output shaft worn?

[tarkwell]

I have been told/shown by mechanic servicing my X5 slight looseness/movement in the front output/driveshafts at the end closest to the engine. he has advised changing both at considerable cost. do they need replacing? there is no sign of damage to the rubber gaiters/boots.
thanks

[supersteve]

Which shaft(s) are you talking about. The propeler shaft or the axle half shafts. The propeler shaft runs forward from the transfer case to the front differential. The axle half shafts run from the differntial to the front left and right wheels.

If your talking about the half shafts, the play is in the differential and is supposed to be there. Changing the half shafts will do nothing but empty your wallet.

If the CV joint has become disconnected the half shaft will move around at the joint and you'll have no power to that wheel. The only way I have seen a CV joint become disconnected was someone pulled it out. To fix it you"ll need an inner CV Joint Boot kit. You'll have to pull the old apart and put the CV Joint back together installing the new boot.

[tarkwell]

the axle half shafts. thanks for the fast reply, it confirms what I suspected.