Long Shot - V70 vibration

[Bikerhoss]

1st off, Yes I do own a Volvo, sorry but it's a lot easier than the bike to fit 6 dogs in!

Anyway, I'm at an end to my knowledge, and I haven't sorted a very annoying vibration on the V70. It's an AWD D5 Geartronic, Mark 2, 2004 with 90000 on the clock.
I started getting the vibration at 60mph+/-, Nothing below that, and accelerating to cruising speed lessened it considerably. I couldn't feel the vibes through the steering wheel, or the pedals, and coming on/off the throttle didn't seem to make a difference either.
I plumped for wheel balance, but that didn't sort it (fairly new tyres by the way) Next tried alignment, but nope, not that. Brakes were nearing end of the line, so changed the discs/pads in case one was warped, Not that either. Then I changed the lower wishbone, including bushes & gearbox mounting, Again, no change. Lastly I changed the dampers, but you guessed it, No bloody change, In fact it seems a bit worse now between 55-60mph

So, anyone with a buddy in the automotive trade can give me another guess as to what's ado? I'm running out of pennies and dont want to waste more replacing bits that might not cure the problem. I've looked at a few Volvo forums, but I seemed to have done everything suggested already....
My best next guess was a wheel bearing, but there doesn't seem to be much play, or the usual rumbling noise

PS If anyone else owns a 'Boxy but Good' car, this site is ace for cheaper bits http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/

[simon]

... have you checked the balance on rear wheels.. I thought you only felt vibration when the fronts were out of balance.. until the backs went out.

[Gromit]

What Simon said - our old Citroen C5 estate did the same.

[McBoxer]

Rear wheel balance is a good bet if not already checked - and would explain why you can't feel it through the steering.

Alternatively, you need to try and narrow the source down a bit, as rattles and vibrations are notoriously difficult to trace.

Try driving out with a helper sat in different areas of the car to see if you can at least nail down which corner of the car it's coming from.
If it's only happening at a particular road speed (as opposed to engine speed) it does sound like it must be transmission related, so anything that rotates from the gearbox to the wheels could be the culprit.

I have no experience of Volvo's AWD system, but once the wheel balance is ruled out I would be checking all driveshafts and the propshaft for worn CV joints or UJ's, and anything else that could give you play - like a propshaft centre bearing / bush if they have one. Another thing to look at is signs of missing balance weights on any driveshaft or the propshaft. These are balanced during manufacture, and the ones I've seen (Audi and Land Rover) have stick on weights that potentially could get knocked off and cause a vibration. Not sure how you would get one rebalanced if you did find this, mind! Maybe a replacement from a breakers yard would be easier than trying to get one rebalanced.

Have a look and let us know how you get on.

[slparry]

when I bought my 330Ci it vibrated like a pig at 70 mph, to the point that the passenger seat was bouncing back and to.... I tried balancing, did no good, then my tyre depot guy noticed a huge clod of baked solid mud inside the rear wheel.

Mud removed, smoothness

Oh .... also try getting to speed and coasting, to see if it makes any difference, I'm not sure if the V70 has one of those dual flywheel things but I believe if they start to fail they can cause a lot of vibes.

[el-nicko]

............ but once the wheel balance is ruled out I would be checking all driveshafts and the propshaft for worn CV joints or UJ's, and anything else that could give you play - like a propshaft centre bearing / bush if they have one. ............

Have a look and let us know how you get on.

Wot he sed.

[Bikerhoss]

Def not wheel balance, they've all been checked. Going into neutral doesn't stop it either, which is why I never thought about gearbox problems.
Will have a better look at the drive/prop shafts for any movement or sign of missing balance weights,
Thanks chaps.

[dave the german]

had a similar problem on the truck turned out the prop shaft was slightly twisted (as opposed to me who is both bitter and twisted) - the prop shaft had to be sent to a specialist to get straightened and balanced but the shaft had taken a knock i.e it had fallen off - has this just started? could you have hit something or gone over something which could have hit the prop shaft?

[Bikerhoss]

Vibration's been around for months Dave, not hit anything, just been driving on the same shitty potholed roads as everyone else.
Once I get a moment, will be checking the shafts. If it is that, it'll have to wait until I sell a kidney, still got £300 parts bill to settle
Just as well we've been lucky with the weather in the NE and the S is running faultlessly (oh feck, said it now, I'll probably munch my gearbox now!)

[Dai wiskers]

Engine,gearbox, or running gear mounts, or bushes, if you can get it up on a lift push pull and lever everything you can see, if not try to find someone with a lift (friendly tyre fitter) it will be easier to find problem with no weight on the wheels
Just hope it's not the flywheel Dai

[Gromit]

Just hope it's not the flywheel Dai

Agreed.

If it's the DMF wouldn't it be making a bit of a racket, or certainly rattling?

[slparry]

....Just hope it's not the flywheel Dai

I mentioned that ^ up there .... if it is it's about to get expensive

[Dai wiskers]

Drive shaft bearing,
I'm not sure of the setup but it sounds like play somewhere as I said best way to find it is get it up on a lift

[McBoxer]

....Just hope it's not the flywheel Dai

I mentioned that ^ up there .... if it is it's about to get expensive

I had a look at some of the forums and although the DMF seems to give problems (as it does with many other manufacturers), I don't think the auto has one ("Geartronic" is Volvo speak for Auto, right?)
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=119729

[Gromit]

I had a look at some of the forums and although the DMF seems to give problems (as it does with many other manufacturers), I don't think the auto has one ("Geartronic" is Volvo speak for Auto, right?)
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=119729

Aah - didn't click re the autobox, in which case no it won't have a DMF as the torque converter acts as a damper. One reason why a mechanic friend of ours suggested the next time we buy a diesel car, get an automatic.