Axle Shaft Broken

summit56 · 06-25-2011, 10:41 PM

Had a left rear axle shaft snap during take off. Is there anyone that makes stronger rear shafts for a 328?

TxZHP04 · 06-25-2011, 10:50 PM

Where did it actually break? Drop clutch launch?

Not sure if anyone has an off the shelf offering for the non-M but would be interested to know too. My left half shaft has been clunking lately so I've got a stock replacement on order, hopefully I'm replacing mine before encountering such carnage.

summit56 · 06-26-2011, 12:33 AM

it was a burn out

TxZHP04 · 06-26-2011, 08:45 AM

Any pics of the damage?

If you haven't already, you might want to seriously consider reinforcing your rear subframe mounting points. FI + burnouts = snapped axles and torn mounts.

summit56 · 06-26-2011, 08:59 PM

i will get pics once the new shaft arrives and I remove the broken one. I plan to get the subframe reinforcments done during this winter/ coming spring. Already had BMW replace the rear pan due to it breaking, dont want to have to pay for it the second time around.

summit56 · 06-26-2011, 10:22 PM

thats my temporary fix to get the car back to the shop.

eweis · 06-26-2011, 10:36 PM

You have *got* to let us know if that temp solution actually works and how far it got.

Sent from my EVO

s142s14a · 06-26-2011, 10:44 PM

Is that tape holding the cvu together?

Sent from my EVO

summit56 · 06-26-2011, 11:09 PM

that is duct tape and paper towels. the axle broke off and flopped around so I cleaned it up and wrapped paper around it so the tape would hold then wrapped with tape. this pry wont work with a open diff. but it worked to get me 60 miles to the shop.

Jim Murphy · 06-27-2011, 08:22 AM

Your garage says 165,000 miles on this car so you got good life out of the half shaft. Interesting to see if there is a stronger alternative - M3? Since one side broke the other side is not far behind, recommend replacing both of them.

Jim

alwaysbored786 · 06-27-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by summit56

that is duct tape and paper towels. the axle broke off and flopped around so I cleaned it up and wrapped paper around it so the tape would hold then wrapped with tape. this pry wont work with a open diff. but it worked to get me 60 miles to the shop.

you drove 60 miles on that thing, you crazy son of a bish!

mrshelley · 06-27-2011, 01:22 PM

For a 328:

One option is to buy:
2 used 330 trailing arms (2001-2005) - The 330 has a larger bearing (same as an M3), drive flange and axle splines.
2 Used output flanges for the diff (2003-2005) - You need these for the bigger axles but the flanges just pop out of the diff (easy to change)
2 Rear ABS sensors from an early 330 (2001) - Really early 330's had a ABS sensor that is a magnetic pickup and not a Hall pickup. A 328 has a magnetic pickup ABS system.
2 brand new axles from BMW from a 330 (2003-2005) - Might as go with new if you are looking for reliability. As for the Chinese axles, you are just rolling the dice.

This is what it takes to get the biggest and strongest axles of an OEM solution, for a non-M e46.

summit56 · 06-28-2011, 05:38 PM

sounds like it would be about the same to do the rear m3 subframe swap. Just not a whole lot of used bmw parts up here in Alaska.

NIVO · 07-01-2011, 12:41 PM

Heat temper/cryo treat the shaft, now the tripod cv joint is the next weak link.

summit56 · 07-01-2011, 12:53 PM

summit56 · 09-28-2012, 09:44 PM

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...5D6018E5B4.jpg
Broke another one.

TrippinBimmer · 09-28-2012, 09:49 PM

You can get the shaft build with 300m chromoly...

summit56 · 10-01-2012, 11:26 AM

And another.....where can I get some built from? I have not found anything for a non-m e46

06-25-2011, 10:41 PM	#1
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	Axle Shaft Broken Had a left rear axle shaft snap during take off. Is there anyone that makes stronger rear shafts for a 328?

06-25-2011, 10:50 PM	#2
TxZHP04 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 5,731 My Ride: ESS TS2+ ZHP View My Garage	Where did it actually break? Drop clutch launch? Not sure if anyone has an off the shelf offering for the non-M but would be interested to know too. My left half shaft has been clunking lately so I've got a stock replacement on order, hopefully I'm replacing mine before encountering such carnage. __________________ 04 IR 330i ZHP \| ESS TS2+ SC \| MagnaFlow "headers" \| KMS 3.64 LSD \| AST 4100 550/650\| APEX ARC-8 18x9 \| H&R front sway bar \| Vorshlag camber plates, RTAB limiters \| TMS subframe & swaybar reinforcements \| UUC SSK & DSSR \| UUC TM & TME \| BW motor mounts \| Dinan strut & shock tower bars \| vaio 4-bolt oil pump

06-26-2011, 08:45 AM	#4
TxZHP04 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 5,731 My Ride: ESS TS2+ ZHP View My Garage	Any pics of the damage? If you haven't already, you might want to seriously consider reinforcing your rear subframe mounting points. FI + burnouts = snapped axles and torn mounts. __________________ 04 IR 330i ZHP \| ESS TS2+ SC \| MagnaFlow "headers" \| KMS 3.64 LSD \| AST 4100 550/650\| APEX ARC-8 18x9 \| H&R front sway bar \| Vorshlag camber plates, RTAB limiters \| TMS subframe & swaybar reinforcements \| UUC SSK & DSSR \| UUC TM & TME \| BW motor mounts \| Dinan strut & shock tower bars \| vaio 4-bolt oil pump

06-27-2011, 08:22 AM	#10
Jim Murphy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Atlanta (Dunwoody), GA Posts: 452 My Ride: 2006 E46 330Ci ZHP View My Garage	Your garage says 165,000 miles on this car so you got good life out of the half shaft. Interesting to see if there is a stronger alternative - M3? Since one side broke the other side is not far behind, recommend replacing both of them. Jim Last edited by Jim Murphy; 06-27-2011 at 08:23 AM.

06-27-2011, 01:22 PM	#12
mrshelley Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 914 My Ride: 2004 330i View My Garage	For a 328: One option is to buy: 2 used 330 trailing arms (2001-2005) - The 330 has a larger bearing (same as an M3), drive flange and axle splines. 2 Used output flanges for the diff (2003-2005) - You need these for the bigger axles but the flanges just pop out of the diff (easy to change) 2 Rear ABS sensors from an early 330 (2001) - Really early 330's had a ABS sensor that is a magnetic pickup and not a Hall pickup. A 328 has a magnetic pickup ABS system. 2 brand new axles from BMW from a 330 (2003-2005) - Might as go with new if you are looking for reliability. As for the Chinese axles, you are just rolling the dice. This is what it takes to get the biggest and strongest axles of an OEM solution, for a non-M e46. __________________

06-26-2011, 12:33 AM	#3
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	it was a burn out

06-26-2011, 08:59 PM	#5
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	i will get pics once the new shaft arrives and I remove the broken one. I plan to get the subframe reinforcments done during this winter/ coming spring. Already had BMW replace the rear pan due to it breaking, dont want to have to pay for it the second time around.

06-26-2011, 10:22 PM	#6
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	thats my temporary fix to get the car back to the shop.

06-26-2011, 10:36 PM	#7
eweis Registered User Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 128 My Ride: 1999 328i View My Garage	You have got to let us know if that temp solution actually works and how far it got. Sent from my EVO

06-26-2011, 10:44 PM	#8
s142s14a Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 73 My Ride: E46 M3 View My Garage	Is that tape holding the cvu together? Sent from my EVO

06-26-2011, 11:09 PM	#9
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	that is duct tape and paper towels. the axle broke off and flopped around so I cleaned it up and wrapped paper around it so the tape would hold then wrapped with tape. this pry wont work with a open diff. but it worked to get me 60 miles to the shop.

06-28-2011, 05:38 PM	#13
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	sounds like it would be about the same to do the rear m3 subframe swap. Just not a whole lot of used bmw parts up here in Alaska.

07-01-2011, 12:41 PM	#14
NIVO Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Worcester, Ma Posts: 310 My Ride: 2004 330Ci ZHP View My Garage	Heat temper/cryo treat the shaft, now the tripod cv joint is the next weak link. __________________ www.E46Turbo330Ci.com WARNING: This modification is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm due to the extreme G forces once turbo kicks in. ~ Nivo The rest of my signature is reserved for pointless modification bits like: Halos \| window Tint \| carbon fiber roundels \| short shifter

07-01-2011, 12:53 PM	#15
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage

09-28-2012, 09:44 PM	#16
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...5D6018E5B4.jpg Broke another one.

09-28-2012, 09:49 PM	#17
TrippinBimmer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ridgeland, MS Posts: 5,347 My Ride: ZHP Custom Stage 3.5 View My Garage	You can get the shaft build with 300m chromoly... __________________ ..::\|TrippinBimmer's Boost Build with Cool Parts\|::.. 4whp/3tq SAE Corrected \| Active Autowerke \| BimmerBrakes \| VMR Wheels \| ..::\| TrippinBimmer's New Project : 1988 e30 325e \|::..

10-01-2012, 11:26 AM	#18
summit56 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 87 My Ride: 328ci AA stage 1 View My Garage	And another.....where can I get some built from? I have not found anything for a non-m e46

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