2000 XC 70 SE 161K Car was in the shop getting an shiny new Flex Plate and Bevel Gear seals. The mechanic said that the bevel gear splines are trashed and gave a quote of $1800 to replace the whole bevel gear assy. I am car savvy, and wondering how easy/hard it is to replace myself. Never done one before. And if I don't replace it, how long can I go before anything else goes wrong, if anything. I don't want to get rid of the car (it's my wife's and she is emotionally attached to it) but at the same time, I don't want to sink too much $ into it. Any help would be great, even if it is a link to a "How To" Thanks

 

Hello, Remove the bevel gear and drive shaft and drive it FWD. Be warned: If the wife speeds due to the extra grip of AWD she'll have to slow it down. Decide if you want to play with new or junkyard parts when you remove the old one. Kira

 

Since the splines are stripped and it is no longer making any noise, is it necessary to remove these parts, or can I run it still assembled without further damage to anything else?

 

Hello, That I do not know. What you might want to do is remove the bevel gear, drive shaft and its center bearing. Go to the Brickboard and look up nadjm's (sp) SUPER post about rebuilding the bevel gear unit. He included a parts list. Then decide what you want to do. Posters complain about the cost of purchasing or repairing the center drive shafts and their bearing so you might want to sell it to someone.