AW71 Tailshaft bushing issues

dok33 · 08-18-2011, 07:26 PM

I just replaced the tailshaft bushing in my '88 240 (has an aw71 swapped in) because it was leaking and I was getting a howling/grinding noise on decel or when coasting in neutral. Unfortunately while it did fix the leak I'm still getting the noise. There is still also some play in the tailshaft, any ideas on this?

The only thing I can think of is that the tailshaft housing is fubared. I have the old AW70 and the output on it is nice and tight so I may just swap over the housing and flange and see what that does, was just hoping to get some other opinions before I exert the effort to pull the housing again...

vlvman · 08-18-2011, 07:30 PM

Maybe the noise is coming from the driveshaft or the rear end.

linuxman51 · 08-18-2011, 07:37 PM

could be coming from the back of the trans too. swapping the housing from the 70 will either confirm or deny this. might want to replace the bushing and seal before installing it.

dok33 · 08-18-2011, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the quick reply!

I checked all of the ujoints, no play in the center support or pinion and I changed the diff fluid and it looked ok but I guess a wheel bearing or carrier/pinion bearing could be going. The thing that's pointing me to the tailshaft bushing/housing is that it still has some play in it even with the new bushing and the old trans has none at all...

dok33 · 08-18-2011, 09:27 PM

Another though, I noticed when i swapped the trans that there were ~3/8" spacers between the trans crossmember and frame. I replaced all of the mounts and am wondering if those were possibly put in to correct some driveline vibration due to bad mounts by the previous owner and might be causing the issue I'm having now. It's been a while since I had a 240 but I don't remember seeing something like that before...

linuxman51 · 08-18-2011, 09:48 PM

some 240's have them, some don't. It's probably more of a driveshaft initial angle thing than compensation for worn mounts.

johfraser · 08-19-2011, 01:46 AM

Put the rear axel up on jack stands. Start it up, put it in gear and try to reproduce the noise. If you can, get someone to listen outside the car and try to locate the source.

dok33 · 08-21-2011, 01:32 PM

Ended up being the output flange, had a worn section on it that allowed it to bounce around and tear up the new bushing. I swapped the output flange and housing from the AW70 and it's all good now. Thanks for all the input!

powerstroke4you · 08-24-2011, 02:12 AM

I think rockauto has a replacement sleve for a worn out tail bushing ? save all used parts/ never thow away any thing ask me how I know

photoman327 · 08-26-2011, 07:33 PM

I had a issue with worn rear control arm bushing bad causing the pinion angle to change on my lowered 87 240. Bushing are also bad on my 91 that is not lowered and I hear the same noise, just have not had time to change them.

08-18-2011, 07:26 PM	#1
dok33 Board Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX	AW71 Tailshaft bushing issues I just replaced the tailshaft bushing in my '88 240 (has an aw71 swapped in) because it was leaking and I was getting a howling/grinding noise on decel or when coasting in neutral. Unfortunately while it did fix the leak I'm still getting the noise. There is still also some play in the tailshaft, any ideas on this? The only thing I can think of is that the tailshaft housing is fubared. I have the old AW70 and the output on it is nice and tight so I may just swap over the housing and flange and see what that does, was just hoping to get some other opinions before I exert the effort to pull the housing again... __________________ Current: -'67 122s -'88 244DL -'90 740 Wagon -'89 Toyota Supra -'87 Toyota 4-Runner Previous-'86 245, '84 244Ti, '87 760Ti, '88 744Ti, '94 940Ti Cardomain Site

08-18-2011, 07:30 PM	#2
vlvman Board Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Jefferson City, MO	Maybe the noise is coming from the driveshaft or the rear end. __________________ Robert http://www.volvowiringdiagrams.com/ 82 244DL, 2004 S60R AWD, 2008 S40 GF's Had: 77 242 DL, 80 242 DL, 82 245 DL, 89 740 GL, 94 850T, 95 850 GL, and a 02 S60 2.4T

08-18-2011, 07:37 PM	#3
linuxman51 BRANDSCHUTZVORSCHRIFTEN! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: mont, AL	could be coming from the back of the trans too. swapping the housing from the 70 will either confirm or deny this. might want to replace the bushing and seal before installing it. __________________ "They bum rushed them in their own crib, they drank all their beer, they partied with their ladies and they left with the trophy" Now with in-house Dyno tuning! Megasquirt Tuning!

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08-18-2011, 07:39 PM	#4
dok33 Board Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX	Thanks for the quick reply! I checked all of the ujoints, no play in the center support or pinion and I changed the diff fluid and it looked ok but I guess a wheel bearing or carrier/pinion bearing could be going. The thing that's pointing me to the tailshaft bushing/housing is that it still has some play in it even with the new bushing and the old trans has none at all...

08-18-2011, 09:27 PM	#5
dok33 Board Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX	Another though, I noticed when i swapped the trans that there were ~3/8" spacers between the trans crossmember and frame. I replaced all of the mounts and am wondering if those were possibly put in to correct some driveline vibration due to bad mounts by the previous owner and might be causing the issue I'm having now. It's been a while since I had a 240 but I don't remember seeing something like that before...

08-18-2011, 09:48 PM	#6
linuxman51 BRANDSCHUTZVORSCHRIFTEN! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: mont, AL	some 240's have them, some don't. It's probably more of a driveshaft initial angle thing than compensation for worn mounts.

08-19-2011, 01:46 AM	#7
johfraser Board Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Francisco	Put the rear axel up on jack stands. Start it up, put it in gear and try to reproduce the noise. If you can, get someone to listen outside the car and try to locate the source.

08-21-2011, 01:32 PM	#8
dok33 Board Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX	Ended up being the output flange, had a worn section on it that allowed it to bounce around and tear up the new bushing. I swapped the output flange and housing from the AW70 and it's all good now. Thanks for all the input!

08-24-2011, 02:12 AM	#9
powerstroke4you Board Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: saint louis	I think rockauto has a replacement sleve for a worn out tail bushing ? save all used parts/ never thow away any thing ask me how I know

08-26-2011, 07:33 PM	#10
photoman327 Board Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Alabama	I had a issue with worn rear control arm bushing bad causing the pinion angle to change on my lowered 87 240. Bushing are also bad on my 91 that is not lowered and I hear the same noise, just have not had time to change them.