Sway Bar / Axle issue - seeking advice?

[anotherbmwowner]

I think my previous post may have been deleted for reasons I do not know, so I am reposting.

I have a 2001 X5 w/ a broken front sway bar bracket.

The bracket broke because the bolt fell out (or was not put back). The bracket is now bent out about 45 - 50 degrees off of the chassis mounting point. The sway bar is definitely moving within it to some degree but I dont believe it is excessive as the bracket still covers the bar (though there is a good 1 - 2 inch of vertical play there).

Soooo...

Took it to the shop. Shop 1 says I need to replace the front passenger axle. This bugs me so I call Shop 2 who just replaced my front passenger axle a year+ ago (and who may have not replaced the bolt). They say there is no way the axle should need to be replaced unless it has been rubbed somehow by the sway bar (which they doubt).

The latter makes sense to me, after all an axle is pretty robust (CV boots aside). I have heard some creaking noises, etc. coming from the right front, but little if any metal on metal sounds.

I know this is a pretty hard question, and from what I understand the sway bar mount never fails (hence the part order) so I am thinking there is little experience with it. This said, I think most people here know the X5 pretty intimately and may have some thoughts.

I will post whatever I end up doing.

Thanks for your help in advance,

David