I have a 1998 V70 (non-turbo) with manual transmission and need to replace the right (passenger) side drive shaft. The CV joint boot is leaking and I have driven the car very little for the past 18 months. FCP only has drive shafts for auto transmission cars. I asked them and they said the AT shaft would not fit a MT car.

I think the AT shaft will fit but perhaps is not as strong. The original Volvo MT shaft may have different construction due to higher torque stresses that can be exerted by a manual transmission. Volvo seems to have different part numbers for the AT and MT shafts.

Has anyone personally fitted a right side AT shaft on a MT car ?

Thanks,

Mike

If you still have the original shaft in the car, I would consider having it rebuilt vs replacing with an aftermarket unit. (Of course if you were intending to replace it with a new OE Volvo part, that would be the best option. But be sure to bring money, LOT'S of money.)

I've had good luck with rebuilts from Axles Unlimited. http://axlesunlimitedinc.com/
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Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)

Hi Chris,

The axle shaft is original and I was planning to have Raxles rebuild it. However I would like to obtain an extra axle so I can have the rebuilt one as a spare. We have two 1998 V70s with M56 MT so I expect to be changing out more axles in the future.

Thanks,

Mike

I had thought the auto and MT axles were the same:

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/10744/124198-right-front-axle-assembly-p80-1993-1998-850-s70-v70-c70-fwd

Check the part numbers from above.

A lot of sites say the turbo and NA are different, but they are the same.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Thanks Klaus,

I think the AT drive shaft will fit but possibly it has less robust bearings than the MT shaft. A couple of years ago I found a description of an AT to MT changeover and the guy installed the AT driveshafts into the M56.

I have these axle part numbers from FCP:

M56 Front Left - P/n 8111304
M56 Front Right - P/n 8111303

AT Front Left - P/n 8111309
AT Front Right - P/n 8111310 (this is the part number that IPD references)

Mike

Hi Klaus,

I contacted IPD and they said the same axle shaft fits auto and manual transmission. The axle they sell is new, not rebuilt so I ordered it.

Thanks, Mike