to replace my driver side at some point. I wonder if there is a reputable rebuilder in the central Ohio area I can send the axles for rebuild. Anyone have any experience with this and proffer a rebuilder?

 

bump ^

 

My guess would be NO. Most guys ship their axles to www.Raxles.com in FL to have them rebuilt.

If you have split boots, and the axles are in good shape, just replace the biits before the axles go bad from not being protected. I changed the boots on my daughters S70 over a year ago and hers are still doing good.

 

I contacted Raxles and received a response staying they do not rebuild as per my request (04 v70). Guess I'll have to buy brand new ones...