I’m finally putting this job on my calendar for next week. I’ve put it off for several months since I discovered the left outer boot split and throwing grease. It failed where the small boot clamp goes around the axle.

Word to the wise, I took a look at the “kit” I bought from FCP and realized they don’t include an axle nut. Sort of surprised at this, but then again, I didn’t read the description closely enough when I ordered. Two nuts now in route as I’ll also need to do the right side in the not so distant future. Hopefully some heavy duty RV tape can extend that boots life a bit.

My initial thought was to do both inner and out boots on the left side as long as the axle was coming out. However, since it seems after reading the above that can just do the outer boot without pulling the whole axle, I’ll take a good look at the inner and decide when I’ve got it up on the lift. I did break down and buy a good press to push the axle out of the carrier, amd the special tool to pull it back in so the whole exercise should hopefully kill far fewer brain cells. I’ll knock out an oil change while the x is on the lift.

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Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
2026 G80 M3 6 spd
2025 G06 X5 50e
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee