325xi Front CV/Axle Repair

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I tried searching, I promise I did, it's hard to put the information together though. Hoping someone can give me a solid overview considering I'm a noob when it comes to car mechanics. 2002 325xi.

Front left CV boot busted, grease all over the place, time to fix it. Bought the car used, with the busted boot, so I don't know how much damage has been done and I'm thinking I'd like to replace EVERYTHING ... cv joint, boot, axle.. both sides.

What should I get? OEM? 3rd Party? Recommendations? Anything else I should replace while I'm at it to make sure it will last? $ is a non-issue, got a sick deal on the car, but would like to keep it under $1k...

Car is lowered on H&R and Bilsteins if that changes anything...

I'd get new Cardone reman axles for about $80 each. Buy the new circlips, and diff seals from BMW. Two bottles of Redline 75w90 diff fluid and two diff crush washers for the diff drain/fill. And new strut pinch bolts and/or control arm/tierod nuts depending on how you get the axles out.

#7, #11 here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...68&hg=31&fg=15

Circlip is #2 here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...52&hg=31&fg=20

If you want to go new... GKN Loebro, since you have some extra $$. They are a BMW supplier.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/cata...SUSaxl_pg3.htm

Always out of stock.

Originally Posted by My325XI

If you want to go new... GKN Loebro, since you have some extra $$. They are a BMW supplier.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/cata...SUSaxl_pg3.htm

Just got my cardone remans put in for $165. Set of cardone ones came to 256 with shipping 100 core

Sent from my DROIDX using Bimmer App

We carry an after market replacement set for the front on that car, also has access to the OEM variants, but based on the
poser distribution on that model car I would personally not bother getting originals. Depending on how bad they are you might
be able to get away with just the boots, but again all depends on what is wrong.



Either way the job itself isn't too bad, hope this helps.

FCPeuro.com

Originally Posted by FCPGroton

We carry an after market replacement set for the front on that car, also has access to the OEM variants, but based on the
poser distribution on that model car I would personally not bother getting originals. Depending on how bad they are you might
be able to get away with just the boots, but again all depends on what is wrong.



Either way the job itself isn't too bad, hope this helps.

FCPeuro.com

Don't understand what you mean by poser?

Originally Posted by FCPGroton

We carry an after market replacement set for the front on that car, also has access to the OEM variants, but based on the
poser distribution on that model car I would personally not bother getting originals. Depending on how bad they are you might
be able to get away with just the boots, but again all depends on what is wrong.



Either way the job itself isn't too bad, hope this helps.

FCPeuro.com

Would you agree the axles you sell are complete Chinese garbage and shouldn't be installed on any xi?

Originally Posted by Kubica

Would you agree the axles you sell are complete Chinese garbage and shouldn't be installed on any xi?

LOL

I like your very direct style Kubica

Just saw you're in Boston. Great city. Spend 4 months there last year training, was just out there a few weeks ago breaking my thumb ...

+1^

I think he meant posTer description, not "poser distribution". Meaning putting $600 OEM into each side would not fit what the OP wanted, but I am guessing without my secret decoder ring.

Originally Posted by shadow 2

Don't understand what you mean by poser?

That makes no sense from the contents of his post.

Who sells the cardone axles? I always forget.

Google, you will find a few.

Here is one.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

Originally Posted by Josepilove

Who sells the cardone axles? I always forget.

Sorry everyone, I meant to say "power distribution," due to the fact that the front axles don't handle as much torque as the rear.

I was just speaking from personal experience. If it were my Xi, I wouldn't bother getting originals. With torque distribution sending most of the power to the rear axles, the DSS front axles will hold up well as long as they are driven properly (i.e. not cutting the wheel and flooring it). That suggestion, along with the one to consider just re-greasing and replacing the boot, was simply an attempt to save OP some cash.

Sorry for the confusion. Iphone autocorrect will get you every time.

I spun my secret decoder ring 3 times, still did not get it. The frustrations of folks putting in cheap axles and having to do it again are real, but again $600 OEM BMW is very high, and the like OEM $300 are always out of stock, which leaves a few brands of cheapies, or a rebuilt.

Originally Posted by FCPGroton

Sorry everyone, I meant to say "power distribution," due to the fact that the front axles don't handle as much torque as the rear.

I was just speaking from personal experience. If it were my Xi, I wouldn't bother getting originals. With torque distribution sending most of the power to the rear axles, the DSS front axles will hold up well as long as they are driven properly (i.e. not cutting the wheel and flooring it). That suggestion, along with the one to consider just re-greasing and replacing the boot, was simply an attempt to save OP some cash.

Sorry for the confusion. Iphone autocorrect will get you every time.

ya gotta pay to play! right KUBICA?

Originally Posted by SILVRRONIN

ya gotta pay to play! right KUBICA?

Yeah. You're gonna pay twice if you buy Chinese axles.

In my experience the Cardone axles hold up better than dealer installed axles, which I believe are reman'd by BMW anyway.

guys if my CV boots have some grease on the outside (not sure how long ago it started leaking) should i be worried about any damage or just change the boots in the near future?

If the grease appears to be from the CV joint, then yes, you should be showing some signs of concerns. If you're not experiencing tremors or violent shaking when accelerating then the problem is probably very new so likely nothing has been irreparably damaged.

As has been mentioned you have two choices. 1) pull the axles off, pull boots off, repack the CV joints with grease, then install brand new boots or 2) pull axles off and replace with new or reman axles.

My car is showing signs of dry CV joints. I'm personally torn between replacing the axles or just go with a repack. Funds are not a problem and thus I'm leaning more towards a complete replacement with Loebro (OEM supplier) from Turner Motorsports.