Symptoms: Occasional vibration or low rumble, most noticed accelerating slowly. Harshness at most times, like driving over a rough road. Infrequent ticking noise from rear end, most commonly heard when driving next to fence or concrete barrier.

Does this sound like a driveshaft u-joint issue?

If so, is there any way I can determine which size u-joints I need without removing the shaft? I'd prefer to have them on hand, rather than borrowing a car.

Brand recommendations? It appears that the online options run between "way-too-cheap-to-be-any-good" and "you-want-how-much?" Advance Auto lists MOOG for about $25 each.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/31737/nm/1985_1993_Volvo_240_U_Joint/category_id/103

I see dimension in this description (just under the picture).

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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/

I checked there first, Tony, but I keep reading conflicting information about different sized driveshafts, different size ujoints, some driveshafts using three different sizes, some using all the same size, etc. etc.

I guess I will have to remove it and measure a cap to be sure.

Thanks,
Sean

from the RPR parts cat. unfort now out of business.

88-83 Auto trans all three Ujoints are the same
Volvo ref # 1209814

the different sizes were only an issue in the early years of the 240 after 1985 the U joints were all this size....if you have a 5Speed then the front is a Flex Disc and there are only 2 U joints

Your driveshaft is Type 3 2.00 Inches in diameter all were after 85

between 75 and 84 there were 2" and 1.75" driveshafts and a combination of both. 1.75 front, 2.0 rear.

The Center bearing 183265
The Rubber Donut for same 1221635

hello
i may be the exeption but if i needed new u-joints again for a 240 i would find a low mileage JY 240 and just grab the driveshafts.
bad experience with the 240 u joint install a cople times and its a rare day when i cant fix something mechanical.
good luck
Mike

Perfect! That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Thanks, CB!

I think that it was an issue during some Transistion years. By '93 I believe you can trust the catalogs.

The Rear 'U' jopint seems to be the culprit before the others.
It's probably worth disconnecting the shaft from the rear and simply see if that Joint is stiff, binding or loss and sloppy.
For what it's worth...I have never needed to do a 'U' joint on my '89.. but at about 250K miles my Center support bearing was squeaking on cold mornings.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/

Thanks for the observations, Tony. I might not need U-joints either, but if I'm pulling the driveshaft to inspect, I'd rather have new bearings on hand. I dont know whats causing the harshness and noises I've been hearing, but it is unsettling and annoying; gotta try something. I'm going to replace the center support bearing as well.

I have been on a spending kick lately, paying my dues for years of trouble free service and hard use. I hope after I sort out this last nuisance, I can enjoy a few more years without repairs.

http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/driveshaft_support_bearing_and_flex_coupling_v2.htm

not sure if youv'e done a center bearing before but... This might help.. This is from my car with a M47 Manual trani... the lower section of the little write up might help.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/

It is probably either u-joints or the driveshaft support bearing - could be something else, but I don't know what. I'm not sure if there's a flex-disc on a 93 (manual trans only) or if it could be an issue.

As for brands, federal is pretty reputable, and I got mine for $8 each at rockauto.com. You can order them by the size of the driveshaft - measure the outside diameter of the shaft itself.

My tires will tick if I pick up a rock, but I only hear it when I drive next to a fence.


To check and see if the driveshaft support bearing is bad, you can add some low-weight oil to it, but be warned that it will attract dirt if it's detergent oil, and that it is a pretty temporary fix.

Good Luck!