Grease/Sludge around rear inner axle boot

[basti92]

Hi all,

Thursday next week we're going to do a 5000 kilometer road trip from Germany to Norway in my 2017 V60 CC D4 AWD.

I inspected the car from below yesterday and found some greasy fluid on the right rear inner axle boot (near the diff) and also on the fuel filter housing next to it. First I thought it might be just road sludge, but it's too greasy for that, so I'm thinking this must be grease from the inner boot?

However I cannot find any leak, maybe it's too small to see for me. I cleaned it all up and drove 40 kilometers, then looked under the car again. No new grease (or very very little that I forgot to clean up).

I realize that there is no way to change the boot itself, so if there's a hole in it the whole axle needs to be replaced.

But this won't happen till next week and I'm looking for a temporary solution that minimizes more grease getting out. Of course I have to see where the grease is coming out first.

If I will find it: is there any short term fix to prevent further leakage?
Also is it safe to drive such a long distance with this? What's the worst that could happen from a safety point of view? A sudden loss of power? Or would that only be the case if it would be the front CV's.

Thanks and kind regards from Germany!

[GrahamBrown1]

Certainly looks like CV joint grease. You can replace just the boot, no need to replace the entire axle but it will need to be removed from the car.

From the pictures it looks like the boot will have a small split or hole. As the grease warms up it will find it easier to get out. If you left it you may start to hear noise from it especially on undulating roads but it is not subject to the same movement as the front axles obviously. The grease would need to have mostly gone and the joint would wear. If the hole got to any significant size then road dirt would just exaggerate the wear.

If you’re worried just get the boot changed. Not a major job.

[basti92]

Originally Posted by GrahamBrown1

Certainly looks like CV joint grease. You can replace just the boot.

Got an appointment at the Volvo dealer on Monday and they will have a look. Thanks.

Are you sure you can just replace the boot? I think I read somewhere that this only works for the front axles.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by basti92

Got an appointment at the Volvo dealer on Monday and they will have a look. Thanks.

Are you sure you can just replace the boot? I think I read somewhere that this only works for the front axles.

I think its possible. Not sure if a main dealer would do it though. They'd probably replace the whole axle, which won't be cheap. Hopefully they will just replace the boot, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[basti92]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I think its possible. Not sure if a main dealer would do it though. They'd probably replace the whole axle, which won't be cheap. Hopefully they will just replace the boot, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

You're right. I called them if they can change just the boot, they declined.
However they have a new axle ready for Monday and they can fit it in time for our vacation.
That will probably cost me more than 1000€, but at least I can stop worrying.

All the other workshops I called couldn't give me an appointment in time. If time wouldn't be a factor I'd even do it myself, enough youtube videos out there.

[Kev0607]

I would have left it until you returned from vacation. No way I'd replace the whole axle just for the sake of a cheap rubber boot. The split is basically a pinhole... its not that bad.

[basti92]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I would have left it until you returned from vacation. No way I'd replace the whole axle just for the sake of a cheap rubber boot. The split is basically a pinhole... its not that bad.

I might still do that depending on what they tell me at the dealer on Monday. They said if I don't need the axle they can send it back for free.

Tbh I'm a bit concerned that the boot runs dry during our vacation and we're stuck in the middle of Norway.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by basti92

I might still do that depending on what they tell me at the dealer on Monday. They said if I don't need the axle they can send it back for free.

Tbh I'm a bit concerned that the boot runs dry during our vacation and we're stuck in the middle of Norway.

See what they say. I understand that you don't want to be left stranded. I personally don't think the hole is big enough for the axle to run completely dry (yet). Seems like a lot of money to spend at the dealership for the sake of a cheap boot that you can fix when you get back, but that's the gamble you take I guess (or not if you decide to replace the whole axle).

[Spirit Man]

The 3rd picture looks as if there is small slit in the 3rd ridge of the boot from the shaft end. I'd be inclined to try a repair if it is a small slit or pinhole of a few mm. Clean all grease/dirt off rubber boot inject some new grease of the correct grade into bellows again clean degrease area then seal the split/pinhole with a bicycle or car tyre tube repair patch. you could always reinforce with a larger patch over the top of the first patch. You have very little to loose and could save a huge cost of new shaft assembly!