YOU TOO can make Volvo ownership affordable!

Driveshaft center bearing- Lesson #1
The support bearing on the driveshaft assembly started making noise at 75k miles. Now, I replaced the bearing on the drive shaft earlier for $43 by taking the drive shaft assembly to a driveline shop. They replaced the bearing. Volvo wanted $1700 for the driveshaft assembly new or I was quoted $800 for a remanufactured assembly.

Viscous coupler support bearing- Lesson #2
Well, I have finally found my second whirring/grinding noise on my 1998 v70 awd with 127K miles. It was the bearing which supports the viscous coupler, just ahead of the differential. The dealer quoted me $616 for the replacement assembly to replace the bearing supporting the viscous coupler. No, none of the prices from dealers include labor. Right now my viscous coupler support piece is having a new bearing pressed into it. Might cost me $70. I'll report back later today. If they break it or something, I will have a two wheel drive volvo. Not a bad idea afterall.

IN General. . .
What you need to remember is these are wear parts. All of your bearings will wear out, each and everyone of you will have these problems if you have the car long enough and drive far enough. You can't wear them out by pressing on the gas pedal harder or taking corners too fast, they support relatively light pieces and all they do is spin, no torque is felt by these parts, they just sit and spin. It should not cost $616 to replace a part which costs maybe $25. You is bein' takin' for a ride, and it ain't by your volvo. I will look into posting the process of replacing the viscous coupler bearing on Bay 13. The driveline bearing replacement process is part of the same.

The great volvo car corporate assumption "owners are smart enough to make the money to buy a volvo, but too dumb to fix'em"


Good luck Volvo AWD owners, remember to change your auto transimisison fluid every 20k miles, keep all four tire circumferences the same, change rear brake pads twice as often as fronts if you use volvo pads, and if you have a bit of gumption, never take it to a dealer for repair.

Disclaimer- For those are not offended by having a bearing wear out and being charged $600 or $1000 to replace it, I am sorry. For those who are offended by me saying that volvo is doing this on purpose to take money from volvo owners (who thought they paid a lot of money for engineering and manufacturing that wouldn't cost a lot to maintain)I'm truly sorry (I'm in this group). For those of you who think I'm full of hooey and would rather take their car to a dealer to pay the price for these simple repairs, more power to you. And if you are offended, insulted or enlightened by anything I have implied or written, you have the right to make up your own mind, find out for yourself and either belive or don't believe a word of this and go on your merry way.