Howdy Gang,
We had a lower ball joint come apart on the left side of our 1997 850 AWD wagen with manual transmission.
We had just traveled 1200kms through twisty mountain snow covered passes. Steep drop offs and deep snow.
The road was plowed and good shape except for a few rocks.
We were heading down hill in second gear going slow and just passed the last switchback, I slalomed through some rocks on the road .
Then the ball joint let go I steered the car to the side of the road and thought we had a flat.

It just turned dark so with the flashers on we waited for about 30 minutes before a truck came by. They offered a ride to my wife to get home and call BCAA.
4 hours later a flat deck shows up. Pitch dark now. The operator reached under the front of the car and hooked up the chains.
Too bad he used a hole in the frame behind the oil pan. The car was pretty low or he might have seen the two eyes well ahead of the oil pan.

When we made it to my shop I noticed lots of oil on the deck of the truck.
We off loaded the car using my tractor.
Next morning I lifted the front of the car with the tractor and muscled it into my shop and on to the hoist.
First thing I see is the 4 inch hole in the oil pan and the elongated holes in the frame where the hooks went in.

So after looking it over I start ordering parts. Looking at it I figure to redo the front end
New Lower A arms- inner and outer tie rods for the steering-sway bar arms- and both new drive axles- left brake hose as the one it was stretched pretty good when the wheel went back and the oil pan.

First parts place sent the wrong A arms and wrong drive axles. I sent everything back and took some photo to show them what we needed.
they struck out, so I tried another place they got the A arms correct but sent the wrong axle even after looking at the photos I sent them.

So I'm still trying to find the correct drive axle, the manual transmission must be the problem as most were automatic.

I've been searching the "net" for a axle that matches our right side and see that the 1998 V70 XC looks like ours.
Our right axle is 41 1/4" long compressed and see the V70XC axle is 40 1/2" I'm guessing compressed also.

Anybody happen to have any experience getting a right axle for manual gear box,
Photo show our dirty axle next to the different axles they sent.

thanks for any help
hank

 

thanks for the ebay links
cheers
hank

 

If your axles are genuine Volvo axles, I would just install new boots and keep driving. Those after market axles can wear out faster than old OEM axles.

Thank you for the story, I must say, you may have a future in writing. About 3 lines into your story I got excited and started over, read it aloud to my wife. Sorry to read about your issues while traveling, breaking down is never fun.

Did the suspension give you no warning?

Robert

 

I thought about taking the boots off and cleaning then lubing and installing new boots
But the inner bearing is real noisy
no warning but the ball joint was rusty just something to look forward to here in the rain coast.
I hope I found the correct one today, it is due in a day or so. Third try
Empi Chinese
I installed the new used oil pan and O rings today.
I used a nylon pull cord to stretch and tie the power steering lines to the towing eye
it went on smooth

excellent video
cheers
hank

 

While you're in there and the axle is out you should consider replacing the oil seal at the transmission. If it hasn't been done anytime recently it's good insurance against it starting to leak in the future and having to go in and pull it all apart again.

 

good point Kissa
thanks
hank