I'm an experienced mechanic with very little exposure to Volvos. I just looked at an '84 245 GL Wagon for sale at a good price, for the condition, except for the noise from the rear end. It's not wheel berings. Although surfing around here leads me to believe the wheel bearings aren't too rugged on these things. It could be the pinion bearings, as the gear noise is intermitent.

Well, I know the wagons had solid axles. I was figuring I could just waltz down to the U-Pull-It and get a rear axle assy., less brakes, for $80-100. And then it hit me thatt you just don't see Volvo wagons basking around the U-Pull-It like Chevy Novas. So I got looking around the internet and found a Volvo wrecker with a "differential" for $200. I figure I better know what I'm in for before I buy this car.

So, is it a Spicer type axle, or a Hotchkis? Is the pinion/bearing assy removable without pulling the ring and spiders, like a Ford 9"? Are there any securing clips on the inside of the rear axles, or can you just unscrew the bearing covers, and pull them out? Does removal of the axle housing from the car (if it's a Spicer), or the differetial assy from the axle housing (if it's a Hotchkis) reguire any special tools? Are all the difs one-leggers, all limited slip, or some of each? Is the 265 the same as the 245, including the gear ratios? Is $200 out of line for a differential? How much would I expect to pay for an axle assy?

Ok, I think I covered everything. :)

Unless it's been allowed to run out of oil, or damaged by impact, I'd say the axles go on forever. Much more likely to be the centre support bearing. They make a whiny or rumbly noise, possibly intermittant, and often varying between drive and over-run. The noise transmits along the shaft so it can easily sound as if it's coming from the back. Ease back the rubber sealing ring on the ball-race and squirt in a few drops of oil - often totally cures it, or at least helps to pinpoint the noise if it reduces it.

Volvo differentials very rarely fail. Are you sure the noise isn't the d-shaft center support bearing? They all whine sooner or later. And it's often a vague, somewhat intermittent howl.

$200 is on the high side for a used diff. Because they so rarely fail, used ones are rarely sold. The boneyards are usually ready to give them away. $100 would be more typical.

Also, very few Volvos have IRS, and NEVER on a 240 (unless maybe it was someone's special project car).
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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

It is my experience that the rear axles give very little problems other than leaking seals (and worn bushings). With so little power int he drivertrain they are overspec'ed. They are easy to pull and 90% of the 240 you find on the yards have good axles. 200 sounds a bit high to me. With a bit of efford you should get one for 80-100.

I can't answer all of your questions. But if you can work on a Dana 30, well, that's essentially what a Volvo axle is.

Marvelous. But don't the 2/4 door sedans have IRS? I could be thinking of similar vintage Peuguets. One of those Eurocars was IRS as a sedan, but solid axle as a wagon.

The later 700 series had IRS on sedans but live axles on wagons... or maybe it was the 900 series.