0 Volvo 1968-74 Drive Axles Repair Guide

Models Covered:

• 120 Series (1968)
• 140 Series (1968-74)
• 164 Models (1969-74)
• 1800 Series (1968-73)

DESCRIPTION

All rear axles are hypoid design with centerline of pinion set below centerline of ring gear. Semi-floating axle shafts are retained in housing by ball bearings and a bearing retainer at axle housing by ball bearings and a bearing retainer at axle housing outer ends. On 1968-69 120, 140 and 1800 series models, bearing clearance is not adjustable. On all other models, bearing clearance is not adjustable and is determined by the construction of the bearing. All adjustments are performed using shims.

AXLE RATIO & IDENTIFICATION

1968-70 Models - A plate on lower part of inspection cover shows number of teeth and axle ratio of final drive.

1971-74 - A plate on left side of rear axle housing gives axle ratio, part number and serial number of final drive.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

AXLE SHAFTS AND BEARINGS

1968 120 Series - 1) With vehicle raised and rear wheels removed, pull off wheel hub. Place wood block under brake pedal and remove brake line from backing plate. Use suitable puller to remove brake backing plate. Pull out axle shaft using suitable puller . Pull out oil seal and press bearing off axle shaft.

2) Press new bearing onto axle shaft and install new oil seal using suitable driver. Make sure is correctly located. Install axle shaft, shims and brake backing plate with a new felt washer. Check axle shaft end play. If not to specifications, reshim to obtain specified end play. Replace draw key if removed and install hub and wheel. Reconnect brake line, bleed and adjust brakes.

1968-69 140 & 1800 Series - 1) With vehicle raised and rear wheels removed, disconnect brake pipe from brake unit. Remove brake caliper and disc, then remove return spring for brake shoes and remove shoes. Disconnect handbrake cable from bracket and lever. Remove lever and cable. Loosen bolts for brake backing plate and brake shoe retainer. These are loosened through holes in drive shaft flange. Turn brake backing plate backwards so that handbrake bracket goes free from flange on casing. Pull out axle shaft using a suitable puller.

2) Secure axle shaft in a vise so that recess in brake backing plate is facing rear jaw of vise. Drill a 1/4" (6 mm) hole in lock ring taking care not to drill through ring into shaft. Split the ring with a chisel taking care not to damage the bearing. Loosen shaft from vise and remove ring. Using a suitable puller, remove bearing from axle. Drive out oil seal using a suitable seal driver. Clean and check all parts, especially make sure no cuttings from drilling remain as these could damage bearing.

3) Drive new oil seal in brake shoe retainer with suitable drive. Press bearing and locking ring onto axle shaft using press and suitable support tools. Pull out inner oil seal from axle housing using a suitable puller. Drive in new inner seal ring with a suitable drift. Pack bearing well with grease and then install axle shaft, brake backing plate and brake shoe retainers. Fill entire space between seals with grease. Check that axle end play is to specifications by first pressing out outer rings from bearings with help of impact hammer. Adjust if necessary by means of adjusting nut at left side. Lock adjusting nut with suitable tab.

4) Install handbrake lever, brake shoes, spring, adjusting device, and cable. Install brake disc and caliper. Bleed out adjust brakes. Install road wheels and lower vehicle.

All Other Models - 1) With vehicle raised and wheels removed, disconnect brake line from caliper. Loosen bolts for brake disc and caliper, remove disc and caliper. Loosen bolts for thrust washer through holes in axle flange. Pull out axle shaft using a suitable puller. Pull out inner sealing ring with a puller or by prying out with screwdriver.

2) Press bearing and lock ring off axle shaft using suitable tools. Remove oil seal. Fill space between new seal lips with grease, then install seal on axle shaft. Install bearing and new lock ring and insure that bearing is installed with taper away from axle flange.

3) Use a suitable seal installing tool and install inner seal ring. Fill bearing with good quality grease. Also fill space between seals and between seal lips with grease. Install axle shaft and tighten thrust washer bolts. Install brake disc and caliper, reconnect brake line, bleed and adjust brakes. Install road wheels and lower vehicle.

PINION FLANGE AND SEAL

1) Disconnect rear section of propeller shaft from pinion flange. Check for looseness of pinion in its bearing. If it is loose, this must be remedied before a new oil seal is installed. Remove nut from flange using suitable flange holding tool. Pull off flange using suitable puller. Pull out old oil seal.

2) Coat seal lips of new ring with grease. Also lubricate the spring coil so it does not jump off during installation. Install oil seal using suitable seal installing tool. Press on flange using suitable pressing tool. Install flange washer and nut and tighten. Reconnect propeller shaft.

AXLE ASSEMBLY

1) With rear of vehicle raise and supported and wheel removed, support rear axle with suitable jack and holding fixture. Remove upper attaching bolts for shock absorber and parking brake cables from levers and brakets on brake backing plate. Remove propeller shaft from pinion flange and remove brake pipe union from rear axle housing.

2) Loosen front attaching bolts for trailing arms approximately one turn. Remove rear bolts for support rods. Disconnect Panhard rod from bracket on rear axle housing and remove lower attaching bolts for spring. Lower jack until trailing arms release from spring. Loosen bolts holding until trailing arms release from spring. Loosen bolts holding rear axle housing to trailing arms. Lower jack and pull rear axle forward.

3) To install, move axle under vehicle and install bolts for support arms and torque rod. Raise jack until Panhard rod can be installed. Install attaching bolts for spring and tighten nuts for support rods and trailing arms. Install bracket, union and brake hoses. Reconnect propeller shaft to pinion flange. Install upper bolt for shock absorbers and reconnect parking brake cable. Adjust parking brake and bleed brakes. Install wheels and lower vehicle.

OVERHAUL

DISASSEMBLY

ZERO SETTING INDICATOR

1) Place axle assembly in suitable holding fixture with pinion flange pointing downward. Remove brake lines and axle shafts. Remove inspection cover. If final drive is being reconditioned because of noise, run a tooth contact pattern check before disassembly as this may assist in locating fault.

2) Check alignment markings on bearing caps and carrier. If there are no markings, or if they are difficult to see, mark one side with a punch. Remove cap. Using a suitable case stretching tool, lift out carrier with ring gear. Turn final drive over and drain oil. Remove pinion flange and press out pinion. Remove pinion fornt bearing, washer and oil seal with a suitable driver.

3) If necessary, drive out rear pinion bearing from case using a suitable drift. Clean axle case gasket surface and remove any burrs present. If necessary, pull off rear bearing from pinion using a suitable puller. Pull off differential carrier bearing with suitable puller and retain shims. Remove lock plate for ring gear bolts, remove bolts and ring gear. Drive out lock pin securing differential gear shafts and remove shaft, gears and thrust washers.

INSPECTION

PINION DEPTH MEASURING TOOL

Inspect all parts for wear or damage. Also install differential gear into carrier together with shaft and thrust washers. Use no lubricant. Now, check play of differential side gears. If play exceeds specifications when gears have been rotated to maximum play, replace thrust washers with thicker ones.

REASSEMBLY & ADJUSTMENT

Case Assembly - Place differential side gears together with thrust washers in differential carrier. "Roll" in both side pinions simultaneously with dished thrust washers, then drive in shaft. Install ring gear, making sure that contact surfaces are clean and without any burrs. Install new ring gear bolts and tighten.

Drive Pinion Depth & Bearing Preload - 1) Clean marking surface on pinion with very fine emery cloth. Install adjusting ring (tool 2685 on 140 & 1800 series or 2840 on 164 models) and tool (2841) on pinion and place in axle housing. Secure adjusting ring by screwing out lock screw on 164 models.

MEASURING PINION DEPTH

2) The pinion should have a certain nominal measurement to the center line of the ring gear. Due to manufacturing tolerances, there are deviations from this nominal measurement. On rear axle made by Volvo, the deviation is always positive and is indicated in hundredths of a millimeter. The plus sign is excluded. On other rear axles, the deviation is indicated in thousandths of an inch and with a plus or minus sign. If a plus sign is indicated, the nominal measurement is to be increased and vise versa.

3) Place pinion gauge (2393) on ground surface of pinion and adjustin jig (2393) in differential bearing positions. Place dial indicator retainer (2284) with dial indicator on gasket face of axle housing with dial indicator touching adjusting ring. Zero dial indicator. Now move indicator over until it touches pinion gauge. If the pinion is, for example, marked 33, the pinion gauge should lie .33 mm (.013") under adjusting fixture. NOTE - If the axle is not made by Volvo and pinion figure is marked minus, then pinion gauge should be higher than adjusting fixture. The setting adjusted by turning cam on pinion until dial indicator shows correct value, then lock adjusting ring with set screw.

DETERMINING SHIM THICKNESS

4) Remove measuring tool and pinion. Place complete rear pinion bearing with outer ring in measuring fixture (tool (2600). Put on plate, spring and nut with flat side of nut facing up. Rotate plate and bearing several times so that rollers take up correct set. Place adjusting ring in retainer (tool 2284) and dial indicator opposite adjusting ring, zero indicator. Set pointer of indicator to outer ring of bearing. The indicator will now  show directly the thickness the shims should have. Measure shims for correct thickness with micrometer. Since it is unlikely to find a shim with the exact thickness required, shim may be .0012" (.03 mm) thicker or .002" (.05 mm) thinner than measured value.

5) Press rear bearing on pinion with suitable sleeve. The washer under rear bearing inner ring on a Volvo rear axle must NOT be installed when overhauling. Place measured shims in axle housing and press in both outer rings of bearings using suitable tool. Insert pinion in housing and install three .03" (.75 mm) thick shims and front pinion bearing. Pull pinion into housing using suitable tools. Install washer and nut on pinion shaft and tighten to 200-220 ft. lbs. (28-30 mkg).

6) Install pinion gauge and dial indicator retainer. Pull down pinion while rotating it backwards and forwards. Set dial indicator to zero. Press pinion upwards while rotating it forwards and backwards. Dial indicator will read clearance. Remove pinion and remove shims corresponding to the measured clearance plus .003" (.07 mm). Reinstall pinion. Now use torque gauge to check pinion bearing torque. Adjust shim thickness if required to obtain specified torque. Recheck pinion depth using measuring tools as described in step 3.

Backlash & Side Bearing Preload - 1) Lubricate inside adjustment rings (tool 2595) and install them on differential carrier. Ring with black oxidized adjustment ring should be placed on ring gear side. Aslo lubricate bearing bores in carrier. Install carrier and adjustment rings in axle housing.

2) Use dial indicator and adjust rings so that specified backlash is obtained. Backlash may vary within backlash range but get as close to specified backlash as possible. Perform a contact patter test on unit. Adjust pinion depth as necessary to obtain correct pattern. Remove carrier and adjusting ring. Place adjusting ring and bearing into measurement fixture with flat side of nut facing downwards. Rotate plate several times. Install dial indicator and retainer (tool 2284) and zero indicator on adjusting ring. Place measuring point of indicator facing bearing and read off indicator.

3) Use a micrometer to form a shim pack equal in thickness to clearance indicated by dial indicator plus .003" (.07 mm). Place shims together with measured bearing to one side. Repeat this procedure with the other bearing. Install shims on differential carrier, making sure which side respective bearing and shims are installed on, and press on bearings using suitable drift. When installing second bearing, use suitable support so as not to damage first bearing.

4) Install tool (2394) on pinion carrier and expand tool until pins are flush against hole edges in carrier, then tighten screws an additional 3-3 1/2 turns. Install pinion oil seal and flange, and inspection cover and gasket. If inner oil seals for axle shafts were removed, drive then in with suitable tool. Reinstall axle shafts and adjust end play if necessary. Install brake discs, caliper and brake pipes. Bleed and adjust brakes.

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