P80 AWD Volvo into FWD?

"Carl (@stuffcarlsays)" (carllevine)
10/27/2014 at 12:40 • Filed to: lolvo, volvo, wrong wheel drive

Looking at a 1999 V70 XC to join the stable. Current owner claims that his mechanic had decided to remove the driveshaft to the rear end, thus rendering the AWD useless. Any oppos out there riding around in a similarly neutered XC/V/S70 - any negative collateral effects by running in FWD?

DISCUSSION (10)

505Turbeaux > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:46

I have heard of this happening. I would venture to suggest the rear diff or likely the mounts are fucked up, which is why they pulled the shaft. Ok to drive as is, but these things are so damn cheap anyways I would just find an example with it working.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:46

Tell me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a single propshaft be under a lot of stress when the system is built to use two?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:46

Depends on the center diff setup. Possibly some damage to that. The rear axle would be fine, though, just like an old-school part-time 4wd with no locking hubs.

EL_ULY > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:47

There is a S70 AWD that comes to my shop without the drive shaft going to the rear. This makes it only FWD. Not to sure about removing the rear drive assembly but removing the drive shaft going back there shouldn't harm anything

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
10/27/2014 at 12:51

It depends. If there's any kind of torque-weighting present, that would color the answer. If the front drive has a permanent torque split of, say, 60%, maybe so, but if the system is designed to put up to 100% of the torque forward in some circumstances, or is adapted from a FWD only system, it'd be fine. Regardless, a propshaft is usually overdesigned enough it wouldn't really come up.

HammerheadFistpunch > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:52

99 looks like a VC unit. Its toast.

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > 505Turbeaux
10/27/2014 at 12:52

I could care less about there being AWD or not - been happily driving FWD cars since the 90s... and lusting for RWD.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:54

2000 V70R owner here. Mine actually didnt have the shaft attached at first. Drove fine. Actually got much better MPG because of it. Car isn't affected at all

Gamecat235 > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:55

My parents have a mid-90's Legacy wagon which is FWD only for similar reasons. No issues with ownership or maintenance yet (5 - 6 years of ownership).

505Turbeaux > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/27/2014 at 12:55

yeah, best thing to do would be to put the DS back in to take it for a spin. Would hate to have to replace a rear diff you arent going to use. V70 GLT lpt from that age is a much more solid car, and not prone to the same tranny problems with the solenoids as the AWD ones were