Slight clunk when shifting between F and R; dealer says normal

[twooldvolvos]

I have noticed a slight clunking noise when shifting between forward and reverse in my 2007 XC-70 (74K miles). My dealer says it is normal and is caused by some gearing slack in the drive train. Do any of you experience this clunking and do you agree that it is normal too? Again it is not a major noise but it definitely sounds like I have some mechanical looseness in my drive train.

[Astro14]

Not normal at all...suspect the upper engine mount and the lower torque mount. Both are common failure points, I've done both on both my P2 Volvos.

Both are very easy DIY replacements. I have simply bought mounts from IPD (cheaper than my dealer...and they now have a polyurethane lower mount that I will try when I next have to replace the lower mount).

It's common in every Volvo I've ever owned to have to replace engine mounts every 50 - 75 thousand miles...don't know why...just happens to be common...

[billr99]

100% agree. I'm actually on my third set of upper and right-hand mounts on my XC. Ever since I replaced the lower mount's small bush with a poly one, I haven't had any trouble with that one. It does appear to me though that driving on crap roads like I do the mounts take a bit more of a beating which does make some sense, I suppose, versus them wearing out entirely from engine torque loads.

Cheers,

Bill

[JRL]

I'm sorry guys but I disagree.
I've owned and sold more of these cars than I want to remember and with over 50-70K miles most will clunk A LITTLE going back and forth from drive to reverse.

Both of mine clunk a hair and ALL the mounts are very new in both of my AWD V70s with higher miles
(108 and 114K)
Everything is just a bit worn and there will be some normal axle play that wasn't there when new.

Of course with all new motor mounts the clunking will be much more subdued and not always there but at time it will still clunk (or a better term, clank and click).
Some of this can be his front axle bolts

To the OP; If you stop in neutral while shifting for a second, what does it do?

[06ORXC]

It is also a sloppy fit on a front half shafts splines coming out of transmission.
There is a bulletin about it and the fix is to use some kind of grease/glue on them BUT they will be much harder to remove when they need to be changed.
So, it could be mounts and also splines.
Both of mine, '06(60k) & '07(58k) do this and all mounts are in good shape.

[billr99]

I'm sorry guys but I disagree.
I've owned and sold more of these cars than I want to remember and with over 50-70K miles most will clunk A LITTLE going back and forth from drive to reverse.

Both of mine clunk a hair and ALL the mounts are very new in both of my AWD V70s with higher miles
(108 and 114K)
Everything is just a bit worn and there will be some normal axle play that wasn't there when new.

Of course with all new motor mounts the clunking will be much more subdued and not always there but at time it will still clunk (or a better term, clank and click).
Some of this can be his front axle bolts

To the OP; If you stop in neutral while shifting for a second, what does it do?

No, you're right. I would suggest that depending on degree, it could be no more than what some cars have new. We obviously don't know since we aren't sitting in it. I have to say that on my '02 there is a bit of clunk even with new mounts but it hasn't seemed to have changed any since the last time I put mounts in it. And it isn't that much more than the last low mileage FWD S60 that I tried out. Bottom line, it's not something I'm worried about (I probably have other things that I should be worried about instead).

Cheers,

Bill