Hello fellows,

I've got some outer CV boot kits on the way in the mail from FCP.

I'm going to tackle the job sometime next week. I had to get new rack boots, so I thought I might was well get the outer CV boots, which were looking worn and ready to rip in one of the 'valleys' of the accordion.

My question is about the circlip that holds the joint onto the shaft.

My Haynes manual says I need a new circlip for when I go to put the joint back onto the shaft.

Is this totally necessary?
What are the implications of not putting a new clip in?
Where can I buy a clip like that? I don't know where to get a new one...
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1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

I have one rule of thumb that I use all the time.
If at ant broke, don't fix it !

I have a 96 850 and a couple of years ago, one of my boots split. My CV joints were good so I ordered boots. The next time my boots split, I will run them until the CV fails and replace the complete axle. It was quite a job to take apart the CV joints and get them back with all the needles back in place. For me, the price of the new shafts vs boots and labor to install was not worth it on the 850. My 2 cents.

When you take apart the joints, make sure you have a very clean area. If a needle bearing falls out, you will be able to find it easy. On the 850's, the use of a press really helped. The vice and hammer was why I kept dropping needles.

Good luck and as one of the other post said "patience" take your time.

Keith
96 850 Wagon 330K - it's part of the family now.
2001 V70 T5 120K - still not broken in!

I see no reason to bother with a new circlip. Be prepared, it's a bear of a job getting that clip free. Helps to have a third or fourth hand.

The CV boots I got from FCPGroton were the wrong size. Check them before you take everything apart. I was able to get the outer one on, but had to stretch it pretty good. That was probably a contributing factor to why it failed only 1.5 years later. It had cracks all along the circumference and was ripping at both seams.

At 190K they are due to go but my advice is to leave the boots until they actually break. The grease that gets slung makes a mess of the wheel but the axles are robust and will be fine for a time before you can replace them.

-Will
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854 - 244 - Mini

That's excellent to hear that a new one is not likely required.

I just double checked the kit I bought from FCP and it looks like it actually comes with a new clip (I missed that the first time I looked somehow...), so I've got a new one coming if I need to use it. I guess if I've got a new one sitting right there I'll use it.

Also thanks for the advice on how hard it is to get that clip off.
Is there a special tool that will make this easier?
Snap-ring pliers?
My Haynes suggests using a flat head screw driver... This had me worried about bending it out of shape and ruining it, meaning I would NEED a new one.

The reason I decided I'd do them now is because I'm replacing the wheel bearings, so I have to take the CV out of the wheel hub anyway, so I figured I might as well order the boot kits too - only $15/side. I had forgotten, until after I ordered, about having to take the joint off the shaft to get the new boot on.

If I wasn't taking the CV out anyway I'd probably heed your advice and wait until I had a real honest to goodness failure in the boot and then get a new driveshaft, but I have this feeling that I can prolong the life of my CV shaft/joints by redoing the boot/grease at this time and maybe get away with more miles before I have to replace the shafts themselves.

I guess it will really come down to the size/shape of the boots as to whether I just do it now or wait for a failure.
In what way did yours not fit?
In what dimensions were they too small?
How will I be able to tell before I get it all apart?

Thanks again for your advice.

-Joel



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1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

To get the cv/sraft apart I think I ended up with the axle in a vise, one hand holding the boot back, one on the snap ring pliers, and one with a flat blade screwdriver to pry the clip up once sprung open. All that grease doesn't help either. Takes patience is all.

The boots I got were both too small, both inner (shaft) and outer (CV splined) ends. I was only just able to get the larger of the two onto the smaller outer joint. The difference was obvious. FWIW I was working with a manual transmission 850. No one lists different part numbers for auto and manual, but maybe they are different? It was probably a misalignment of the moons that caused me to end up with the wrong stuff. I have little doubt you'll have better luck.

I'm guessing Volvo designed those CVs for the life of the vehicle. I have replacements on mine at 180K, but for bad rubber boots, not worn and clicking CVs. You might check the ball bearing on the right side intermediate shaft. On mine the original was a bit "crunchy" when I replaced the shaft.

-Will
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854 - 244 - Mini

I just got my boot kits yesterday, and guess what:

- no circlip
- the boots are too small

I'm trying to contact FCP about it right now to see what's up and if I should be concerned or if I should, like Will, stretch the hell out of it until it fits.

I'll report back when I have more information.

As a side note:

my car: 1998 V70 AWD
Front driveshaft diameter: 28mm
new boot small/driveshaft end inner diameter: 24mm
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1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

Excellent reply Will - quality information.

FWIW, FCP does currently list different boot kits for the 1998 V70. A different one for turbo, another for non turbo, and a third for manual with turbo. Hopefully I get the right one I guess.
http://www.fcpgroton.com/category-exec/category_id/285/nm/CV_Boot_Kits/sub_top_menu_item/by_make-by_model-by_year/by_make/78/by_model/1464/by_year/48

It would be nice (for me) if the CVs are designed to go the distance. I'm hoping to avoid future trouble by doing this now rather than in 6 months/a year - it would suck if I ended up replacing the CVs in 2/3 years anyway...
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1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

PS - I just realized that my last post kind of leaves the impression that there's something wrong with my CVs and I'm trying to squeeze more miles out of them before it gets too bad. This is not the case - I have no indication that the CVs are bad at all. Also they could be original for all I know.
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1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+