Blown CV boots :(

[jbfrancis3]

For the sake of the future owner, don't chuck the OEM axles. Let them rebuild it and swap back. Aftermarket BMW axles are a real letdown.

[jsoto]

What's everyone take on axle vs. reboot

If you catch it on a inspection and you notice a tear, then PM Boot is good.
But if the tear has come to the point where it's flung....who knows what sorta ### is in there and how long till it clicks is my approach.

[oldskewel]

I always prefer a reboot if there are no joint problems yet. There have been many stories on here about difficulty in removing one of the ends of an axle, leading to a lot of work, or worse. If you reboot, you only need to remove one of the two ends, which improves your odds of avoiding a disaster. So I know it is commonly said that it is just easier to replace the whole axle vs. getting grease on your hands and replacing a boot, but not always true.

BTW, for full disclosure on how I may be biased ... a story from back in the day ... I was on a windsurf safari in my aircooled VW Vanagon, about 1000 miles from home, when I started getting some CV clicking while driving straight that would not go away. I rebooted the bad joint but the sound was still there since the bearing surface was damaged, as I had seen when it was apart. Solution (not uncommon with VWs back in those days) was to swap the axles left to right so a different part of the CV bearing surfaces was now being used. Problem fixed until I was home and could fix it at my convenience with new joints.

[Bmwtvboy]

I bought the one piece boot cover replacement kit from Autozone. Looks solid. I will also use some extra wide flex tape. The rubber boot thing is total scam. These should have been made with bias ply nylon, like tires. But hey, its all about "monetize".

[andrewwynn]

What a neat thing with same axles left and right to swap.


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[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

What a neat thing with same axles left and right to swap.

Yes, rear engine, rear wheel drive transaxle. Same axles left vs. right. I even think that the inner and outer CV joints were the same, and it would have been possible to flip an axle inner-vs-outer, but that would not have solved the problem since the torsion would still be in the same direction. Flipping left vs. right does switch the direction of torsion, so the bearing surface contact points change enough to hopefully move to a fresh spot.

Since I'm already way off track , I'll add that on my old 911, the CV axles are similarly identical left-vs.-right, but they are marked to indicate left vs. right to make sure that if they are removed and replaced they go back on the same side. Apparently, metallurgical changes occur after being torqued (from driving forward) one way for a long time - and after that it's not good to go back the other way. Important stuff for a Porsche, not such a concern for a VW, at least to get home.

[audiophool]

All good comments. I think I'll re-boot. If I get it apart and there's big wear I'll pause and perhaps fit a new CV outer to each.