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Our 98-XC now has a little less than 70K on it, and has had many trips to the dealer because of driveline vibration issues. The symptoms have always been the same since it had about 30K on it, vibration is greatest at about 64mph, but it comes and goes (every couple of minutes it goes from worst to no vibration when driving on a straight road, but as quickly as every 15 seconds or so when in a curve). Replacement of the front bevel gear (warranty) did nothing, but replacement of the drive shaft (warranty, just before the warranty expired) seemed to cure the problem. The tech who did the work said that the vibration completely disappeared with the driveshaft out.
The car has had routine Volvo service, tires rotated, etc. since we bought it new at the end of the model year, and has been carefully used primarily by my wife, and not abused.
Now, about 20k later, it has a whistling noise coming from underneath, about the center of the car, has been diagnosed as a dry center bearing, with the path to repair being to again replace the driveshaft, as the bearing is (I think) not serviceable individually from Volvo.
I am not keen on spending $500+ to buy another Volvo shaft & bearing, when the demonstrated service life of this apparently unfortunate design has been so short.
I am aware that the driveshaft can be removed and the card converted to fwd, but I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with an aftermarket specialist who can replace the bearing, hopefully with something which will stand up.
Thanks for any and all input,
Hank
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